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YOUR journey
J² crafts journeys of inspiration, education, and Jewish connections to Israel and worldwide. We are guided by a simple but powerful concept: No two trips are the same; each experience should be personal, meaningful, and backed by superb service. Travel is not just about the places you visit, but the connections you make along the way.
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Art & Culture 
Heritage 
Local Specialists 
UNESCO Heritage Sites 
Food & Wine
THE EXPERT
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
ON OUR WAY
Sun. Jun 29, 2025
- Depart the US.
Overnight: Flight
DAY 2
THE START OF A SPECIAL JOURNEY
Mon. Jun 30, 2025
- Arrive at Berlin International Airport and transfer to your hotel.
- Check into the hotel.
- Meet your J² Expert Educator who will accompany you on this Jewish journey of education and inspiration.
- Introductory tour of Berlin including stops at:
- The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's best-known landmark, now stands as a symbol of the city's reunification.
- The Bundestag: Explore Germany’s traumatic political past and prosperous present as we stop in front of the German Federal Parliament.
- The Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Designed by architect Peter Eisenman, this undulating field of reflection with thousands of concrete dark gray slabs forms a gentle wave, ankle-high in some places, designed to give visitors a sense of groundlessness and loss of orientation.
- The East Side Gallery: The years 1989-1990 were miraculous as the Berlin Wall came down, the Cold War ended, and West and East German reunified. See how artists reacted to those remarkable days at the East Side Gallery, and how today, this also mirrors the strong ties between Germany and Israel.
- Enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation with your J² Expert Educator.
Overnight: Berlin
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3
JEWISH LIFE IN BERLIN
Tue. Jul 1, 2025
- Exploring German-Jewish Identity: A conversation with Dr. Sandra Anusiewicz-Baer. We'll also discuss anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism today in Berlin and Germany.
- Explore the social, political, and cultural history of Germany’s Jews – from their 4th-century arrival until today – at the Jewish Museum Berlin, Europe’s largest Jewish museum. The tragedy of the Holocaust is integrated into its exhibitions and its extraordinary architecture. We’ll see how Daniel Libeskind’s design – with its zigzagging lines and concrete “voids” – evokes a sense of unease and absence that, along with their many achievements, is part of the German-Jewish story.
- Tour the Jewish Quarter and see the following sites:
- Hackescher Market.
- View of the New Synagogue and Centrum Judaicum.
- The Jewish Cemetery.
- We’ll stop outside the home of Rabbi Regina Jonas, the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi.
- We’ll also visit two important reminders of German resistance to the Holocaust. The Museum of Otto Weidt’s Workshop for the Blind honors the man who risked his life during World War Two to hide and protect Jewish workers in his broom and brush workshop. The Rosenstrasse Sculpture commemorates the successful 1943 protests against Nazi plans to deport the last remaining Jews from Berlin. The protest was led by non-Jewish women seeking to protect their Jewish spouses from persecution.
Overnight: Berlin
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4
A PASSAGE THROUGH TIME
Wed. Jul 2, 2025
- See the Places of Remembrance, perhaps the most controversial of Holocaust memorials. Hung, seemingly randomly, on street lampposts in the Bavarian Quarter are 80 signs that highlight anti-Jewish laws and regulations established by the Nazis. These signs push passersby to contemplate the almost-forgotten history of this neighborhood, which was once home to prominent Jewish intellectuals, including Albert Einstein and Hannah Arendt.
- Bridge of Spies: We’ll stop at Glienicke Bridge where, during the Cold War, spy and political prisoner swaps took place. This border and checkpoint between East and West Germany has been featured in many books and movies, including Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies. In 1986, the Soviet Jewish dissident Anatoly (Natan) Sharansky walked over this bridge to freedom.
- Lunch at a local restaurant.
- Visit the Villa in Wannsee, site of the infamous "Final Solution" conference.
- Visit to Gleis 17 (Track 17), the remains of the main deportation center for Berlin Jews during the Holocaust, located in the affluent neighborhood of Grunewald.
- Return to Berlin.
- Being Young, Jewish, and German: Dialogue with Rebecca Blady, the Executive Director, and Jeremy Borovitz, the Senior Jewish Educator, of Hillel Deutschland – Germany.
Overnight: Berlin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5
FROM BERLIN TO WARSAW
Thu. Jul 3, 2025
- Load luggage to the luggage truck.
- Check out of the hotel.
- Depart Berlin on a train to Warsaw.
- Welcome to Warsaw and meet your local guide.
- Visit the Gensha Cemetery, one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in the world. Revive the names on the unique tombstones of famous Jewish leaders, artists, rabbis, and intellectuals.
- Check into the hotel.
- Dinner and panel discussion with Monika Elliot, Program Director of JDC, and Magda Dorosz, Director of Hillel Warsaw.
Overnight: Warsaw
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6
LIFE IN A SHTETL AND ITS TRAGIC END
Fri. Jul 4, 2025
- Take a guided visit to the Warsaw Ghetto. At Mila 18, we will commemorate the doomed uprising and at Umschlagplatz, the holding area before transportation to the Treblinka death camp.
- Drive north of Warsaw to Treblinka.
- Packed lunch en route.
- For many years, the world knew little about Treblinka. This extermination camp was leveled completely by the Nazis and very few inmates survived to give witness. However, it is now understood that this was one of largest killing centers of the Holocaust. Our focus will be on Treblinka as a place of Jewish heroism and not just of death. The educator Janusz Korczak was killed here because he refused to abandon the children from the orphanage he ran. We will also recall the prisoner revolt and escape attempt of May 2, 1943.
- Return to the hotel to refresh before Shabbat.
- Kabbalat Shabbat services at a local synagogue, followed by dinner with members of the community.
Overnight: Warsaw
Meals: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7
THE WORLD THAT WAS & THE WORLD THAT IS
Sat. Jul 5, 2025
- Optional Shabbat services at the Nozyk Synagogue, the last remaining pre-Holocaust synagogue in Warsaw.
- Morning at leisure.
- Lunch at a local restaurant.
- Visit the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, located in the center of what once was the Warsaw Ghetto.
- Tour through Warsaw’s Old Town. Established in the 13th century and destroyed by the German army during WWII, it was meticulously rebuilt using the original stones.
- Attend a concert at Sala Koncertowa Fryderyk, a charming concert hall that celebrates the legacy of Fryderyk Chopin, offering intimate performances of classical music in an elegant 19th-century setting. It's the perfect spot to experience world-class music in a refined atmosphere.
- Devote time to mark the end of Shabbat with a group havdalah.
- Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Warsaw
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 8
RECREATING MEMORY
Sun. Jul 6, 2025
- Load luggage to the luggage truck.
- Check out of the hotel.
- Depart Warsaw on a train to Krakow.
- Lunch on own.
- Explore the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter. Once the heart of Jewish life in Krakow for 500 years, the quarter is now one of the city’s most attractive and Bohemian areas. Our tour will include:
- The Altshul. Built in the 15th century, this is the oldest synagogue still standing in Poland.
- The Rema Synagogue, named after Rabbi Moses Isserles (the “Rema"), a great Talmudic scholar and codifier of Jewish law. It is one of the few synagogues in Krakow that is still active today.
- The Rema Cemetery, where many renowned rabbis, including the Rema himself, are buried.
- The Tempel Synagogue. No longer used as a synagogue, it instead hosts artistic events and is a key venue in the revival of Jewish culture in the city.
- Visit the Galicia Jewish Museum.
- Check into the hotel.
- Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Krakow
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9
THE DESTRUCTION OF EUROPEAN JEWRY
Mon. Jul 7, 2025
- Depart the hotel and drive to the Auschwitz–Birkenau complex, the largest of the Nazi concentration and extermination centers. Over 1.1 million people lost their lives in the Auschwitz camps.
- Visit the first camp built at Auschwitz, a mass concentration camp. Here, we’ll visit the Auschwitz museum which contains powerful artifacts and haunting footage of the lives and deaths of prisoners.
- We will then make the short drive to the Auschwitz II death camp, also known as Birkenau. Largely untouched since the war, it provides intimate insights into the tragedy of the Holocaust. We’ll reflect here on the personal stories of some of the Jews held and killed here and read accounts from survivors.
- Group lunch, en route.
- Continue to the Oswiecim Synagogue which stood as a silent witness to the Holocaust.
- Return to the hotel.
- At the Krakow Jewish Community Center, we’ll talk with JCC director Jonathan Ornstein as well as a Holocaust survivor and members of the local community over dinner.
Overnight: Krakow
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10
LAYERED MEMORIES AND THE PATH THAT BINDS THEM
Tue. Jul 8, 2025
- Visit the Wawel Royal Castle. This palace was the magnificent home of Poland’s kings and rulers from 1038-1536 and is a key symbol of the nation’s culture and independence. Highlights of the visit will include the stunning grounds and cathedral.
- Take a walk through Krakow Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where historic charm meets vibrant culture. Stroll along its cobblestone streets, admire stunning medieval architecture, and explore the lively Main Market Square, home to iconic landmarks like St. Mary's Basilica and the Cloth Hall.
- Experience authentic Krakow cuisines and culture on a fun tasting tour.
- Remainder of afternoon at leisure.
- Festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Krakow
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 11
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Wed. Jul 9, 2025
- Check out of the hotel.
- Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the US.
Meals: Breakfast
RATES & LODGING
Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
participants
30+
Cost p/p in double room
$5,885
Cost p/p in single room
$7,075
Cost of accommodations for pre & post nights including breakfast and all taxes:
- BERLIN: THE WESTIN GRAND $330,- per night per double occupancy, $290,- per single occupancy room.
- KRAKOW: BACHLEDA LUXURY HOTEL $299,- per night per double occupancy room, $269,- per night per single occupancy room.
*All rates are subject to availability.
Registration closed
Berlin: The Westin Grand
- Nights: 3
- Room Category: Deluxe Room
- Hotel Website
Warsaw: Sofitel Victoria
- Nights: 3
- Room Category: Classic Room
- Hotel Website
Krakow: Bachleda Luxury Hotel
- Nights: 3
- Room Category: Deluxe Room
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- 9 nights' accommodations.
- 9 days of touring with a J² Expert Educator and local guides, 8 days of touring in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.
- All arrival transfers at the Berlin airport.
- 1 Group departure transfer to the Krakow airport.
- 1 Group train ticket from Berlin to Warsaw, including separate luggage transfer to Warsaw.
- 1 Group train ticket from Warsaw to Krakow, including separate luggage transfer to Krakow.
- Daily breakfast, 5 lunches & 5 dinners.
- The J² adventures App available on the App Store & on Google Play (active 7 days before your departure and throughout your trip).
- Water on the bus.
- Porterage at the hotels.
- All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
- Credit card fees.
- Flights to & from Europe.
- Individual departure transfers to Krakow airport.
- Gratuities are excluded. For groups of 20 and more participants traveling to Europe: We recommend the following guidelines for tipping (amounts are in US dollars): J² Expert Educator: $12 | Local Guide: $10 | Driver: $5. Amounts are per day per person.
- COVID related expenses, including tests.
- Evening transportation when dinner is not included.
- Amendments to the program: In the event that any sites, programs or meals etc. are added to the program, an additional fee may be required.
- Personal extras: Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, food other than the table d’hotel menu, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes, unless otherwise specified.
- US and foreign airport taxes, Q fuel surcharge and border taxes when applicable.
- Please review our terms & conditions (T&C’s) or request that we send you our full T&C’s. Until you do that, here is the small print, and other stuff you may want to know:
- Validity | All prices quoted are based on exchange rates as of the proposal date and are subject to change without notice. Rates are per person and are based on shared twin room occupancy.
- How to Make a Reservation | The quickest way to make a reservation is to register online or contact us by email. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is required in order to complete the registration process.
- For any assistance with this registration process or other trip-related queries, please email Customer Care: [email protected].
- Payments | The balance of your payment is due 120 days before your trip begins, or as specified in your invoice. You will receive an email reminder 2 weeks before this date. Various payment options are available as follows:
- Credit card | We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please check with your credit card provider regarding international processing fees. We are unable to process payments of over $1,000 over the phone. Please submit payment online via a credit card or by wiring funds via your bank.
- Domestic bank wire transfer | Payment should be wired in the same currency that is listed on your invoice. Please add the name of your group or invoice number as a reference and forward a copy of the transfer receipt by email. The bank transfer should clearly state the beneficiary’s name on the wire transfer.
- J² Adventures reserves the right to automatically cancel your reservation on that date and it may be subject to reconfirmation should the final payment not be received.
- Cancelation Policy | All cancelations need to be made in writing. The cancelation fee depends on the date when we receive written notification of your request to cancel your booking. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.
- Cancelation fees | Cancelations made 120 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit. Cancelations made 119 to 46 days prior to departure incur the loss of 50% of the full trip cost. Cancelations made 45 days or less prior to the departure incur the loss of 100% of the full trip cost.
- Cancelation fees may also include: Hotel or supplier cancelation fees. J² Adventures reserves the right to adjust its terms of payment, including cancelation policies and initial deposits.
- Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
- Please click here to view our full terms (T&C’s). These T&C’s apply to all reservations created within J2 Adventures.
DISCOVER NEW WORLDS.
JOURNEYS.
A family vacation to Israel. An adventure of a lifetime traveling with friends to Morocco. A trip to Poland or Portugal with your community. What do these trips have in common? No matter where you go, you will come back with a fresh perspective and appreciation of the place you visited as well as a heightened awareness of your identity as part of the global Jewish community.
Stuff.
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