Jewish Heritage Tour
The Jewish Heritage Tour offers an in-depth exploration of the rich and complex history of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. Visit historic synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, Holocaust memorials, and museums that showcase the cultural and religious contributions of the Jewish people. This tour provides a meaningful journey through centuries of Jewish heritage, resilience, and tradition, while uncovering the stories of prominent figures and events that shaped Jewish life in the region.
Day 1
Iasi
Upon arrival in **Iași**, check into your hotel before beginning a classical city tour. We’ll visit key landmarks, including the **Metropolitan Church**, the **Three Hierarchs Church**, the **Palace of Culture**, and the **National Theatre**, designed by Gustave Eiffel in the late 19th century.
The tour will then focus on the **Jewish Heritage of Iași**. A local Jewish representative will guide us through significant Jewish sites, sharing insights about Jewish life in the city. We’ll visit the **Jewish Cemetery**, the **Great Synagogue**, and the site of the **Iași Pogrom**, while also learning about the historic significance of the first-ever Yiddish-language theatre, founded in Iași.
In the evening, we will visit a nearby **monastery**, where you’ll enjoy blessed wine and have the chance to listen to Byzantine church music performed by a student choir from the Theological University of Iași. Accommodation will be in a 3 or 4-star hotel.
Day 2
Iasi - Podu Iloaiei - Tirgu-Frumos - Roman - Gura Humorului
On our journey to Bucovina, we will make several meaningful stops along the way. First, we’ll visit the Podu Iloaiei Jewish Cemetery, which holds tombstones dating back to 1829 and 1830. Next, we’ll visit the Mass Grave in Târgu Frumos Cemetery, where a large common grave was created during the Iași Pogrom.
We’ll also stop at the Tailor’s (Poel Tzedek) Synagogue in Roman, also known as the Leipziger Synagogue due to the city’s commercial ties with Leipzig. Roman once had 16 synagogues in 1887, and by the 1930s, it still maintained 15 synagogues and prayer houses.
After our visits, we’ll arrive in Gura Humorului, where we will stay at La Roata 3 Hotel* for the night.
Day 3
UNESCO Painted Monasteries from Bucovina
After breakfast, we’ll begin our day with a visit to the famous Voronet Monastery, known for its stunning frescoes. Next, we’ll meet a local artist who specializes in the traditional craft of Easter egg painting. She will demonstrate her technique, and you’ll have the chance to try your hand at this beautiful art form.
We’ll then continue to Moldovita Monastery, where Sister Tatiana will guide us through the remarkable frescoes, followed by a special lunch at the monastery.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit Sucevita Monastery. Along the way, we’ll stop at the home of a local artist renowned for his black ceramics. You’ll have the opportunity to watch a live demonstration of this unique craft.
We’ll return to our hotel in Gura Humorului for the night, with free time for dinner—perfect for practicing your new egg-painting skills. Same accommodation at La Roata 3* Hotel.
Day 4
Gura Humorului - Botosani - Dorohoi - Chernivtsy
After breakfast, we’ll head to **Botoșani**, a historic market town in Northeastern Romania. Jewish settlement in Botoșani began in the 17th century, and by the 19th century, it was home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the region of Moldova. We will visit the **Jewish Cemetery**, which consists of two sections: a newer part with tombstones from the 19th century, and an older section with beautifully carved gravestones.
After lunch, we will travel to **Dorohoi**, where only one of the two remaining synagogues is still in use. Jewish settlement in Dorohoi began in the 17th century, primarily with Jews from Poland. Today, fewer than 50 Jews remain. We’ll visit the **synagogue**, the **Jewish Community office**, and the **Jewish cemetery**.
Later in the day, we will cross the border into **Ukraine** to spend three days in **Chernivtsi**, the historical part of **Old Bucovina**, which was taken from Romania and annexed by Ukraine after World War II. Accommodation will be in a 4-star hotel.
Day 5
Chernivtsy
**Chernivtsi** holds a special place in Jewish history as the birthplace of a vibrant Jewish literary community. Notable figures such as I. Burg, G. and H. Sigal, I. Schwartz, H. Shraibman, M. Altman, Eliezer Shteynbarg, Paul Celan, Rose Ausländer, and Itzik Manger lived and worked here. Before World War II, the Jewish population exceeded fifty thousand, making up more than half of the city’s inhabitants. A ghetto was established here during the war.
After breakfast, we’ll embark on a **city tour** of Chernivtsi, exploring its rich Jewish heritage. Highlights of the tour include:
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**Sahaydachny Street**, the area of the wartime ghetto
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**Turkish Square Station**
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The **mikvah** (ritual bath)
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The **Tailor’s Club** (Schneiderferein)
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The **Great Synagogue** (Grossshil Synagogue)
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The **“Mahsike Shabbat” Synagogue**
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The **Boyaner Rabbi’s House**
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A club and synagogue for builders (Bauferein)
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The **Jewish History Museum of Bucovina**
Dinner will be provided, and accommodation will remain the same at the 4-star hotel.
Day 6
Chernivtsy
We’ll begin the day with a visit to the Chernivtsi Jewish Cemetery on Green Street, established in 1866. Designed by engineer Reli, the cemetery was intended as a cultural monument for the city. Spanning about 14 hectares, it is the final resting place of over 100,000 people, many of whom significantly contributed to the cultural and economic development of Chernivtsi.
After exploring the cemetery, we’ll travel to Sadgor to visit the Court of Rabbi Ruzhinski and the site of Tzaddik Israel Friedmann’s residence. In 1845, his followers built a massive Moorish-style synagogue, where Friedmann preached after moving to the Austrian-controlled territory.
The day will end with free time, followed by a traditional dinner.
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Day 7
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Kamianets-Podilskyi- Khotyn Fortresses
Today, we’ll transfer to **Kamianets-Podilskyi** (80 km), where we’ll tour the **Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle**, originally constructed in the 12th-13th centuries. Kamianets once had a thriving Jewish community with two synagogues, 21 prayer houses, and separate schools for boys and girls.
In the mid-19th century, the city became the meeting place for two prominent figures in Jewish literature: **Abram Gottlober** and **Mendel Moycher Sforim**. It was also the birthplace of **Baron David Ginzburg**, a renowned orientalist and leader of the Jewish community in St. Petersburg.
We will visit the **Old Jewish Cemetery** and the **Synagogue**, perched on a steep slope near the **Potters Tower**.
Next, we’ll head to **Khotyn**, where we’ll explore the impressive **Khotyn Fortress**, a key monument of military fortification in Western Europe. We’ll also visit the **Jewish Cemetery** in Khotyn, which, in the early 20th century, was known as a major center of Jewish literature.
In the evening, we’ll return to **Chernivtsi** for a free dinner and accommodation at the same 4-star hotel.
Day 8
Chernovtsy - Beltzy - Chateau Vartely
Today, we will travel southeast to Bălți (Beltsy), a city in the Republic of Moldova founded in 1580. According to some sources, Jews first arrived in this region as early as the 10th century. By the late 19th century, Jews made up more than 50% of Bălți's population. Since 1989, the city's Jewish community has grown to become the second-largest in Moldova, after Chișinău. The community has had a twinning program with the Jewish Federation of Greensboro, NC since 2000, which supports key local projects.
During our visit, we will tour the synagogue, the Association of the Jewish Organizations of Bălți, and the Hesed Yakov Welfare Centre. We’ll also explore the Jewish cemetery and meet members of the local Jewish community to learn about their lives and history.
In the evening, we will stop at one of Moldova’s finest wineries, Chateau Vartely, for a wine tasting and dinner. Our accommodation for the night will be at the luxurious Chateau Vartely 5* Hotel.
Day 9
Cricova Winery - Chisinau
On our way to the capital, we will stop for a **wine tasting** at the famous **Cricova underground wine city**, which houses one of the largest wine collections in the world. Afterward, we’ll continue to **Chișinău**, where we’ll stay at the **4-star Hotel Flowers**.
Chișinău, the **capital of the Republic of Moldova**, became a flourishing Jewish center in the 18th century, driven by economic growth and new industrial opportunities. By the early 20th century, the Jewish community owned many factories and employed thousands of Jewish workers. There were 16 Jewish schools with over 2,100 students and 70 synagogues.
Sadly, Chișinău is also known for two tragic pogroms. The first, on **Easter Day, 1903**, saw 49 Jews massacred by frenzied mobs. In 1905, another pogrom claimed the lives of 19 more Jews. The devastation continued under Nazi occupation when 53,000 of the city’s 65,000 Jewish inhabitants were annihilated.
In **Chișinău**, we will enjoy a **city tour**, visit the **local synagogue**, and pay our respects at the **memorial for the victims of the Ghetto**. We will also have the opportunity to meet with the local Jewish organization, **Kedem**, to learn more about Jewish life in Moldova today.
Day 10
Transnistria
Today, we invite you to explore **Tiraspol** and **Bendery**, the main cities of **Transnistria**, a breakaway region where remnants of the old USSR remain strikingly intact. Though internationally recognized as part of Moldova, Transnistria operates independently in many ways.
Our first stop will be in **Bendery**, where we’ll visit the **local synagogue**, meet with the rabbi, and explore the **Jewish cemetery**.
In **Tiraspol**, we will enjoy a **brandy tasting** and have lunch, giving you a taste of the local culture and cuisine.
In the afternoon, we’ll return to **Chișinău** for another night at the same accommodation.
Day 11
Departure to Romania
Early departure to Romania - to the airport of Iasi (3 hours transfer).