The Heritage of Eastern European Judaism & The Holocaust


Central and Eastern Europe has been the center of a flourishing Jewish community for several centuries—in part arising in the 13th century when Jews were invited to immigrate and served as trading merchants between European, Turkish and Italian lands. Although subject to periodic persecutions, the Jewish population of this region grew tremendously in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Large Jewish communities existed in Warsaw, Krakow, Prague and other Central and Eastern European cities. These communities developed a culture that was both distinctive of and resonant with the various national cultures to which they belonged.

Hitler’s Third Reich overtook these lands and carried out its plan to eradicate the Jewish population by first rendering the Jews stateless and then subjecting them to all sorts of brutality and death. This study tour explores both the heritage of this rich Jewish culture and life—and the horrible legacy of the Holocaust.

Overview of Program Objectives:

Introduce the life, practices, and culture of Central and Eastern European Judaism—including its distinctive religious architecture, art, music, and cuisine.


Visit cities where Jewish life prospered—particularly Warsaw, Krakow, Prague and Berlin.
Visit various Jewish museums throughout the region dedicated to preserving the memory of these communities.

Explore the actions taken by Nazi Germany that made the Jews vulnerable to violence and oppression

 

Visit official Nazi headquarters throughout this region—particularly in Berlin—and ponder the historical actions taken against the Jews (such as the Topography of Terror Museum). Visit sites where Jews were processed for deportation to the camps.

Explore the history of the Holocaust—particularly through visits to select concentration camps.

 

Visit concentration camps such as Terezin (with its large Jewish ghetto), Birkenau, and Auschwitz. See exhibits that chronicle the holocaust and the impact it had on families and communities throughout Eastern and Central Europe.

Experience contemporary Eastern European Jewish life—attending synagogue services, eating at kosher restaurants, and walking in the footsteps of contemporary Jewish men and women. This provides an opportunity to witness the rebirth of Eastern European Jewish life after the Holocaust.

 

Visit Jewish communities in Krakow, Prague and Berlin. Attend Sabbath services and meet contemporary leaders of the Jewish communities.

Throughout the program, your group will be hosted by professional program managers who see to the logistics of the program, assuring the coordination of services such as hotel accommodations, meals, local experts, and ground transportation.

We have engaged local experts who are well-versed in Jewish history and in the legacy of the Holocaust. The program, as designed, is non-sectarian—making it useful for academic and interfaith groups. The program can be customized to complement other curriculum and learning objectives associated with a particular course, religious group pilgrimage, or interfaith program.