GALICIA&BUKOVINA JEWISH HERITAGE 14 DAYS

Early  in the  afternoon  we will visit  a former Jewish  quarter Kazimierz, which was a filming  spot of a famous „Shindler’s list“. Among others we will see former Kazimierz City Hall, Corpus Christi church and Old Synagogue (15th century) Remuh-synagogue and cemetery (16th century) and beautiful synagogue Tempel (19th century). After lunch, we will visit the Galician Jewish Museum, former ghetto and concentration camp in Płaszów and Oskar Schindler Factory. In the evening we will meet with the employee of Jewish Institute and talk about the changes in the social perception of Jewish themes, which have led to the increased interest in Jewish Studies.

Today we will visit Auschwitz concentration camp, one of the largest Nazi concentration camps that existed from the end of May 1940 to January 1945. In Auschwitz were killed nearly 1.5 million people, many of whom were Jews.

Tarnow. At this day you will visit the Jewish quarter, synagogue, cemetery. Furthermore, you will meet with the employee of Regional Museum, who will talk about projects concerning Jewish culture which are realized in
schools. After lunch – a trip to Bobowa, which, during the World War II, became a “concentration village” where the Jews from the surrounding areas were imprisoned. Almost all of them were killed. Among the sightseeing places of Bobowa are the All Saints Church (14th century) and the St. Sophia Church which is situated at the local cemetery. It was built in the late 15th century. Moreover, we will visit synagogue and Jewish cemetery. Overnight in Tarnow.

At this day we will visit Shtetls – Kolbuszowa, Lezajsk, Łańcut. At Kolbuszowa we will see the synagogue which was built in 18th century and the Jewish cemetery (5 km from congregation) which was established in 1830 with last burials during WWII. Next on our way is Lezajsk, where is buried the famous rabbis Tzadiker Ellimelech. Then at the program – Łańcut, where we will visit the well-preserved synagogue of the 17th century. In the evening we cross the border and come to Lviv. Overnight in Lviv.

After a breakfast in a hotel, we make our first acquaintance with Lviv, the whole city center of which belongs to UNESCO world heritage. During our guided tour we will explore the diversity of architectural styles of Lviv churches  and courtyards. Among the numerous places which we are going to visit you will see Armenian quarter, Rynok square and famous Opera House. At the afternoon, we will visit the Jewish quarter, where 60% of all buildings were owned by Jews and where are located the remains of the former synagogue „Golden Rose“. Lviv has a very diverse history and many people have contributed to the development of the city. Among these people where a lot of Jews including Martin Buber, Salomon Rapoport, Naftali Herz Tur-Sinai, Isaac Erter, Nachman Krochmal. In the evening – we will visit the Jewish center where you are going to meet with the head of Lviv Jewish community, a former dissident.

Walking  around Jewish  Lviv – Cultural  Center, Memorial to  the victims of the ghetto, the  place of the former concentration  camp Janower, railway station, from  which the Nazis deported Jews to extermination  camps Belzec Lemberger, the building of the former Jewish hospital, synagogue, etc. On midday we will leave Lviv and head for Zolochiv. There we will visit Zolochivsky castle and the remains of the Jewish cemetery. After lunch – walking around Zolochiv, where famous poet Naphtali Herz Imber, who wrote in Yiddish, was born. The poem of Naphtali Herz Imber Ha Tikwa (The Hope) become the hymn of Israel. Then we go to Brody, where in 1894, during the Austro-Hungarian rule, was born a famous Austrian writer Joseph Roth. We will visit the gymnasium where Roth has studied, inspect the ruins of the largest synagogue in Galicia, where Israel Ben Elisier has got married with his first wife. In addition, we will visit the old Jewish cemetery.

In the morning we are moving to Chernivtsi. First stop on our way is in Ternopil. A short walk around the city during which we will visit the beautiful lake – the main attraction of the city. Our next stop is town Bucac. Besides town hall and the castle, in the town we will see the house, where “jewish” Kafka – Samuel Agnon – was born. It was the first writer who was writing in Yiddish and who received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Subsequently, writer has emigrated to the United States. On our way to Chernivtsi we will pass through Chortkiv, the town, where Karl Emil Franzos, Austrian writer of Jewish origin, was born. In the picturesque countryside near the city Zalischyky, we will cross the river Dniester, and come to Bukovina, a region with a rich Jewish heritage. In the evening we arrive in Chernivtsi.

Stylish city on the river Prut invites you to enjoy a city tour. You will visit the beautiful former residence of the Orthodox metropolitans of Bukovina and Dalmatia, included in the World Heritage List. Then – we are going to walk around the city, visiting the birthplace of Paul Celan. Moreover, if  we are lucky, we  will hear the last  bugler of Ukraine singing  from the town hall. Then we  meet the literary critic Petro  Rychlo and listen to a little lecture  “Chernivtsi – city of the Literature” as  the city is associated with many writers and  poets who have Jewish roots: Paul Celan, Moses  Rosenkranz, Carl Emil Frenchman, Rose Auslander, Selma  Meerbaum-Eisinger, Olga Kobyljans’ka Mihai Eminescu Itzig  manger, Eliezer Steinberg, Gregory Rezzori.

In the morning we get to know more specifically with traces of Jewish culture in the town. Among other things, we will visit the house of Jewish culture, the birthplace of Rose Auslender and Paul Celan, the territory of the former ghetto, Jewish Museum, Jewish cemetery and synagogue. In addition, we will talk about the current situation of the Jewish community in Chernivtsi and about life of Jews in Ukraine with synagogue’s rabbi In the afternoon, we will visit Sadagora, where you can see the ruins of the homestead of  Hasidic Rabbi Israel Friedman from Rhuzin dynasty.Near the homestead is situated Jewish charitable organization ‘’Hesed Shushan’’ which is helping the elderly, sick and lonely Jews. We will talk with the leaders of the community about its daily life and social activities.

We will go back to Galicia and see on our way many Galician shtetls. En route, we are going to pass through Sniatin and Zabolotiv – the birthplace of the writer and philosopher with Jewish roots Manès Sperber, who in his writings described the life of Jewish communities in Galicia. In Zabolotiv we will see his monument. Then – short tour around the downtown of Kolomyja during which we are going to visit the old and new synagogues, learn  more about the sad story of the Jewish community, which almost completely died out in a concentration camp of Belzec. In the evening, on request, we can also visit a unique museum of Easter eggs. After lunch, we will visit the Jewish places in Bolekhiv, the history of which is closely connected with the name of the head of Jewish community of the town – Ber. At one time, Bolekhiv was called “New Babylon”. We will see synagogue of Yakov Yokl Gorowitz, Beit Hemidrash, unique cemetery of XVII-XVIII century with its grave-stones with engravings, comparable to those in Prague and Krakow. In Bubnyshche we will visit a group of natural and man-made structures carved out of rock, so called Rocks of Dovbush. Our next stop – Stryj, where we will briefly get acquainted with the history of Jews and visit “big” Jewish synagogue in the town. Overnight in Stryj.

In  the morning  we go to Drohobych. Since  14th century the city has been developing as the center of salt extraction. Due to oil extraction in the neighboring region and West-European investments the city has started to flourish. Today the investors have left and town has turned into a province. Drohobych is famous as birthplace of Bruno Schulz who with his „Cinnamon Shops“made a great contribution to the history of the region. The soviet authorities did a lot to delete this name from national memory. We will follow his traces and visit Villa Landau where his frescoes were found. In addition, we will visit the place where he was shot.On our tour we will also visit one of the oldest wooden churches in the region – the church of St. George which   is now on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. It is one of the best monuments of ancient Ukrainian sacred architecture. In  the afternoon  we arrive in Zhovkva.  The town is situated at  the foot of Roztochchia massif.  Due to its geostrategic importance Zhovkva was called ‘’Ideal town’’. Journey in Zhovkva  begins in a comfortable wooden church of the Holy Trinity with a unique carved iconostasis. Last year this church was added to UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.You will walk along the ancient sidewalks which were paved in royal times, see the magnificent cathedral, visit the tomb of St. Lawrence, where are buried three powerful medieval families: Zholkevsky, Sobieski and Danilovich, feel the atmosphere of church of the Nativity, where according to legend Bohdan Khmelnytsky was baptized. In addition,  the employee of Lviv Jewish Studies institute will guide you through the ruins of the synagogue of Zhovkva. Finally, you will visit the royal castle with its impressive fortifications. In the evening we come to Lviv and enjoy a farewell dinner at a nice restaurant.  Overnight in Lviv.

After breakfast – free time. Departure.