Poland and Israel: A journey of heritage and hope

The Union for Progressive Judaism in collaboration with ARZA and Emanuel Synagogue will host a memorable experience for Australian Progressive Jews immediately after Pesach

Join the Union for Progressive Judaism on a journey of heritage and hope from Sunday 15 April to Wednesday 2 May 2012. We will visit the sites of the Holocaust in Poland from 16 to 23 April and celebrate our Jewish homeland from 24 to 30 April.

Led by experienced guides from Sydney, Israel and Poland, the first part of our tour will take us to various sites in Poland, including the Gensca Cemetery, Mila 18, Umschlagplatz, Ghetto Wall, Korczak, the Nozyk Synagogue in Warsaw; the Cochemei Yeshiva in Lublin; Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps; old Krakow and the Schindler Factory; and we will share Shabbat services and dinner with Beit Krakow Progressive Congregation.

Once in Israel, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) will host interesting and enjoyable activities and visits throughout Israel. These include a meeting with the Australian Ambassador to Israel, Andrea Faulkner; a walking tour of Old Jaffa; a special ceremony on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem; a visit to Be’er Sheva where we will meet the Mayor of the Southern Negev Region, Shmulik Rifman, at the Australian Light Horse Brigade memorial; visits to Sderot, Kibbutz Gezer, Modi’in and Abu Gosh.

Our second Shabbat evening service and dinner will take place on the rooftop of Merkaz Shimshon overlooking Old City. We will share in a special Yom Hazikaron ceremony at Progressive Jewish congregation, Kehillat Yozma; celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut at Mount Herzl; visit Yad Vashem; walk through the Old City; tour the Crusader Church, Benedictine Monastery, Roman Fort & Mosque and Machal Memorial.

If you would like to join the UPJ Australia tour to Poland and Israel, please contact the UPJ office on (02) 9328 7644 or email: upj@upj.org.au. Click here to view the Poland-Israel Mission Brochure, which includes a complete itinerary.