Germany-Poland

 Jewish tours to Germany and Poland – From Roots to Revival

Germany-Poland represents the geographical epicenter of the Holocaust. At the same time, these two countries are also the richest repositories of European Jewish history. These are no less than Jewish homelands, and their cultural contributions to Jewish life worldwide are ever-present. This journey will take you from the looming darkness of the Wannsee Conference in Berlin to the academic revival of Judaica Studies in Wroclaw, and the bright lodestar of a dynamic Jewish Museum in Warsaw.

Over the course of ten days, you will encounter centuries-long history, from destruction and devastation to reconstruction and revival. This Jewish Heritage tour of Germany-Poland is no less than a “think-piece,” with focus on the rich, often tragic, Jewish European history — and the joyful re-emergence of its enduring, unquenchable soul.

Other tours to Germany or Poland:

EXPLORE OUR 7 DAYS JEWISH TOURS TO GERMANY AND POLAND

Explore Our 7 days Jewish tours to Poland

Explore Our 11 days Jewish tours to Poland

EXPLORE OUR 7 DAYS JEWISH TOURS TO GERMANY

EXPLORE OUR 10 JEWISH TOURS TO GERMANY

Day 1 Monday Berlin

Begin the journey in Germany and Poland in Berlin, historically pivotal and the site, today, of an amazing influx of Jewish consciousness. Begin with “Check Point Charlie,” followed by a visit to the Topography of Terror. Continue, via the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, to the Brandenburg Gate, symbol of Berlin, and the imposing Reichstag, seat of the Weimar Republic and current German Parliament. Next, visit the Jewish Quarter, where you will see Otto Weidt’s unforgettably moving “Workshop for the Blind,” the Rosenstrasse Memorial, and the lively area around the New (Orainienburger) Synagogue, Berlin’s golden-domed Jewish landmark. Crown the day with a visit to the imposing historic Ryke Strasse Synagogue, the largest shul in Germany today. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Hilton Hotel. (B)

Day 2 Tuesday Berlin

This morning explore the outskirts of Berlin and Potsdam. First, stop in Grunewald, a prosperous suburb of Berlin. Grunewald Train Station was the main deportation center for Berlin’s Jews. Tragically, the last transport occurred in March 1945. It is worth noting that an obstinate Nazi regime continued to murder Jews even in its final decline, two months before defeat. Next, stop at the house of the Wannsee Conference, where the “Final Solution” was planned. A short drive aways, arrive in Potsdam, home to the Sanssouci Palace and Cecilienhof, where the Potsdam conference took place, with Churchill, Stalin and Truman. Potsdam was also the center of the German film studios. In the afternoon, return to Berlin and a visit to the wondrous Berlin Jewish Museum. Finished in 2001, this architecturally profound structure was designed by Polish-born Jewish-American architect Daniel Libeskind, and provides an unparalleled look at 2,000 years of Jewish history. Today, it is one of the most-visited sights in Berlin. Hilton Hotel. (B)

Day 3 Wednesday Wroclaw – Auschwitz – Krakow

Depart Berlin by coach and arrive in Wroclaw, formerly known as the German town of Breslau. Often referred to as the Venice of Poland, this city stands today as one of the most beautiful locations in this country. Enjoy a walking tour in Wrocslaw’s historic Old Town. Later, visit the University, which houses the Center for Judaica Studies. Continue to the White Stork Synagogue, which after a decade-long renovation, once again is the beloved religious and cultural center of the Jewish Community of Wroclaw. Check-in at the hotel in the late afternoon. Monopol Hotel. (B)

Day 4 Thursday Wroclaw – Auschwitz – Krakow

This morning, depart Wroclaw and drive south to Oswiecim to pay respects at Auschwitz. This site, the epicenter of Nazi atrocities, has ultimately become an international symbol of the Holocaust. Millions come to honor the memories of those who perished, as well as to pay tribute to those who survived. The visit will include both Auschwitz and nearby Birkenau (also known as Auschwitz II). In the late afternoon, continue to Krakow. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel, located in the quaint Kazimierz section of the city – Krakow’s former Jewish district. Ester Hotel. (B)

Day 5 Friday Krakow

Krakow, unlike Warsaw, was not destroyed during the German occupation. Its historic buildings and squares, along with its seven remaining synagogues, therefore, provide an entrance into Poland’s rich cultural past. First, embark on a walking tour of Krakow’s Kazimierz district, which will include, the synagogues, the Old Cemetery and the Krakow’s JCC. In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Old Krakow, formerly the Royal Capital of Poland. The tour will pass the Wawel Royal Castle, Collegium Maius (the oldest building in Jagiellonian University), and the Market Square, with its famous Cloth Hall at the center. Visit the city’s underground museum below the Cloth Hall, and view works of great local artists, gaining insight into the city’s deep historical and cultural roots. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Optional Shabbat Dinner. Ester Hotel. (B)

Day 6 Saturday Krakow

This morning, enjoy a walking tour which will include a visit to Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum. It commemorates the famous Righteous Gentile memorialized in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning film. Oscar Schindler’s factory It is widely thought to be one of the most fascinating museums in all of Poland. Afternoon is at leisure to explore the city on your own, or join an optional tour to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  Ester Hotel. (B)

Day 7 Sunday Krakow – Lodz

Depart Krakow, heading towards Lodz, Poland’s third largest city. It is currently known as a center for filmmaking, and therefore sometimes referred to as “Holly Lodz.” In the afternoon, tour the city, once the heart of Poland’s textile manufacturing. It is also known as the “city of four cultures”: Jewish, Polish, German, and Russian. One of its prominent 19th-century citizens was Jewish industrialist and philanthropist Izrael Poznanski. His former palace is now the city’s museum, and his factory is now a commercial as well as a cultural center. Next, visit the Radegast Train Station Memorial, as well as the Park of the Survivors. This memorial honors those who survived Lodz ghetto, along with the Polish heroes who saved Jewish lives. Jan Karski’s Bench is particularly moving. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Andel’s Hotel. (B)

Day 8 Monday Lodz – Warsaw

This morning, drive to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. This city is truly experiencing a Jewish revival. Today visit the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN). The Jewish Museum provides a truly incomparable entree for visitors from around the world (Jews as well as gentiles) into the Polish Jewish experience, narrating 1,000 years of Jewish life. Enjoy a special guided tour, with time afterward to view the temporary exhibitions. In the afternoon, visit the Emmanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute, as well as the Warsaw Ghetto, where valiant Jews held off the Nazi onslaught for nearly a month. Remainder of the day at leisure. Radisson Collection Hotel. (B)

Day 9 Tuesday Warsaw

Begin this day with a visit to the Jewish cemetery on Okopowa Street – uniquely one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe (or, for that matter, the world). Then, tour the Warsaw Uprising Museum, which opened in 2004, 60 years after the historic event. In the afternoon, visit the bronze art nouveau statue celebrating romantic composer Frederic Chopin, scenically placed next to Warsaw’s Botanical Gardens. Finally, enjoy a stroll in the scenic, cobblestoned Old Town of Warsaw. Radisson Collection Hotel. (B)

Day 10 Wednesday Warsaw – Home Flight

Time for an early breakfast. Afterwards, transfer to the airport for return flights, or continue on a post-tour extension beyond the Germany-Poland experience. (B)