“Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By.” – Elie Wiesel
Travel with us on a once-in-a-lifetime journey of remembrance and renewal as part of the Adult Delegation to the International March of the Living.
Together, we’ll spend eight memorable days celebrating the historical achievements of the Jewish People in Europe and bearing witness to all that was lost. Our itinerary includes visits to Krakow, Majdanek, Warsaw, Treblinka and Tykochin. Our program coincides with Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, when we will march in unity with thousands of young people from Auschwitz to Birkenau and take part in a special ceremony attended by dignitaries from around the world.
The March of the Living is a highly emotional travel experience. More than a tour, this is an opportunity to bear witness to one of history’s darkest hours, recommit yourself to the Never Again imperative, and reinforce Jewish values of compassion, tolerance, and action.
This March of the Living experience for adults is jointly organized by BBYO Passport and Authentic Israel. The program is led by Elkana Bar-Eitan, an acclaimed Jewish educator and a professional guide.
PROGRAM ITINERARY
The following is our projected itinerary, subject to reasonable change based on local considerations:
Sunday, April 28, 2019 | Depart for Poland
- Depart from NYC on an optional group flight or make your own flight arrangements
Monday, April 29, 2019 | Introduction to Jewish Europe
- Arrive to Krakow in the afternoon and meet our local staff team
- Walking tour of Kazimierz – Krakow’s historic Jewish Quarter dating back to the 14th Century – including stops at the Remu Synagogue, Tempel Synagogue, old Jewish cemetery and Jozefa Street
- Welcome dinner and orientation in Krakow
OVERNIGHT: Kraków – Poland (Radisson Blu or similar)
Meals Included: Dinner
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 | Krakow Ghetto
- Trace the history of the Holocaust at the Krakow Ghetto, the Plaszow Labor Camp and the Oscar Schindler Factory – now the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow
- Visit the Krakow JCC, now the center of modern Jewish life in Krakow, where we’ll meet with a community leader over dinner at the JCC
OVERNIGHT: Kraków – Poland (Radisson Blu or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 | Auschwitz & Birkenau
- Arrive at the grounds of Auschwitz II – Birkenau where the full horror of the extermination of 1.5 million Jewish People is palpable (packed lunch provided)
- Continue on to Auschwitz I, the original camp that served as the administrative center for the entire complex. We will tour the watchtowers, fences, cell blocks, wall of death, crematoria as well as the Arbeit Macht Frei Gate (lunch is provided en route)
- Reflections and ceremony at the restored Oświęcim Synagogue near Auschwitz
- Evening: Group processing and sharing opportunities
- Free evening and dinner on own in Krakow
OVERNIGHT: Kraków – Poland (Radisson Blu or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Thursday, May 2, 2019 | Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day
- Return to Auschwitz and join thousands for the March of the Living
- Take part in the official Yom HaShoah ceremony at Birkenau attended by political leaders and dignitaries from Poland, Israel and beyond (lunch is provided en route)
- Evening: Group night out and dinner on own at Market Square in Krakow
OVERNIGHT: Kraków – Poland (Radisson Blu or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Friday, May 3, 2019 | Majdanek and Lublin
- Depart Krakow and travel north through Poland’s Galicia countryside
- Zbylitowska Góra – ‘Children forest’ the place where 800 children were brutally murdered by Nazi soldiers (lunch is provided en route)
- Majdanek concentration camp originally set up in July 1941 for prisoners of war but soon turned into a camp for Jews and Poles
- Arrive to Warsaw, check-in to our accommodations and prepare for Shabbat
- Experience Kabbalat Shabbat services at the historic Nozyk Shul followed by Shabbat dinner
OVERNIGHT: Warsaw – Poland (Radisson Blu or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Saturday, May 4, 2019 | Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
- Shabbat programming options and lunch in Warsaw
- Uprising! – Explore the remains of the Warsaw Ghetto and learn about the Jewish community’s famous revolt along the Route of Heroes and at Rappaport Memorial
- Umschlagplatz – Gathering place before transfer to Treblinka Death Camp
- Visit the groundbreaking Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN)
- Havdallah – Mark the end of Shabbat and the start of a new week
- Evening: Group night out and dinner on own in Warsaw’s historic Old Town Marketplace
OVERNIGHT: Warsaw – Poland (Radisson Blu or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Sunday, May 5, 2019 | Treblinka
- Travel to the historic Jewish village of Tykochin and onto the Lupachowa Forest (lunch is provided en route)
- Final reflections and ceremony at the Treblinka Memorial
- Return to Warsaw for a closing dinner and farewells
OVERNIGHT: Warsaw – Poland (Radisson Blu or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Monday, May 6, 2019 | Returning Home
- Travel to Warsaw Airport for our morning group flight departure
- Arrive back to JFK Airport in the morning
Meals Included: Breakfast
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- An optional group flight from JFK Airport in NYC
- Airport transfers for the arrival and departure in Poland for those traveling on the group flight
- A Jewish educational guide, a local Polish tour manager and a security escort accompany the group
- Centrally located 4* hotels in Krakow and Warsaw
- Breakfast daily and additional meals according to the itinerary
- Luxury private air-conditioned touring bus
- All programming and site entrances according to the itinerary
- VIP reserved seating at the Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) ceremony
- Staff and driver gratuities
Not Included: Travel insurance (optional), meals not noted as included in the itinerary, and hotel incidentals
TRAVELING TO AND FROM POLAND
An optional round-trip group flight is offered from JFK Airport in New York City. Exact flight details will be released around January 2019, and participants are encouraged not to make connecting travel plans till the international flights are confirmed. Travelers who elect to arrange their own flights to/from Poland will also be responsible for their arrival and departure airport transfers unless otherwise arranged through out office. Travelers wishing to arrive early to Krakow or extend their stay in Warsaw can be accommodated at the group hotels based on the group hotel rate and according to availability.
WHAT IT COSTS
The above rates are based on double room hotel occupancy. Single room hotel occupancy is available for a supplement of $800.
REGISTRATION
Sign up for March of the Living for Adults by completing the online registration form
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION TERMS
- To reserve your spot, a $250/person deposit is due at the time of registration
- The deposit is fully refundable up till November 26, 2018, at which point the balance is also due
- Payments are non-refundable following November 26, 2018
- Cancellations must be made in writing. Participants are highly encouraged to take out travel insurance.
- Payments may be made by check or credit/debit card, however, a 3.5% processing fee applies for credit/debit card payments (does not apply to initial $250 deposit). Note: credit card fees are not refundable
- The program is subject to a minimum of 25 travelers and a maximum of 40 travelers
- BBYO and Authentic Israel reserve the right to deny acceptance on the tour according to its discretion