"Rejoicing for what was; commemorating what is no longer."
Your Guides
Sydney Jewish Community
Tour to Poland
September 10-16, 2024
The history of Jewish life in Poland/Europe is an important part of many (Australian) Jew’s identity…. But it is not only history, it is our story – your story.
Join us on a transformative exploration of the Enigma of Poland – the place where we flourished and the place where we perished. Learn about the birth of Ashkenazi Judaism (the Judaism we practice today) as we bring to life those who led and taught us. Examine the development of Nazism and with it, the erosion of Jewish life as we knew it. Visit the infamous places where the Nazi’s final solution was implemented and goal of a Judenfrei (Jew free) Europe was almost fulfilled. Learn from your past to shape our future.
This unique tour of Poland will enable participants to examine the Jewish experience, before, during and after the Holocaust. It is an opportunity to learn, identify, question, and understand.
Other than Israel, Australia took in more Holocaust survivors (per capita) than any other county in the world. As such, she has a rich Jewish community which has the holocaust experience as a major influence. Every Jew, every Australian Jew, benefits from an intimate knowledge of what happened in Europe. This is your opportunity to deepen your knowledge by travelling the roads our ancestors trod, with the aim of deepening your understanding. In the words of Winston Churchill “Those that don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it”.
Your Guides
The tour will be led by two world class Holocaust educators, who bring with them a unique perspective to Holocaust education.
Rabbi David Abrahamovitz
David was born in Toronto, Canada, and has been living in Israel since 2004. He is the founder and director of The World That Was tours. David views studying history as essential to improving the world. Since 2007, he has led tours for students and adults, including Yeshivas, seminaries, high schools, synagogues, and Christian groups. His guiding is informative and passionate. He has had the honor of guiding Moriah’s IST Poland tours and in September ‘23 he visited Sydney on a speaking tour. David lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife, Aliza, and their children. Aliza is the assistant director of The World That Was.
Mrs. Ariane Schneider
Ariane was born in Sydney, Australia. Although qualified as an occupational therapist, her passion for and belief in quality, meaningful, accessible Holocaust education, for Jews and non-Jews alike, led to a career based at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Here she worked first as a volunteer guide and later, as an employee of the Museum in the capacity of Education Officer. After making Aliyah in 2019, Ariane fulfilled one of her life’s goals and gained employment at Yad Vashem as a qualified guide and educator, primarily working with students from all over the world. Ariane lives in Ma’ale Adumim with her husband.
Itinerary *subject to change
Our inspirational itinerary covers Jewish life in Poland from its inception right through to its destruction and gives participants the opportunity to visit the places that changed Jewish life.
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Day One
Tuesday, September 10
After meeting the group, and checking into our hotel, our first day will be an introduction to Poland. We will get to know each other during our opening dinner.
Day Two
Wednesday, September 11
We will begin our touring at Warsaw's Jewish cemetery, and learn of over 200 years of Warsaw's rich Jewish life. We will visit the Warsaw Ghetto, including Mila 18, the bunker headquarters of the Jewish Combat Organization (ŻOB) - the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Heroes. After visiting the Umschlagplatz, the location from where an estimated 300,000 Jews were gathered, we will end our day of touring in Treblinka.
Day Three
Thursday, September 12
We will being our day at the Yeshiva of Chachmei Lublin, the prestigious pre-Holocaust Yeshiva where one needed to memorise 400 pages of Talmud to apply. We will revive the Yeshiva with guided Torah study. We will visit the nearby Majdanek Concentration Camp. We will end our day of touring with a “tisch” at the Kever of Rabbi Elimelech of Lezajsk, the first Polish “Chassidic” Rebbe.
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Day Four
Friday, September 13
We will visit the picturesque baroque synagogue of the town of Lancut and Tarnow's Old Synagogue and market square. We will commemorate the child victims at Zbylitowska Gora. We will visit the Old Jewish cemetery of Krakow, where we will "meet" the 16th century halachic authorities, Rabbi Moshe Isserles (Ramah), Rabbi Yoel Sirkis (Bach), and Rabbi Yom Tov Lipmann Heller.
Day Five
Shabbat, September 14
We will experience Shabbat prayers with Krakow’s Jewish Community, and take a walking tour of Krakow's Synagogues, including the Rema, Temple, and Alta Synagogues. Our festive Shabbat meals will be held in the first Bais Yaakov school, opened by Sarah Schnerir. Known by her students as “Mama Sara”, she was a pioneer of women’s Torah study. We will visit the Krakow Ghetto to gain an understanding of Jewish life in the ghetto and hear of heroic righteous gentiles.
Day Six
Sunday, September 15
In many ways, Auschwitz/Birkenau has become the symbol of the Holocaust. We will spend the day exploring this infamous camp known for its selections, living conditions, and gas chambers.
Day Seven
Monday, September 16
We will visit the Lodz Ghetto, where the Judenrat relayed a decree requiring parents to hand their children to the Germans. At Lodz's Jewish cemetery we will hear of the miracle of the 6 empty mass graves. We will visit Chelmno, the first German extermination camp.
To follow up a Poland tour with a few days in our glorious Homeland, is to travel from tragedy to triumph. If you are interested in continuing to Israel, please let us know. If there are enough Poland Tour participants interested in an organized Israel tour, we will organize an add on to our Poland tour.
Important Information
Where does the tour begin and end?
The tour begins on Tuesday, September 10, in our Warsaw hotel, with check in at 15:00pm. Transfers from Warsaw Chopin Airport will be available. Our trip concludes in Warsaw on Monday, September 16, at 6:00pm. We will provide transfers within Warsaw.
The start and end times of our tour accommodate the United Arab Emirates flight from Sydney, arriving in Warsaw on September 10, at 12:15 pm, and the flight departing to Sydney on September 16, at 9:25 pm.
If you are interested in continuing to Israel, please let us know. If there are enough interested participants in an organized Israel tour, we will organize an add on to the tour.
If you require accommodations or logistical assistance before or after the trip, please be in touch with Aliza at aliza@theworldthatwas.org.
Hotels
We will stay in 4 and 5 star hotels.
Transportation in Poland
We travel on a comfortable, air conditioned, coach bus.
Food
We serve 3 quality, Glatt-Kosher meals a day. We offer a variety of snacks throughout the tour.
Security
We are accompanied by an armed, professional, security guard.
Insurance
Prior to the trip, participants are encouraged to arrange their own medical/travel insurance.
Flights
Participants individually arrange and pay for their flights. A minimum number of participants are needed for this tour. Please do not book your flight until receiving confirmation that we have received the required number of deposits. In the event the tour is canceled due to a lack of participants, a full refund will be provided.
Payment
The all-inclusive land costs is $4500 USD, based on single occupancy. Single room supplement is $600.
To reserve your spot, a $500 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration.
If we do not reach the minimum required number of participants and therefore cancel the tour, you will receive a full refund.
The deadline for submitting the down-payment is Sunday, May 12.
The deadline for submitting the balance of the payment is Monday, July 8.
Limited space available.
Cancellation Policy
Deposits are nonrefundable.
In the event that the balance has been paid:
- Cancellations before July 8 – 100% of balance returned.
- Cancellations between July 8 - August 11 – 50% of balance returned.
- Cancellations after August 11 – no refunds.