Taub Poland Tour - Poland Jewish Heritage Tours

WARSAW ~ LUBLIN ~ KRAKOW
May thru October -- from $2195*
Experience a unique and incredible journey through Poland spanning 1000 years of Polish Jewish history and culminating with the
reawakening of Jewish life in Poland today.
Prior to WWII, Poland was home to the largest and most vibrant Jewish community in Europe. It was referred to as the epicenter of Jewish
learning and culture for hundreds of years. More than sixty years aer the Holocaust, Poland is once again home to a Jewish community
proud of its heritage and culture. Join us as we explore the past, encounter the present and look ahead to the future!
DAY 1: Departure to Warsaw
DAY 2: Arrival in Warsaw
We will be met by a representative of the Taube Center for Jewish Cultural Renewal and our tour guide at the Frederic Chopin International Airport. We
will begin with a bus tour of Warsaw, including segments of the Royal Route, giving us an introduction to Poland’s rich history.
(on our way from the airport we will see...)
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The Royal Castle, Castle Square and the Barbican
Monument of King Zygmunt III Wasa
Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Presidential Palace and Warsaw University
Copernicus and Mickiewicz Monuments
Nowy Swiat and Embassy Row (Aleje Ujazdowskie)
Lazienki Park
Aleja Szucha 25
Constitution Square and Marszalkowska Street
Palace of Science and Culture
Check-in at the Westin Hotel in the early afternoon. The hotel is located in
the city center close to Warsaw’s only surviving synagogue. (For details
about the Nozyk Synagogue, please see Day 3.)
A free evening in the Old Town Market Square. Recommendations for restaurants will be made available upon request.
DAY 3: Warsaw
Guided tour of Jewish Warsaw, including sites and monuments representing Polish Jewry’s rich legacy and commemorating the fate
and resiliency of the Jewish people, rising from the ashes to remember and rebuild.
Nozyk Synagogue: Meeting with a representative of the Jewish community/Chief Rabbi of Poland and an introduction to Jewish Poland. The
Nozyk Synagogue was dedicated in 1902. It is Warsaw’s only surviving synagogue of the more than 300 prayer houses, shtiebels and
synagogues that existed before WWII and it currently serves Warsaw’s Jewish community. Jewish community offices, a youth club, a
kosher canteen, the Prof. Moses Schorr Educational Center and a variety of Jewish organizations are housed in adjacent buildings.
Warsaw also has a Reform congregation Beit Warszawa and a Chabad-Lubavitch center.
The Esther Rachel & Ida Kaminska Yiddish Theater, which still offers musical performances in Yiddish, is located quite near the
synagogue. There is a plaque on the
All Saints’ Church on Grzybowski
Square opposite the Yiddish theater,
honoring the more than 6,000 Polish
Righteous Among the Nations, who
risked their lives to save Jews during
the war. This church was situated at
the very edge of the ghetto. Jews were
hidden in the church and were often
smuggled through it onto the “Aryan”
side.
Korczak Orphanage: Site of the original orphanage run by Dr. Janusz Korczak
(born Henryk Goldszmit), renowned educator and author, before it was moved into
the Ghetto.
Krochmalna and Pereca Streets: Poland was the birthplace of Yiddish literature,
culture and theater, as well as of numerous Nobel Prize winners and outstanding
individuals in many fields. Among the many who have contributed to Jewish and
world culture are Isaac Bashevis Singer (who lived on Krochmalna) and Itzhak Leib
Peretz who lived on the street now named for him.
Warsaw Ghetto Monuments: The first ghetto memorial, dedicated by Polish Jews
in 1946, resembles a manhole cover, recalling the underground’s use of the city sewers
as hiding places and as escape and smuggling routes. It is located close to the
Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto, a copy of which stands in Yad Vashem in
Jerusalem. The massive two-sided monument was sculpted by Natan Rappaport and
unveiled in 1948 on the fifth anniversary of the Ghetto Uprising.
Nearby stand a tree and a commemorative marker honoring “Zegota,” an arm of the Polish Government in Exile and Europe’s only
organization specifically tasked with aiding and rescuing Jews during the Holocaust period. Thousands of Jewish lives were saved
thanks to the extraordinary, clandestine efforts of Zegota.
Across from the Rappaport Monument is the site of the future Museum of the History of
Polish Jews, scheduled to open in 2012. We will have a brief presentation by a member of the Museum’s
staff.
Zygielbojm Memorial and the Route of Martyrdom and Resistance: A memorial to Szmul
Zygielbojm, a Bund representative to the Polish Government in Exile in London, who committed
suicide after trying – in vain -- to persuade the Allies to save the Jews of Europe. The Route of
Martyrdom and Resistance includes markers naming representatives of the different groups active
in the Warsaw Ghetto resistance.
Mila 18: The site of the command bunker of ZOB, the Jewish Fighting Organization during the
Warsaw ghetto uprising in April 1943. Discovered by the Germans on May 8, 1943, the leaders of
the uprising, Mordechai Anielewicz, Arie Wilner and many others, took their own lives. Two
monuments honor their memories and mark their common grave.
Ghetto Wall Marker No. 21: In 2008, the City of Warsaw, in cooperation with the Jewish
Historical Institute, erected 21 vertical markers and a series of plaques inlaid on the ground
indicating the borders of the Warsaw ghetto.
Umschlagplatz Monument: A monument erected in 1988 resembling a freight car used to
transport Jews to the death camps stands on the site from which more than 300,000 Jews were
deported to the Treblinka extermination camp. Scenes from the film “The Pianist” were filmed
just a short distance up Stawki Street.
The Jewish Cemetery: Established in 1806, the Jewish Cemetery on Okopowa Street is one of
the largest active Jewish cemeteries in Europe. There are more than 250,000 graves here, including
those of rabbis, writers, poets, artists, actors, politicians and community members.
A special guided tour will be provided.
The Lauder-Morasha School: Building on the success of a Jewish kindergarten created by a
small group of parents in 1989, the primary school was established in 1994 and the middle school
in 1999. The school, the first under Jewish auspices in Warsaw since 1949, teaches students and
their families about Jewish culture, heritage and tradition. Meeting with the school’s principal.
The Museum of the Warsaw Uprising: The Warsaw Uprising started on August 1, 1944. The
63-day battle, which included some Jewish fighters, ended with over two hundred thousand
casualties and the near-complete destruction of the city.
Praga: We will take a short bus tour of the Praga district. Located on the right bank of the Vistula
River, Praga was home to many of Warsaw’s poorer Jews prior to World War II; the Brudno Cemetery and several pre-war Jewish
community buildings remain today. The district is now being revitalized, having survived the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 under Soviet
occupation. We will be joined by a member of the Praga Museum’s staff. The Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute (JHI):
The Institute is housed in the former Institute for Jewish Studies and Main Judaic Library which was connected to the Great
Synagogue of Warsaw, blown up by the Nazis on May 16, 1943 as a symbol of the “destruction” of Europe’s largest Jewish
community. The Institute was set afire, but survived. Established in 1947, the Institute houses the largest repository of information
about Polish Jewry, in its archives, library and art collections. The Institute’s most precious holding is the Ringelblum Archive of the
Warsaw Ghetto which documents Jewish life during the war. A presentation by a member of the Institute’s staff.
The Jewish Genealogy and Family Heritage
Center provides consultations, research and guidance,
offering visitors from Poland and from around the
world a unique opportunity to explore their own
Polish roots and to discover their own family’s history.
Presentation by the Center’s staff.
By special invitation: Guests from the Jewish community
and Polish cultural and political circles will join us for dinner
and discussion.
Optional: Concert at the National
Opera.
DAY 4: Depart Warsaw for Lublin.
Pulawy and Kazimierz Dolny: Picturesque medieval shtetls, often
recalled in as mythic in the popular imagination. Located on the
Vistula, Kazimierz Dolny is one of the most beautifully situated towns
in Poland. As if untouched by time, it has preserved its 17th-century
Renaissance charm and character. A popular myth relates that the king
for whom the town is named had a passionate love affair with a young
Jewish woman, Esterka..
Naleczow: A famous Polish spa town known for its healing waters.
During the afternoon, we will visit Lublin and sites of Jewish interest
including:
Remnants of the Lublin Ghetto
• The Old Cemetery: The renowned “Seer of Lublin,” a beloved
Hasidic rebbe known for his extraordinary intuitive powers, is buried
in this cemetery.
• Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva: “The Yeshiva of the Sages of Lublin,”
built by Rabbi Meir Shapiro in 1930, was the largest and most
modern center of traditional Jewish study in Europe prior to 1939.
Its beit midrash and mikveh were renovated in 2007 by the Warsaw
Jewish Community. It is now used by the small Jewish community in
Lublin and by visiting groups. We will have a brief meeting with a member
of the Jewish community.
• Brama Grodzka -- “City Gate”: The city gate linked the Old Town
of Lublin with the city’s Jewish quarter.. The gate is testament to the
fact that for a long time Poles and Jews lived side by side in relative
harmony. We will have an opportunity to meet with members of the “Grodzka
Gate -- NN Theater,” known for their innovative educational
programs.
DAY 5: Depart Lublin for Krakow
Majdanek: The former Nazi concentration and death camp was built in October 1941 and liberated by the Soviets in 1944.
Shtetl Lezajsk (Lizhensk): The grave of Rebbe Elimelech, who studied under
the Great Maggid Dov Ber of Mezerich and became the leader of the Hasidic
movement, is located in the cemetery. Lezajsk is the site of annual pilgrimages by
Hasidim from the world over.
•Zamosc: Zamosc, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, is an extraordinary
example of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture and art in the midst of
the eastern Polish country-side. It was designed by architect Bernardo Morando
and built by Jan Zamoyski, an influential Polish nobleman of the region. The
Rynek (Market Square) at Zamosc.
Lancut: Home of Count Potocki’s Palace and the unique Horse Carriage
Museum, as well as a beautifully restored synagogue and a Jewish cemetery with
the grave of the famous Hasidic rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz (Ropczyce). Meet with
local residents involved with the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage’s initiative to
restore and preserve Jewish sites in Poland.
On the way to Krakow, we will stop to see the still-intact bimah of the famous synagogue
in Tarnow, standing alone not far from the old marketplace. We will then continue to Krakow and spend the night at the Krakow Sheraton.
DAY 6: Krakow We will begin our visit to Krakow, which offers Poland’s best preserved sites of Jewish heritage and Poland’s past,
with a walk through the Kazimierz Jewish district, home to many synagogues and the old Jewish cemetery.
- Tempel Synagogue of Krakow: Beautifully renovated; the largest
synagogue in Krakow now used during the High
Holidays and for special events.
- The High (New) Synagogue (1563), the Kupa Synagogue
(1643), the Izaak Synagogue (1644).
- The Stary Synagogue: Built in the 15th century, the Stary Synagogue
is the oldest in Krakow. It currently houses a Museum
of Jewish Art with a beautiful collection of Judaica, including silver,
textiles and manuscripts.
-The Popper Synagogue (1620) -The Remuh Synagogue & Old
Cemetery.
- The Galicia Jewish Museum: The museum commemorates the
victims of the Holocaust and celebrates the Jewish culture of the
Galicia region of Poland. We will have an opportunity to meet the museum’s director.
We will cross the river and visit the former ghetto area, including a newly dedicated monument to victims of Holocaust.
- Remains of the ghetto wall
- The Museum of the “Under the Eagle” Pharmacy: During the war, many non-Jews, such as Dr. Tadeusz Pankiewicz and his
staff, helped Jews by providing food and medicine through this pharmacy located in the Krakow ghetto. The ghetto was liquidated in
1943 and the remaining Jews were transported to the Plaszow and Auschwitz camps.
- Oskar Schindler’s “Emalia” Factory
- Plaszow: Site of the Nazi concentration camp and transfer point.
- Memorials to the Victims of the Holocaust and to 400,000 Hungarian
Jews
We will end our tour with a visit to Krakow’s JCC. Commissioned by Charles,
Prince of Wales, the JCC is the center of Jewish life in Krakow. It offers
programs and activities for all ages, working in cooperation with the Krakow
Jewish Community and many local and international organizations to enrich
Jewish life in the city. We will have an opportunity to meet with the chief rabbi of
Krakow and the director of the JCC.
DAY 7: Auschwitz-Birkenau
We will pay homage to those who suffered and perished in Auschwitz-Birkenau,
the notorious Nazi concentration and death camps. Our visit will help us try to
understand the extent of the horror and terror and to appreciate the miracle that
anyone survived. Auschwitz-Birkenau has been described by Elie Wiesel, a
survivor of Auschwitz, as that which “arouses man’s most secret anguish.”
- Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oswiecim: The center, established in 2000 by
the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, provides an important link between
the town’s pre-war Jewish community and post-war life. We will meet with
Center staff.
DAY 8: Day Tour of Historical Sites of Krakow
- Wawel Royal Castle: High on the hills overlooking the river, the castle was
the seat of the Polish monarchs until 1596.
- “Collegium Maius”: The oldest building of the Jagiellonian
University (Europe’s second oldest university founded 1364) now
serves as a museum housing a collection of scientific instruments,
including the astronomical instruments of Copernicus.
- Czartoryski Museum: Famous for “The Lady with the
Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci.
- The Rynek:A picturesque medieval market square built by
Eastern traders on the famous “Silk Route” from Asia to Europe.
- Wieliczka Salt Mine: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
considered one of the most fascinating places to visit. It was an
active mine for more than 600 years from the 13th century until
2007. Inside the mine, miners created monumental chambers,
chapels and halls filled with art carved entirely out of salt!
DAY 9: Transfer to the airport on your way home or continue on one of the optional tours offered: Prague or Israel.
Tour Cost & Details
*from $2195 land portion only. Cost of the tour is based on dble occ. & minimum
group of 15 participans, dates & seasons. Itineraries can be custom modified and / or
altered to suite your needs. e itinerary is a suggested guideline to tour leaders and groups,
it may be modified and changed by the tour director or respective group tour leaders.
Included: • Meals: All breakfasts plus 3 dinners. One in each city, Warsaw, Lublin, Krakow.
• All entrance fees to sites and events, talks and presentations unless specified as optional.
• All transfers to hotels and tours
• Modern Deluxe AC coach w/ tv • English speaking guide
• 4 & 5 star hotels: Sheraton & Weston.
Not included: • Airfare to Poland (special group rate available upon request) • Personal expenses • Tips
• Travel Insurance (which we strongly advise. Special rates for this as well.) • No visa required Only a valid passport for at least 6 months beyond date of arrival. For more information and reservations please complete the inquiry form and e-mail back to us.
Celebrate the 21st century of our Ashkenazi birthright
Poland Jewish Heritage Tours creates unique itineraries, intellectually stimulating experiences and spiritually upliing heritage tours of
Jewish Poland. Our tours are deigned for people of all ages and backgrounds who are interested in learning more about Ashkenazic Jewish
heritage, their own family histories, and the current revival of Jewish life and culture in Poland. We have a highly qualified and experienced staff, they will enable you to delve into the past, trace your family lineage, participate in today’s
vibrant cultural life, and witness Poland’s remarkable societal change since the 1989 breakdown of Communism and the dawn of the
country’s first real experience in democracy. Only today is it possible to conceive of Poland as a democratic guardian of Jewish heritage and a
strong, European ally of Israel.
“Your tour changed my view of Poland om ‘mass graveyard,’ where my family roots are located, to a country where history is triumphing.
e rebirth of Jewish life is a testament to the tenacity of our culture, traditions and religion. e desire of non-Jews to explore and
understand the 1000 years of contributions of Jews to Polish life…underscores the resilience of the vibrancy of Jewish life.” -- Sue
Diamond, lawyer, CA
Our team of Jewish educators, scholars, culture seekers, and travel experts – from the United States, Poland and Israel – have explored
Ashkenazic heritage in Poland, participated in the historic, international rescue mission to preserve Polish Jewish heritage, and witnessed
the exciting phenomenon of Jewish cultural renewal in the very country that has, for decades, symbolized Nazi Germany’s near-total
annihilation of European Jewry in the Holocaust. Under the aegis of the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture, with offices in California and Poland, we provide life-changing travel
experiences and one-of-a-kind tour offerings, including:
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Private reception with the Chief Rabbi of Poland
Discussions with Jewish community leaders from Poland, Israel, and the United States
Meetings with Polish, American, Israeli government representatives
Genealogical family research
Q&A sessions with scholars-in-residence and experienced tour guides
Cultural exchanges with Jewish youth groups and visits to Jewish day schools
Presentations by former dissidents about the 1989 Democratic Revolution and the subsequent re-emergence of Poland’s Jewish
community
Dr. Ron Wexler
Dr. Ron Wexler, director of the Taube Foundation’s Poland Jewish Heritage Tours, was born and
educated in Israel. He served in the Israel Defense Forces during the Six-Day War in 1967 and in the
Yom Kippur War in 1973. Dr. Wexler’s yeshiva and rabbinical studies and his subsequent research
work in early Christianity and comparative religions provide him with unique perspectives on Jewish
and Christian issues. He is internationally renowned for his inter-religious projects and educational
programs which promote unity and reconciliation. He is the creator of Heritage Study Programs, an
educational center based in Boca Raton, Florida. Dr. Wexler is engaged in numerous projects,
including working with political and religious leaders in the U.S.
and Israel to find practical solutions to the current conflicts
afflicting Israel and the Middle East. He is also the founder and
president of the future Garden of Beatitudes on the shore of the
Sea of Galilee. e Garden will be a cross-cultural spiritual center and learning facility that
will include a devotional garden, theater, classrooms and dormitories, as well as a state-of-the
art conference center and hotel. Dr. Wexler brings his wealth of expertise and experience to
the Taube Tour program, working with individuals and institutions in Poland, Israel and the
U.S. to promote better understanding between Poles and Jews, with an emphasis on
celebrating the 1,000-year-old Jewish contribution to Poland and to world Jewry.
Taube Jewish Heritage Tours to Poland
More than 70 percent of American Jews are of Polish descent, but few of them have had the opportunity to visit Poland and
learn about their heritage beyond the horrors of the Holocaust-until now. Fueled by high demand and keen interest, the Taube
Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture is launching the Cultural Tourism Program, which will provide year-round Jewish
Heritage Tours to Poland beginning in 2010.
"Poland was once the cradle of Jewish life, and Israeli and Diaspora Jewish culture were profoundly shaped by it," said Taube
Foundation Chairman addeus "Tad" Taube, who is of Polish Jewish origin, and was appointed Honorary Consul for the
Republic of Poland in 2007. "Jewish Heritage Tours strengthens our connection to our Jewish roots and preserves our future,
while at the same time it supports and celebrates the Jewish renewal taking place in Poland today."
Dr. Ron Wexler, the Taube travel director with 30 years' experience in the cultural tourism industry, will lead the Foundation's
Cultural Tourism Program. As an avid scholar of Jewish history, Wexler will enhance the program with his own insights and
invaluable foundation of knowledge. "Almost 1,000 years of Jewish history and culture should not be forgotten," Wexler said.
"is great cultural tradition must be retained as a vital dimension of contemporary Jewish life."