2023 Jewish Journey to Eastern Europe
May 21-30, 2023
THIS TRIP IS SOLD-OUT.
The Workers Circle Jewish Journey to Lithuania and Poland is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Yiddishkayt culture in the places where it all began. Led by a team of historians and scholars, this trip takes participants on a guided tour of dozens of historic landmarks and cities that once were centers of Jewish life. Presented in partnership with Taube Jewish Heritage Tours based out of Warsaw, we are joined daily by local tour guides, educators, scholars, and special guests.
Questions about the trip? Read our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Program Fee Includes:
10 days/9 nights
5-star hotels
Most meals (as indicated in itinerary), including all breakfasts and lunches
Ground transportation via deluxe coach
Full-time scholar-in-residence, Dr. Tomasz Cebulski and private sessions with educators
Private guides and tours with the group
Full-time tour manager
Entrance fees, passes, and tickets
Professor Dovid Katz, special guest scholar in Lithuania
Airport transfers: on first and last day of the tour
The fee does not include:
Airfare
Taxis
Any additional International health/travel insurance (mandatory)
Personal expenses
Tour staff gratuities
Optional excursions and/or private tours
Pre- and post-tour accommodations
2023 Jewish Journey to Eastern Europe Itinerary
Itinerary highlights subject to change
We have planned an ambitious and active itinerary for this trip to take our delegation on a once-in-a lifetime Jewish heritage experience. We include many special guests and local experiences in addition to the many historic sites to provide our group with unique access to local foods, Judaic artisans, and historic marketplaces. Each day’s journey will be framed by our Scholar-in-Residence, Tomasz Cebulski, Ph.D., along with local guides.
*Most days participants will walk from 3-5 miles.
Day 1: Sunday, May 21, Vilnius
Arrival at Vilnius International Airport (earlier Saturday arrivals are encouraged). Introduction and orientation to Vilnius, including walking tour of historic center, followed by welcome presentation.
Group Dinner
Day 2: Monday, May 22, Vilnius
Guided walking tour of the Vilnius Old Town, including visiting sites in the former Jewish Ghetto and the historic Choral Synagogue, the only remaining active synagogue in Vilnius, followed by a visit to the official Jewish Community Center (the “LJC”) in Vilnius.
Optional walking tours of either Prospect Giedymina (historic marketplace with shopping) or one featuring local amber shops or free time.
Group Dinner
Day 3: Tuesday, May 23, Vilnius
Visit to the Ponary Memorial.
Lunch and discussion with the chairperson of the Vilnius Jewish Community
Bus tour with stop at Lukiškės Square, site where the Jewish Labor Bund was founded in 1897.
Dinner on your own (suggestions provided)
Day 4: Wednesday, May 24, Vilnius – Warsaw
Visit the site of the Treblinka Death Camp, now a Memorial and Museum of Struggle and Martyrdom.
Travel to Warsaw.
Group Dinner
Day 5: Thursday, May 25, Warsaw
Guided visit of the Okopowa Jewish Cemetery followed by walking tour to the Umschlagplatz Memorial and Mila 18, the site where the headquarters bunker of the Jewish Combat Organization (the “ZOA”) fought their final battle, now a gravesite memorial to the heroic Warsaw Ghetto Partisans.
Lunch in the POLIN Museum, followed by audio-guided tour through POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
Dinner on your own (suggestions provided)
Day 6: Friday, May 26, Warsaw
Walk from the hotel to the historic Nozyk synagogue, where we will meet with Michael Schudrich, Chief Rabbi of Poland
Visit to the Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute.
Group Lunch at Taube Center’s Headquarters
Travel to Praga district:
Tour A) Visit to the Polish Vodka Museum in Praga district
Tour B) Visit the Warsaw Zoo, which highlights the extraordinary story of non-Jewish Poles who risked their lives and those of family members to save Jews during the German occupation.
Optional Shabbos progressive services at Ec Chaim
Group Shabbos Dinner
Day 7: Saturday, May 27, Warsaw – Krakow
Travel to Krakow via Szydlowiec.
Arrival in Szydlowiec, a village that was a majority Jewish community in pre-war Poland. Drive to Royal Castle in Chęciny.
Group Lunch Outdoors
Drive to Krakow
Session “How we visit Auschwitz” with Dr. Tomasz Cebulski
Group Dinner in the Hotel
Day 8: Sunday, May 28
Krakow: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum: Into The Darkness
Walk to the Ghetto Heroes Sq. in Krakow
Monument at the former Plaszow concentration camp
Travel to Auschwitz-Birkenau
Reflections in the Yad Vashem Pavilion
Tour of Birkenau with scholar-in-residence
Dinner on your own (suggestions will be provided)
Day 9: Monday, May 29
Krakow: The Ancient Capital of Polish Kings and Krokeh - Jewish Krakow: Richness Of The Past, Challenges Of The Present
Visit Galicia Jewish Museum
Guided walking tour of Kazimierz, Jewish quarter founded in the 15th century. A medieval historic site where Jewish synagogues and much of the historic Jewish quarter remains intact.
Group Lunch and meeting with Janusz Makuch, Director, Jewish Culture Festival.
Meeting at the JCC Krakow with Jonathan Ornstein, Director.
Free afternoon, with recommended options:
Walking guided tour from the Old Town Market Square through Wawel Royal Castle Grounds to Kazimierz
Shopping at the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice).
Visit to the Krakow Main Square Undergrounds Museum.
Shopping at the Galeria Krakowska or Galeria Kazimierz shopping malls.
Walk along the Vistula river.
Visit to the local market at Plac Nowy and famous Polish fastfood snack, zapiekanki (pizza breads packed with toppings)
Visit to MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art.
Farewell group dinner in the Old Town combined with Workers Circle CEO, Ann Toback’s talk on vodka with vodka sampling!
Tuesday, May 30, Krakow: Departures
Optional Tour of Lodz begins
Transportation from the hotel to Krakow International Airport (KRK) will be arranged.
Transportation to the airport is scheduled 3 hours before the departure time.