The Baltics
July 16-28, 2009
$3,949 per person based on double occupancy
Tour Includes:
- Roundtrip airfare from New York
- 11 nights in first class hotel accommodations
- 3 nights at the Grand Palace Hotel in Riga
- 1 night at the Kaunus Hotel in Kaunus
- 2 nights at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Vilnius
- 5 nights at the Minsk Hotel in Minsk
- Breakfast daily
- 5 Dinners including Shabbat Dinner in Minsk
- All touring with an English speaking guide
- Sightseeing per itinerary in a deluxe motorcoach
- All transfers and entrance fees per itinerary
- Hotel taxes and service charge
- Porterage
Freatured Highlights:
- The Ayelet Difference: Lectures by
Professor Stephen Berk - Jewish Heritage tour of RIga including the Jewish Quarter, the memorial for the Great Synagogue, and the Jewish Cemetery
- Visit Slaspils memorial site
- City tour of Riga including the Old Town, Castle of Riga, and St. Peter's Church
- Jewish Heritage tour of Kaunus including the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum and Memorial, and the Children's Memorial
- Visit to Zezmariai to see the surviving wooden synagogue
- Jewish Heritage tour of Vilnius including the Jewish Quarter, the Great Vilna Synagogue, and the former ghettos
- Vilnius landmarks including the Gediminas Castle
- Vitebsk tour including the Chagall House Museum
- Jewish Heritage tour of Minsk including the "Yama" monument and Pravednikov Lane, the surviving synagogue and Yeshiva
- Tour of Mir including the Holocaust Memorial, the Yeshiva, and the Jewish ghetto
- Tour of Pinsk including a meeting with Jewish community members
- And so much more!
Itinerary:
Day 1, Thursday, July 16, 2009: We depart from the United States on our overnight flight to Riga.
Day 2, Friday, July 17, 2009: Upon arrival we meet our local representative and transfer to our hotel. We then enjoy a pnoramic tour fo the city including the Old Tower, the Castle of Riga, the Dome Cathedral, Swedish Gate, and St. Peter's Church. Tonight we enjoy Shabat dinner together. Overnight Riga.
Day 3, Saturday, July 18, 2009: We enjoy breakfast at the hotel and a full day at leisure to explore the city on our own. Overnight Riga.
Day 4, Sunday, July 19, 2009: After breakfast and a lecture from Dr. Berk, we visit the Jewish Quarter including the memorial for the burnt Great Synagogoue. Visit the Jewish community musem "Jews in Latvia", the jewish cemetery, and the Jewish memorials in Rumbula and Bikerkieki. We continue to Salaspils to visit the memorial site of the concentration camp. Return to Riga for overnight.
Day 5, Monday, July 20, 2009: After breakfast we depart for Kaunus. Upon arrival, we tour the small Jewish subub and ghetto in Slobodka. We visit the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Seventh and Ninth Forts, site of hte Nazi's mass extermination of thousands of Jews during World War II. Visit the Holocaust Museum and Memorial at the Ninth Fort, and tour the synagogue and Children's Memorial. This afternoon we will aslo visit the house of the famous poet Leah Goldberg. Dinner together this evening. Overnight Kaunus.
Day 6, Tuesday, July 21, 2009: Breakfast. We depart Kaunus this morning on our way to Vilnius. Along the way we stop in Zezmariai to hear the story of a unique Jewish community, and visit the surviving wooden synagogue. Upon arrival in Vilnius we take tour of the city, including the Gediminas Castle, where we enjoy panoramic views of major landmarks including the Cathedral and the Presidential Palace. Overnight Vilnius.
Day 7, Wednesday, July 22, 2009: After breakfast with Dr. Berk, we enjoy a Jewish Heritage tour of Vilnius, beginning with a walking tour of the medieval Jewish Quarter. As we walk along the lanes and couryards, we stop to learn about the Great Vilna Synagogue and the Gaon of Vilna. Visit the small and large ghettos where more than 40,000 Jews lived. In the afternoon we visit the Jewish Cemetery of Vilnius to learn more about the many imporant Jews buried here. We also view the "Cheap Houses" built by Baron Hirsch as affordable housing for Jews in the area. Overnight Vilnius.
Day 8, Thursday, July 23, 2009: After breakfast we depart Vilnius on our way to Minsk. This afternoon we enjoy a city tour of Minsk, including Independence Square with the Government Building and Victory Square's Eternal Flame, commemorating the heroes of World War II... If time allows, we will then travel a short distance to the Khatyn complex, a memorial to victims of World War II... Overnight Minsk.
Day 9, Friday, July 24, 2009: After breakfast with Dr. Berk we travel to Vitebsk to tour the Chagall House Museum to view the works and home of the famous artist. We then return to Minsk and enjoy a city tour including the "Yama" monument and Pravednikov Lane, the memorial to those who saved Jews during World War II. We visit the surviving synagogue and Yeshiva before meeting with the Minsk Jewish community for Shabbat services and dinner. Overnight Minsk.
Day 10, Saturday, July 25, 2009: After breakfast we enjoy the day at leisure in Minsk. Overnight Minsk.
Day 11, Sunday, July 26, 2009: After breakfast and a lecture from Dr. Berk, we depart for a day excursion to Mir. Here we visit the Yeshiva that existed between 1617-1939 and the Holocaust Memorial, and visit the 16th century castle where the Jewish ghetto was located. Continue to Slonim to view the 17th century synagogue, the Jewish housing and cemetery. Dinner together this evening. Return to Minsk for overnight.
Day 12, Monday, July 27, 2009: After breakfast with Dr. Berk, we enjoy a full day tour of Pinsk, including teh sites where Chaim Weitzmann and Golda Meir used to work and study. We visit the synagogue and meet with members of Pinsk's Jewish community this afternoon. Later on we enjoy a riverboat cruise. Return to Minsk for farewell dinner together. Overnight Minsk.
Day 13, Tuesday, July 28, 2009: We transfer to the airport for our flight home.
The Memories Last Forever!
*Itinerary subject to change.
For more information call the Office of Alumni Relations at (518) 388-6168.