Eastern European Discovery

This tour takes you to where the ancestors of most American Jews lived for seven centuries. Here, Ashkenazi Judaism flowered and Yiddish flourished in a world that perished a half-century ago in a convulsion of torment and horror so unspeakable it could only be described as a Holocaust. We’ll take you to ancient synagogues and Jewish museums. You’ll admire hamlets and castles that seem plucked from fairy tales. You’ll marvel at the grandeur of great cities. You’ll meet Europe’s Jews, young and old, members of thriving reborn communities. You’ll visit places called Auschwitz – Majadanek – Theresienstadt. Visits for which none of the books you’ve read, nor movies you’ve survived, nor museums where you cried, could adequately prepare you.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
22 MEALS including Buffet Breakfast daily, 3 lunches & 6 dinners with wine including Shabbat & Farewell Dinners – Gratuities to local guides & drivers –
Led by a Celebrated Tour Manager-Guest Lecturer – Briefings on Polish, Hungarian & Czech Jewry –Visit Auschwitz – Majdanek- Terezin – See the Raoul Wallenberg Memorial – Walking tour of Old Prague – Theater Performance

SPECIAL - Pre-Tour extension to Vilna, Lithuania
4 nights - Hotel Conti, breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner.
Land Program - $500 per person, sharing twin. Single room add; $200.
Please ask for details

ITINERARY:

SUNDAY, DAY 1- EN ROUTE
Late afternoon flight from the U.S. to Poland.

MONDAY, DAY 2- WARSAW
Morning arrival in Warsaw. Meet your Tour Manager and transfer to your hotel. This afternoon, drive along the Royal Route; see the Chopin Memorial, the President’s Mansion, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and more. Stroll through Old Town, lovingly restored. Early evening briefing on your special program, followed by Welcome Dinner. D

TUESDAY, DAY 3- WARSAW
Today’s touring includes the former Warsaw Ghetto, with its Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Mila 18 and Umschlagplatz Memorials. Visit the Jewish Historical Institute and the 200 year-old cemetery and the Yiddish Theatre. This afternoon, lunch in a local restaurant, hosted by your Tour Manager. BL

,b>WEDNESDAY, DAY 4- WARSAW-LUBLIN
Drive through the Polish countryside to the ancient city of Lublin. On the outskirts of the city, visit Majdanek, the horrific Nazi death camp. After lunch, drive along Lubartovska Street to Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin and the ancient cemetery, whose graves date back from the 1300s. Return to Warsaw. BL

THURSDAY, DAY 5- KRAKOW
Morning train to Krakow, once Poland’s Royal capital. Orientation drive takes us to Kazimierz, once the thriving Jewish Quarter with its Museum of Jewish History, housed in the Alte Shul, Poland’s oldest remaining synagogue, and the Remu Synagogue with its ancient cemetery. See Oscar Schindler’s factory, Plazow Concentration Camp and the former ghetto. Tonight, dinner in a local restaurant, hosted by your Tour Manager. BD

FRIDAY, DAY 6- KRAKOW
Early morning drive to Oswiecim, site of the vast Auschwitz and Birkenau camps; the retreating Germans blew up the Birkenau gas chambers as the Red Army approached, but the notorious platform, barracks, debris….and memories remain. Tonight, Shabbat dinner together. BD

SATURDAY, DAY 7- KRAKOW
Shabbat at leisure. Join your Tour Manager on a walking tour of the Old town, including a visit to Wawel Castle. B

SUNDAY, DAY 8- KRAKOW-BUDAPEST
Early morning flight via Prague to Budapest, Hungary’s vivacious capital – two cities separated by the River Danube – Buda to the west, Pest to the east. En route to your hotel, enjoy a panoramic drive via Heroes Square and the elegant streets of pest. Tonight, dinner at Gundel, the most famous restaurant in Central Europe. BD

MONDAY, DAY 9- BUDAPEST
Morning visit to the massive Dohany Street Synagogue and view the turn-of-the-century Rumbach Street Synagogue, the Carl Lutz Memorial and the striking Willow Tree Memorial. This afternoon, tour the fascinating Jewish Museum. B

TUESDAY, DAY 10- BUDAPEST
Cross the Danube to Buda and pay homage to Raoul Wallenberg’s statue. Proceed to Old Buda and tour Castle Hill and Fisherman’s Bastion. Stroll the cobbled-stone streets housing tiny antique shops and boutiques. Afternoon is at leisure to explore at your own pace. B

WEDNESDAY, DAY 11 BUDAPEST-PRAGUE
Morning flight to Prague, the magnificent and medieval Czech capital. Visit the four synagogues of the Jewish Museum, once Prague’s ghetto, including the medieval Altneushul, Europe’s oldest synagogue and the ancient cemetery, crammed with over 12,000 graves. Visit Castle Hill and the Strahov Monastery and the Loretto Treasury. On to St. Vitus Cathedral; stroll along Golden Lane. Tonight, a theatre performance. B

THURSDAY, DAY 12- PRAGUE
Full day excursion to Theresienstadt, the “model ghetto” to which elite Jews were deported. After lunch, return to Prague. BL

FRIDAY, DAY 13 – PRAGUE
Today, stroll the ancient Charles Bridge, with its twin watchtowers, statues and lively crafts market. Walk past Franz Kafka’s House, as well as Rabbi Loew’s Statue. Visit the beautiful Old Town Hall, with its towers, turrets and astronomical clock. Tonight, Shabbat Dinner together. BD

SATURDAY, DAY 14- PRAGUE
Our final day – completely at leisure in this most romantic of European cities. Tonight’s Farewell Dinner completes an extraordinary experience. BD

SUNDAY, DAY 15- EN ROUTE
Transfer to the airport for the flight back to the U.S. arriving later the same day. B

This is a sample itinerary- distribution of sites & leisure time is subject to change. Meal Conditions: Buffet Breakfast, 3 lunches, 6 dinners

Accommodations:
CITY...........#NIGHTS.....................HOTEL
WARSAW..............3.........................SOBIESKI HOTEL
KRAKOW...............3.........................SHERATON
BUDAPEST............3.........................BUDAPEST INTERCONTINENTAL
PRAGUE................4........................PRAHA INTERCONTINENTAL