Join us on an emotional and spellbinding journey to Poland, once the hub of Jewish life around the world and home to 3.5 million Jews. Poland is usually associated with bleak greyness because of the Holocaust but we will also be experiencing this fascinating and enchanting country through a colorful lens as we explore the rich pre-war cultural and intellectual contributions of Polish Jews that pushed boundaries and left a distinctive impact on the world. It’s not only Poland’s past that is colorful but also its present and future as we encounter the revival of Jewish life today, a testimony to the resilience of the Jewish people in the face of brutality and devastation. In a small and intimate setting with like-minded travelers, your expert educator will take you back in time through the complexity and richness of Jewish history in Poland while introducing you to a country of extraordinary beauty and culture – from Krakow’s medieval markets and klezmer music to Warsaw’s creative street art and the Warsaw Zoo, a large green island in the middle of the city that was inspiration for The Zookeeper’s Wife.
Overnight: Flight
Meals Included: Dinner
Overnight: Krakow
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Krakow
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Krakow
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Warsaw
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Warsaw
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Warsaw
I’d like to invite you to join me on a journey to unravel the Jewish story of Poland. Legend has it that when the first Jews arrived in Poland, the birds on the trees would sing to them “Po-Lin, Po-Lin.” Identifying the two words as Hebrew for “lodge” and “here,” the Jews decided to build their homes and future right there. Since then, the Hebrew name for Poland is Polin, home to countless generations of Jews. My family also originates from Poland, but It is not only my personal roots that connects me to the country, but also our common Jewish roots. From the old and dilapidated synagogues of long-forgotten shtetls to the mighty capital cities to the tragic end that Polish Jews met during the Holocaust, the Jewish story can be felt everywhere, woven in thin threads, touching the past and present.
For 15 years, I have shared in people’s amazement at discovering the Jewish story, meeting the people of the past, and hearing their voices in the places they lived. I cannot wait for you to experience with me this vast and beautiful country, rich with history, culture, and wonder.