The 20TH Jewish Culture Festival In Krakow

The 20th Jewish Culture Festival in Cracow is one of the most important and largest events of its kind in the world. The First Festival took place in 1988 and its program focused on a scholarly conference on the encounter between two cultures - Jewish and Polish. Shaped by outstanding figures in various fields of Jewish culture and art, the Festival became over time a place where Jews and non-Jews from all over the world could meet. They are linked by the shared values that they find in Kazimierz and Krakow, the location of the Festival. For over a week, Kazimierz resounds with Hazzanut, klezmer music, and Hassidic, classical, and Jewish folk music. There are films, performances, presentations, and exhibitions to see and stories to listen to. The Festival is a span of the symbolic bridge where Poles and Jews meet to strengthen the process of understanding and reconciliation. The Jewish Culture Festival in Cracow is a symbol of tolerance, pluralism, and the faith that we have a chance, through the celebration of Jewish culture and the celebration of life, to build mutual relations based on truth and respect.

For a period of 1,000 years Polish Jewry – from the Middle Ages until the Holocaust - was the largest and most important of the Jewish communities in Europe. During that time, Jewish religion and culture flourished in Poland on the one hand, despite the existence of anti-Semitism, persecution, pogroms and expulsions on the other. This all climaxed with the brutal murder of the vast majority of Poland's 3.4 million Jews.

Between the two World Wars Jewish culture in Poland advanced on two parallel paths – the religious and the secular. On the religious side, Poland became a huge center of Torah study. There were many yeshivot, and Poland's rabbis were considered the primary decisors of the period. On the secular side, Jewish writers, poets, satirists and journalists blossomed and produced multifarious works. Daily Yiddish newspapers were available on the streets everywhere. Youth movements developed and gained strength: 'Hashomer Hatzair,' 'Gordonia' and 'Hechalutz' to name but a few.

Our tour combines the enjoyment of this fascinating international Jewish cultural festival with the opportunity to visit the places that are so important to Jewish culture in Europe in general and Poland in particular.

Full Itinerary

Day 1 Thursday June 24, 2010 Krakow

Arrival to Krakow, meeting and orientation at the hotel.

Day 2 Friday June 25, 2010 Krakow

After breakfast we'll depart for our full day tour in the area. We'll visit the salt mines in the village of Wieliczka Rabka. These are among the oldest mines in the world and have been active ever since the 15th century. It is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mine employed Jewish slave laborers during World War II. From there we'll make our way to the town of Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains, Zakopane is poland's premier ski resort and is a world renowned vacation village. From Zakopane we'll head back to Krakow to prepare for Shabbat. Shabbat services in the Krakow Synagogue with international Hazanim Ben Zion Miller and Yaakov Motzen, and the choir of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue under the baton of Eli Jaffe. After services we'll enjoy a traditional Shabbat eve dinner.

Day 3 Shabbat June 26, 2010 Krakow

Shabbat services in the Krakow Synagogue with international Hazanim Ben Zion Miller and Yaakov Motzen, and the choir of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue under the baton of Eli Jaffe. After services we'll enjoy a traditional Shabbat lunch and then go out for a walking tour of the synagogues in Kazimierz, the old quarter of Krakow. On Motzaei Shabbat we'll participate in a "melave malka" with all the Hazzanim and the choir.

Day 4 Sunday June 27, 2010 Auschwitz-Birkenau

After breakfast, we'll drive to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Here we will bear witness to the extermination of Jews from all over Europe. This is a day with a lot of walking, so it's advisable to wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately. From Birkenau we'll continue to Auschwitz to visit the museum there. We'll then return to Krakow and to the festival events.

Day 5 Monday June 28, 2010 Krakow – Tarnow – Lancut – Lezensk – Lublin

We'll bid a fond farewell to Krakow and travel to Tarnow, one of the oldest towns in Poland, where a Jewish community existed ever since the 15th century. We'll visit the forest near the town and learn about the fate of its Jewish population during the Holocaust period. From there we'll continue to visit two other villages in Galicia; Lancut where we'll see the synagogue of the "Seer" of Lublin, and the neighboring village of Lezensk, home of Rabbi Elimelech of Lezensk, author of "Noam Elimelech." We'll continue to Lublin, where we'll spend the night.

Day 6 Tuesday June 29, 2010 Lublin – Kazimirz Dolni – Warsaw

After breakfast we'll visit the famous Yeshiva of Lublin where the "Daf Yomi" was founded by Rabb Meir Shaipro. We'll continue to the impressive colossal memorial at the site of the former concentration and death camp of Majdanek. Our journey continues to the picturesque village of Kazimierz-Dolni on the banks of the Visla River. Overnight in Warsaw.

Day 7 Wednesday June 30, 2010 Warsaw

The capital of Poland, Warsaw is an impressive and increasingly modern city. Here we'll visit the former Jewish Ghetto and the Jewish Historical Institute, as well as enormous Jewish cemetery. We'll also visit the inspiring Nozik Synagogue – the last remnant of the many synagogues that dotted the city of Warsaw in former times.

Day 8 Thursday July 1, 2010 Warsaw – Home Gateway

We'll bring our tour to Poland to an end with a tour of the Path of Heroism where the brave fighters of the Warsaw ghetto held their last stand against the overwhelming forces of the Nazis in Poland. Transfer to the airport for our flights to our home gateways.

** Any one wishing to add a "Roots Tour" at the end of this package is invited to request it from our
office

Important:

• There may be changes to the schedule and hotel reservations dependent upon internal flights. We will make every effort to visit every location mentioned.

PRICE INCLUDES

• First tourist class hotels
• Comfortable air-conditioned touring coach for travelling
• Breakfast and dinner daily and supplies for making sandwiches for lunch
• Professional experienced Israeli guide
• Local English-speaking Guide as required
• Porterage and tips for local service providers
• Entrance to all sites mentioned in the tour plan

PRICE EXCLUDES

• International flights
• Travel and baggage Insurance
• Personal expenses
• Evening entertainment that is not included in the tour plan
• Tip for our tour guide (Recommended: $3 per person per day)

Deposit, Cancellation Fees & Policy:
A $500 USD Deposit per person must be received at the time of booking in order to confirm your reservation. Payment in full is due 90 days before departure. A minimum number of participants are required to operate tour dates. If a minimum number has not been reached prior to tour departure and the tour is cancelled you will receive a FULL refund.


• 90 days before departure bookings are refundable less a $100 administration fee
• 60-90 days prior to departure: $500 + $100 per passenger
• 30-60 days prior to departure: $1,000 + $100 per passenger
• Less than 30 working days prior to departure: 100% of total - no refund
• We strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance encompassing both cancellation and medical insurance is very important and we can not stress that enough. We strongly recommend that our clients are adequately insured when travelling. It is crucial to purchase the travel insurance within 14 days from the 1st payment that you make for this trip (flights/cruise/tour etc). Your payment is made directly to the insurance company.

We highly recommend the 'cancel for any reason' upgrade option.

Our preferred policies are Travel Safe (USA & Canadian residents), Travel Select (USA residents) and Global Trip Protection Elite (All other Nationalities).

For an obligation free quote and further details email Yonah insurance@eddiestravel.com