Day 1: Wednesday, July 7, 2021: DEPARTURE
• Depart the United States on your overnight flight to Poland.
Day 2: Thursday, July 8, 2021: WELCOME TO POLAND
• Arrivals throughout the day in Warsaw. Transfers will be provided for all arrivals on this day from the airport and central train station (transfer times TBD based on flight list).
• We set out on a city tour of Warsaw, including stops at the Royal Castle, Chopin's Monument, Beit Polska and Eitz Haim.
• We join together for opening remarks, including a special guest speaker, followed by our opening ceremony and mini concert/sing along with the local Jewish community.
• We delight in a welcome reception and dinner.
• Return to our hotel or enjoy the remainder of the evening to explore Warsaw at night.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 3: Friday, July 9, 2021: WARSAW'S JEWISH PAST
• Breakfast at our hotels.
• We begin our day with a Jewish heritage tour beginning at the Nozyk Synagogue, the only surviving synagogue in Warsaw, founded in 1900. We continue to the Umschlagplatz monument, followed by the Jewish Resistance Bunker at Mila 18 and the Stawski Street buildings, where the SS had their headquarters.
• We host a memorial service at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes built by Jewish sculptor Nathan Rapoport, who was born in Warsaw.
• We take a docent-led tour of the astounding Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN). The museum sits on the former site of the Warsaw Ghetto and features a multi-media narrative exhibition about the vibrant Jewish community that flourished in Poland for nearly a thousand years.
• As the sun begins to set, we come together for candle lighting and Kabbalat Shabbat featuring the voices of the ACC, followed by Shabbat dinner this evening.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 4: Saturday, July 10, 2021: SHABBAT SHALOM!
• Breakfast at our hotels.
• This morning, participate in a special musical interchange program with Polish non-Jewish youth, coordinated through the Forum for Dialogue, an organization dedicated to inspiring new connections between contemporary Poland and the Jewish people.
• This afternoon, discover Old Town on a walking tour through the cobblestone alleys. See the medieval buildings reconstructed after WWII, explore Old Town Market Square and view the Presidential Palace.
• We return to the main hotel for a lecture by one of our guest speakers.
• We enjoy a moving and melancholy Havdalah as we bid farewell to Shabbat, then set out on an evening at leisure to discover the city and enjoy dinner on own.
• Option to attend an elegant Chopin concert at a local palace.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 5: Sunday, July 11, 2021: JEWISH KRAKOW
• Breakfast and check out of our hotels.
• This morning, we board our train to Krakow. Upon arrival, we check into our hotels and refresh. Our luggage is transferred by truck.
• We enjoy a tour of the Jewish interest sites, including the old Jewish district known as Kazimierz, where we visit the Old Synagogue, the “Temple” and the Remuh Synagogue.
• Later this afternoon, we visit the Krakow JCC and meet with Executive Director, Jonathan Ornstein, to share our music with the exciting and growing community.
• This evening, we enjoy a concert celebrating the rebuilding of the Krakow Jewish community with music originating from Poland and Central Europe.
• Dinner on own this evening.
Overnight in Krakow
Day 6: Monday, July 12, 2021: THE DESTRUCTION OF EUROPEAN JEWRY
• Breakfast at our hotels.
• This morning, we hear a lecture by one of our guest speakers at the main hotel.
• We travel to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous Nazi concentration camp, using personal stories and texts as a guide. We begin our visit with a memorial service and shacharit, followed by a visit to the museum. We walk through Birkenau with time for personal reflection, then join together as a group at the end of the train tracks for a meaningful memorial prayer.
• We return to Krakow for an afternoon at leisure.
• Dinner on own this evening.
• After dinner, we delight in an evening of music joined by members of Krakow's Progressive community.
Overnight in Krakow
Day 7: Tuesday, July 13, 2021: KRAKOW TO PRAGUE
• Breakfast and check out of our hotels.
• Today, we pass by the Little Museum at the Drug Store, Schindler's Factory and stop at the memorial on the former site of the Plaszow Concentration Camp.
• We continue our tour as we see the Wawel Castle, St. Mary's Church and the Renaissance Cloth Hall in Krakow's ancient city center.
• This afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Prague. Luggage will be sent by truck and will await us at our hotels.
• Upon arrival, we enjoy a lecture by one of our guest speakers.
• We check into our hotels and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure with dinner on own.
Overnight in Prague
Day 8: Wednesday, July 14, 2021: GOLDEN PRAGUE
• Breakfast at our hotels.
• We begin our day with a tour of the former Jewish area known as the Josefov, with its Old Town Hall, the Alt-Neu Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue, the Jewish cemetery and the State Jewish Museum.
• Our city tour encompasses visits to the Hradcany Castle, the Charles Bridge and the nearby John Lennon Wall, as well as the famous Astronomical Clock and St. Vitus' Cathedral.
• This afternoon, we visit and meet with leaders at Bejt Simcha, Prague's Progressive Jewish community.
• Dinner on own tonight.
• Optional: Attend a classical music concert at one of Prague's majestic concert halls (details & cost TBD).
Overnight in Prague
Thursday, July 15, 2021: TEREZIN
• Breakfast at our hotels.
• This morning, we have our final closing lecture.
• We travel to Terezin, the former “model” Nazi concentration camp. We visit the fortress, Jewish cemetery, museum, the hidden synagogue, the memorial monument and the town itself. While here, we also see the plaque dedicated in memory of Regina Jonas, the first woman ordained a rabbi. We'll also hear stories and see photos of some of the great rabbis imprisoned here, including Leo Baeck, which hang on the wall of the main building.
• Later this afternoon, we return to Prague for an afternoon at leisure.
• Tonight, we join together for a festive farewell dinner, followed by a farewell concert, including greetings by the Israeli Ambassador.
Overnight in Prague
Day 10: Friday, July 16, 2021: DEPARTURE
• Breakfast and check out of our hotels.
• We transfer to the airport and train station for our flights back to the United States, landing later today.
JOIN ONE OF OUR OPTIONAL PRE-TOURS: Itineray and pricing coming soon!
• Berlin
• Budapest
• Vienna
• PLUS! Join the Pre-Pre Tour to Krakow for the Krakow Jewish Culture Festival and the JCC Ride for the Living!
Join your Cantor/Congregation/Organization:
Cantor Joshua Breitzer Flyer - Deluxe Plus hotels
Helene & Michael Friedman Flyer - Deluxe Plus hotels
Reb Lisa Levine Flyer - Deluxe Plus hotels
Cantor Jamie Marx Flyer - Deluxe hotels
Cantor Richard Rosenfield Flyer - Deluxe Plus hotels
Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman & Cantor Tracey Scher Flyer - Deluxe Plus hotels
The Memories Last Forever!!
Itinerary subject to change