Rabbi David Meyer
Temple Emanu-El
Jewish Heritage Tour of Lithuania and Belarus
May 21 - 29, 2018


Tour Rates & Dates:

There are no Departure Dates available for this Package.
*Please note that all rates displayed are based on standard room double occupancy.
All rates above are in US Dollars, and are based on full payment by credit card unless otherwise noted.
If check payment discount is available for this tour, it can be selected after clicking "BOOK" above.
(Deposit can still be paid by credit card).
Upgraded room categories may be available to book later in the booking process.
If Land & Air price is displayed, the air portion includes tax and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change until ticketed.

Tour Overview:

Download a PDF version:

INCLUDED:

2 nights Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania
3 nights Hotel Minsk, Minsk, Belarus
1 night Hotel Lida, Lida, Belarus
1 night Hotel Minsk, Minsk, Belarus
All touring and sightseeing per an agreed upon itinerary in a deluxe
air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking guide
Professional tour director throughout
Breakfast daily
Welcome dinner in Vilnius
Dinner with Iryna Belskaia & Michael Kemerov in Minsk
Shabbat dinner in Minsk
Dinner at a local restaurant in Grodno
Farewell dinner in Minsk
Transfers included if arriving/departing with the main group
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Porterage

NOT INCLUDED:

Roundtrip airfare departure taxes and fuel surcharges
(available to book 11 months prior)
Internal flight from Vilnius to Minsk
Any border taxes or visas
Tips to guides, driver, and dining room waiters
($15.00 per person, per day-pre-collected)
Any items of a personal nature
Travel Insurance
(Highly recommended)


Tour Itinerary:

Day 1, Monday, May 21, 2018

• We depart from the United States on our overnight flight to Vilnius.

Day 2, Tuesday, May 22, 2018

• Afternoon arrival in Vilnius where we meet our local representative and are assisted through customs.
• We enjoy a tour of the city, on our way to the hotel, including the Gediminas Castle, where we see views of major landmarks including the Cathedral and the Presidential Palace.
• Welcome dinner together this evening.
• Later this evening, meet with members of the Vilnius Jewish Community to learn about Jewish life in this part of the world.

Overnight Vilnius, Lithuania

Day 3, Wednesday, May 23, 2018

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We enjoy a Jewish heritage tour of Vilnius, beginning with a walking tour of the medieval Jewish Quarter.
• As we walk along the lanes and courtyards, we stop to learn about the Great Vilna Synagogue and the Gaon of Vilna.
• Next we visit the small and large ghettos where more than 40,000 Jews lived.
• This afternoon we visit the Jewish Cemetery of Vilnius to learn more about the many important Jews buried here.
• We also view the “Cheap Houses” built by Baron Hirsch as affordable housing for Jews in the area.
• We drive to Poneriai to visit the site of the Ponary massacre.
• Dinner on own.

Overnight Vilnius, Lithuania

Day 4, Thursday, May 24, 2018
.
• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We depart Vilnius for our flight to Minsk, our sister city.
• Check into our hotel.
• Touring today is with Iryna Belskaia & Michael Kemerov who offer special insights into their community.
• This afternoon, we enjoy a city tour of Minsk, including Independence Square with the Government Building and Victory Square's Eternal Flame, commemorating the heroes of World War II, the “Yama” Monument and Pravednikov Lane (lane of Righteous Among the Nations).
• Dinner tonight with our good friends, Iryna Belskaia & Michael Kemerov, Jewish educators who have visited our Marblehead Community.

Overnight Minsk, Belarus

Day 5, Friday, May 25, 2018

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We will travel a short distance to the Khatyn complex, a memorial to victims of World War II.
• This afternoon we visit a nearby park to enjoy a leisurely walk amidst ancient trees and wildlife as we get ready to welcome Shabbat.
• Shabbat services with Iryna Belskaia & Michael Kemerov, Rabbi Grisha Abramovich & Rabbi David Meyer at Beit-Simcha Center followed by Shabbat dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight Minsk, Belarus

Day 6, Saturday, May 26, 2018

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning we enjoy Shakharit services & a Bar-Mitzvah ceremony at Beit-Simcha Center.
• Shiur with conversion class - We will meet with members of the Men's Club & the I'm a Jewish Mother Club.
• Enjoy the evening at leisure, options abound from enjoying the Ballet, visiting the Opera House to taking in a Philharmonic show at the Concert Hall (subject to availability).

Overnight Minsk, Belarus

Day 7, Sunday, May 27, 2018

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We enjoy a tour to Valozhin, to learn about the first Jewish theological school in Eastern Europe that was started in this city and where Peres studied.
• Continue to Lida, where we view the amazing Lida Castle, famously built on sand over seven centuries ago.
• Stop in Grodno, once a Residence of Great Duke of Lithuania Vytautas. Here in 1389 he issued a “permit of residence” that regarded with favour the arrival of Jews into Lithuania. We see the Great Synagogue of Grodno, the territory of the Jewish Ghetto, the Old Jewish Cemetery & the community center.
• Check into our hotel.
• Dinner together this evening at a local restaurant.

Overnight Grodno, Belarus

Day 8, Monday, May 28, 2018

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We depart for a day excursion to Mir. Here we visit the Yeshiva that existed between 1617 - 1939, the Holocaust Memorial, and the 16th century castle where the Jewish ghetto was located. At the castle, there is a special exposition dedicated to the Jewish Ghetto.
• Return to Minsk for our farewell dinner.

Overnight Minsk, Belarus

Day 9, Tuesday, May 29, 2018

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Morning at leisure for last minute shopping.
• Transfer to the airport for our flight back to the United States.


The Memories Last Forever!


*Itinerary subject to change