Temple Beth Ahm Yisraels Poland Prague Budapest Jewish Heritage Journey with Rabbi Mark and Genya Mallach October 23 - November 3, 2011 Optional extensions available - Vienna - Amsterdam - Jerusalem

Explore the history and stories of Jewish Eastern Europe, gain a greater understanding of the impossible situations facing the Jews during the Holocaust.

Come and join Rabbi Mallach on the most powerful journey you may ever take. This tour is an opportunity to enrich your knowledge of our Jewish history and understand your Jewish soul.

Tour Highlights:
Round trip flights NY Area /Warsaw-Krakow/Prague-BudaPest/NY Area:
Warsaw's Jewish Historical Institute, Gesia Cemetery, Modern Warsaw, Meeting with Jews living in Warsaw today, Shaharit at Warsaw's Nozyk synagogue, Warsaw Ghetto, Umshlagplatz, Krakow, Village of Gur, Gerer Rebbe and his matzah bakery, Kielce, Magnificent Old Jewish Quarter of rakow, Altneushul, Rema Synagogue, Kupa Synagogue, Isaac Synagogue, Krakow's Holocaust sites: the Ghetto, Pharmacy, Plaszow Concentration Camp. uschwitz Concentration Camp, Birkenau, Prague's Rich Jewish Heritage, Jewish Quarter, Old Jewish Cemetery, Old Town Square, Kabbalat Shabbat with he Prague Masorti Congregation, Kafka's Prague, Lidice, Terezin Holocaust era secret synagogue, Czech and Slovakian countryside to Hungary,Trebic, Jewish ghetto, Budapest, Vatsi Utza, Heroes' Square, Parliament, Doheny Synagogue, Jewish Museum, Holocaust Memorial, Buda Fisherman's village, Wallenberg Memorial in Budapest, Balint JCC to meet with representatives of the Jewish Community, Danube River boat ride, Shoes on the Danube Memorial, Excursion to Szentendre, Ethnic Hungarian entertainment and so much more!

  Itinerary

Sunday, 23 October - USA Departure NY area airport
Depart on overnight flight to Warsaw.

Monday, 24 October - Destruction and Rebirth
Morning arrival in Warsaw. Tour Warsaw's Jewish Historical Institute, beginning with unique artifacts from pre-war Poland and moving into the years of Jewish death and destruction. Visit the Gesia Cemetery, where many Torah scholars and leaders of the pre-Holocaust Warsaw Jewish community are buried. Overview of modern Warsaw by bus Dinner at the hotel (vegetarian, fish). Evening meeting with Jews living in Warsaw today.
Overnight: Le Meridian Bristol Hotel, Warsaw

Tuesday, 25 October - Through the Polish Countryside and Back in Jewish Time
Optional: Shaharit at Warsaw's Nozyk Synagogue. Walk through the Warsaw Ghetto area, ending at the Umshlagplatz, from which deportations took place. Travel south, towards Krakow Stop in the village of Gur, where the courtyard of the Gerer Rebbe and his matzah bakery can still be seen. Stop in Kielce, where Jews who returned home after the Holocaust were killed in a terrible post-war pogrom. Arrive in Krakow for hotel check-in and dinner.
Overnight: Holiday Inn City Center, Krakow

Wednesday, 26 October - Krakow's Jewish Heritage
This morning we take a walking tour of the magnificent Old Jewish Quarter of Krakow including, the Altneushul, Rema Synagogue, newly renovated Kupa Synagogue, the Isaac Synagogue. (Each of these has been turned into a Jewish museum with different exhibits; number of stops depends on time available.) Afternoon bus tour of Krakow's Holocaust sites: the Ghetto, the Pharmacy, and Plaszow Concentration Camp. Restaurant dinner (vegetarian/fish).
Overnight: Holiday Inn City Center, Krakow

Thursday, 27 October - The Horrors of Systematic Destruction
Pay respects at a memorial forest just outside of Krakow that is the site of a mass grave. Travel to the memorial museum at Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Walk through the barracks and death machine of Birkenau, where millions of Jews lived and died. Return to Krakow for flight to Prague. Hotel check-in and dinner.
Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel, Prague

Friday, 28 October - Prague's Rich Jewish Heritage
Spend the morning in the Jewish Quarter visiting the various synagogues that make up the Jewish Museum: Althneushul, Maisel, Pinkas, Klaus, and Spanish synagogues. Walk through the unique Old Jewish Cemetery. Proceed to the Old Town Square with its medieval City Hall Tower and astronomical clock. Kabbalat Shabbat with the Prague Masorti Congregation. Shabbat dinner at Dinitz Restaurant (kosher).
Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel, Prague

Shabbat, 29 October - Shabbat in Prague
Shabbat services at Prague's Masorti Synagogue. Catered Shabbat lunch at the beautiful home of the president of Prague's Masorti synagogue, to be joined by Rabbi Hoffberg and some members of his congregation, including informal briefings about Prague's Jewish Community of today and Masorti in Prague as well as an opportunity to socialize with local Masorti Jews. Afternoon walking tour of Kafka's Prague. Evening: Enjoy a performance by Prague's unique Black Theatre (included).
Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel, Prague

Sunday, 30 October - Terezin
Depart Prague for Lidice, the Czech town destroyed by Hitler, and visit the extraordinary new multi-media museum and children's monument. Travel to Terezin to visit what the Nazis called the "Model Concentration Camp". Tour the fortress and the recently discovered Holocaust era secret synagogue of the Danish Jews. Return to Prague for a free evening.
Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel, Prague

Monday, 31 October - The Czech and Slovakian Countryside
Depart Prague this morning to make our way through the Czech and Slovakian countryside to Hungary. Stop on the way in Trebic, a Jewish ghetto fabulously preserved from the Middle Ages (UNESCO Heritage Site). Arrive in Budapest. Late afternoon walk on the boardwalk of the Danube River and a visit to a unique food market (time permitting) OR Walk on Vatsi Utza, the famous pedestrian walkway in downtown Pest. Hotel check-in and dinner (vegetarian, fish).
Overnight: Andrassy Hotel, Budapest

Tuesday, 1 November - Budapest Legacy
Morning panoramic bus tour of Buda and Pest, including the Heroes' Square, Parliament, Doheny Synagogue, Jewish Museum, and Holocaust Memorial, with entrances to Doheny Synagogue and Jewish Museum. Visit the Buda Fisherman's Village and the Kings Palace, followed by a stop at the Wallenberg Memorial in Buda. Visit the Balint JCC to meet with representatives of the Jewish Community, especially students. Free time for dinner, on one's own. Evening: Enjoy a Danube River boat ride, with beautiful illuminated views of the city along both banks.
Overnight: Andrassy Hotel, Budapest

Wednesday, 2 November - Along the Danube
Visit the Shoes on the Danube Memorial. Excursion to Szentendre, a small town and artist colony on the Danube Bend with winding streets, colorful homes, narrow alleyways, and many small galleries, cafes, and handicraft stalls. Festive Hungarian farewell dinner.
Overnight: Andrassy Hotel, Budapest

Thursday, 3 November - Departure
Depart for Budapest Airport to board mid-morning flight to USA - Arrive in Newark. Begin planning your next Israel or Jewish Heritage trip with ITC Tours!

*Itinerary Subject to Change