|
|
China - CHINA: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE JEWS OF CHINA - ECHA
Jews first arrived to China around the 7th or 8th Century from neighboring India or along the Silk Road as part of trade missions from Europe. The Jewish community of Kaifeng - established in the 11th Century - is the most ancient of its kind in China. It was most likely established by descendants of Jews who were once exiled to Babylon and who arrived to China from India and Persia. The synagogue in Kaifeng was established in 1163 and was destroyed and rebuilt numerous times until the 19th Century. The Chinese authorities never recognized the Jews of Kaifeng as a separate ethnic group. Members of the community look Chinese, speak Chinese and maintain very few Jewish traditions. Another Jewish community in China is that of Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province. Jews settled in Harbin in 1898. Over and above our exploration of China‘s Jewish past on this tour ,we will meet with the culture that created massive edifices such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City in Imperial Beijing, the Terra Cotta Army in Xi’an and the intricate gardens of Hangzhou.
Africa - MOROCCO: MAGIC OF THE ORIENT - EMAR
Morocco is an initiation into the magic of the Islamic, Arabic, African world of medinas, minarets, desert and mountain, and yet retains a European patina. Imbibe the spirit of Morocco; wander the streets of the great cities. Fez is a stunning array of medieval buildings; the world-famous souk of Marrakech sells a bewildering array of goods; Casablanca, is a thriving commercial center, and Rabat reflects its modern French origins. The snow-capped Atlas Mountains lie inland. Beyond them are the fringes of the parched Sahara. Whether scaling distant ridges, haggling for exotic artifacts, gazing at ancient wonders or marveling at the pink of a desert dawn, in Morocco, you will be mesmerized. - SOUTH AFRICA: THE COMPREHENSIVE TOUR - ESOA
South Africa is becoming an increasingly desired destination by international travelers. It’s a country of numerous diversities: scenic, cultural, and - of course - natural. "A World in One Country" is how the locals describe their home. Africans and Afrikaners, Christians, Muslims, Indians and Jews make up a mosaic that’s crucial to understanding this newborn “Rainbow Nation.” Jews migrated to South Africa with the earliest white settlers from the Netherlands and Great Britain. The great influx of Jews to South Africa - mainly from Lithuania - began after the discovery of gold and diamonds. Together with an exploration of the wild plains and the rocky coastlines, the canyons and the waterfalls, the hunt for the "Big Five" (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino & Buffalo) our tour will also walk in the footsteps of South Africa‘s Jews as we trace their role in South Africa, before, during and after Apartheid. - ORIENTAL SPICE: A 5-STAR GOURMET TOUR OF MAGICAL MOROCCO - EMARG
Morocco is an initiation into the magic of the Islamic, Arabic and African worlds of medinas, minarets, desert and mountain; and yet it retains a European patina. Imbibe the spirit of Morocco; wander the streets of its great cities. Fez is a stunning array of medieval buildings; the world-famous souk of Marrakech sells a bewildering array of goods; Casablanca, is a thriving commercial center, and Rabat reflects its modern French origins. The snow-capped Atlas Mountains lie inland. Beyond them are the fringes of the parched Sahara. Whether scaling distant ridges, haggling for exotic artifacts, gazing at ancient wonders or marveling at the pink of a desert dawn, in Morocco, you will be mesmerized.
Asia - JEWISH HERITAGE TOUR TO INDIA - EINR
India has a long and colorful Jewish heritage. From its earliest mention in the book of Esther, Jews have had interest in - and curiosity about - this large country. This interest has become more apparent in recent years as we hear of Jews who immigrated to India from places like Iraq and also of indigenous Indian people who practice Judaism. Some of them have been known for generations but others have only recently come to the attention of other Jews. On this tour we will visit synagogues and other places that are important in the life of the India‘s Jews, meet members of the community, and hear about the various groups that made up Indian Jewry. Similarly we will hear about the Jews from India who now live in Israel and about the growing trade and cultural relations between India and Israel. - THE SILK ROAD - ESIR
The Silk Road. Three magical words that focus upon a world filled with interest and mystery. The Silk Road was once a forbidding journey undertaken only by traders and intrepid missionaries. The route was dangerous and the preparations overwhelming. There were robbers and brigands, the weather was harsh; there were legends of terrifying beasts and mythical creatures; and a need for vast amounts of supplies. This tour passes through parts of Uzbekistan and Kirgizstan and into Western China, and is one of the most dramatic and majestic parts of the Silk Road. Uzbekistan, a colorful country filled with the unique fragrances of spices, mosques and souks, surrounded by mountains and deserts. Desert oases were where the warrior tribes of the north met with the cultured populations of the south. That is how the culture developed and along with it, places like Bukhara and Samarkand. Kirgizstan, a small country located to the west of the soaring mountains of Tien Shen. We‘ll visit Kashgar, the westernmost city in China, where one of the trip‘s highlights will be the visit to the Sunday Market, the most famous of its kind in all of Asia. Tens of thousands of traders and buyers from all over western China come to sell and buy camels, horses, cattle, carpets, dowry boxes, knives and everything else that comes to mind. We‘ll also visit Turfan, which is both the hottest and coldest place in China and which is one of China‘s primary wine districts.
Europe - PEARLS OF RUSSIA: MOSCOW & ST. PETERSBURG - ERUS
Russia’s capital, Moscow, is an exciting and vibrant city rich in history, politics, religion and authority. St. Petersburg, on the other hand, is Russia‘s most romantic and culturally important city. Discover the fascinating Kremlin in Moscow and the splendor of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Experience Moscow’s powerful present and encounter St. Petersburg’s Imperial past. Each city has a long history of Jewish involvement at multiple levels. Our combined Moscow and St. Petersburg tour will leave you with unforgettable memories of Russia‘s most interesting and important cities. - LITHUANIA & LATVIA, A journey in the footsteps of Hebrew creativity and a Jewish world - ELIL
This is a journey to the regions of Jewish heritage along the vistas of the lands of the north, with “Jerusalem of Lithuania” at its heart. It’s an experiential voyage, and includes the beautiful cities of Vilna, Kaunas, Riga, Minsk, Volozhin, Mir, Ponevezh, and little villages that look like they come from one of Marc Chagall’s paintings. The fiddler is no longer on the roof here, but the wooden houses and Jewish life is still spread over the forests and alongside the rivers. In the past, hundreds of thousands of Jews of all types lived in these towns and hamlets. This was the Jewish world – and it’s no more. The passage through Lithuania and Latvia is one that encompasses the spectacles of nature and the landscapes of Jewish tradition. It’s a journey to the events and characters of Jewish history. - THE 20th JEWISH CULTURE FESTIVAL IN KRAKOW - EPKF
The 20th Jewish Culture Festival in Cracow is one of the most important and largest events of its kind in the world. The First Festival took place in 1988 and its program focused on a scholarly conference on the encounter between two cultures, Jewish and Polish. Shaped by outstanding figures in various fields of Jewish culture and art, the Festival became over time a place where Jews and non-Jews from all over the world could meet. They are linked by the shared values that they find in Kazimierz and Krakow, the location of the Festival. For over a week, Kazimierz resounds with Hazzanut, klezmer music, and Hasidic, classical, and Jewish folk music. There are films, performances, presentations, and exhibitions to see and stories to listen to. The Festival is a span of the symbolic bridge where Poles and Jews meet to strengthen the process of understanding and reconciliation. The Jewish Culture Festival in Cracow is, a symbol of tolerance, pluralism, and the faith that we have a chance, through the celebration of Jewish culture and the celebration of life, to build mutual relations based on truth and respect.
For a period of 1,000 years Polish Jewry – from the Middle Ages until the Holocaust - was the largest and most important of the Jewish communities in Europe. During that time, Jewish religion and culture flourished in Poland on the one hand, despite the existence of anti-Semitism, persecution, pogroms and expulsions on the other. This all climaxed with the brutal murder of the vast majority of Poland‘s 3.4 million Jews.
Between the two World Wars Jewish culture in Poland advanced on two parallel paths – the religious and the secular. On the religious side, Poland became a huge center of Torah study. There were many yeshivot, and Poland‘s rabbis were considered the primary decisors of the period. On the secular side, Jewish writers, poets, satirists and journalists blossomed and produced multifarious works. Daily Yiddish newspapers were available on the streets everywhere. Youth movements developed and gained strength: ‘Hashomer Hatzair,‘ ‘Gordonia‘ and ‘Hechalutz‘ to name but a few.
Our tour combines the enjoyment of this fascinating international Jewish cultural festival with the opportunity to visit the places that are so important to Jewish culture in Europe in general and Poland in particular.
Far East - VIETNAM & CAMBODIA - EVTC
This is an unforgettable tour to a unique and almost undiscovered world. Vietnam and Cambodia offer exquisite natural scenery and some of the warmest, friendliest people you ever will meet. Vietnam‘s culture is interwoven between city life and traditional tribal practices. Despite the scars of its recent history the country possesses a serene environment. And wherever you look, there’s lots and lots of water. Added to it is the magnificence of the Temples of Angkor and the unique Cambodian culture. This is an exhilarating, thrilling and breathtaking experience. - JAPAN - THE JAPANESE LEGEND 14 DAYS/11 NIGHTS - EJAPL
In a volcanic Island chain, surrounded by an ocean, the Japanese built their cultural and national identity. The transition from being open to the world to being closed to it has shaped Japan‘s unique character. And even today, modern and technological Japan remains rigid and reserved, and it zealously preserves its unique tradition. A visit to Japan is an encounter with many contrasts almost everywhere; ancient temples alongside modern skyscrapers, fancy gardens and hi-tech gadgets, old samurai castles located in vibrant, modern cities. Japan is a western society that stands firmly in the east. Our tour includes Tokyo with its skyscrapers, wooden houses and traditional gardens, and the natural reserve Nikko with its abundance of temples – both Shinto and Buddhist. At Hakone, located on the edge of a volcanic lake, we can soak in a typical Japanese Onsen. Kyoto – Japan‘s imperial capital for over 1,000 years, and Hiroshima, rebuilt from scratch after the tragic event of the atomic bomb in World War II. The Land of the Rising Sun brings us calm at dawn, hustle and bustle at midday, and placidity at night. Yokoso! - TIBET & NEPAL - ETIN
Tibet lays spread across the Tibetan plain, from the Silk Road in the north, the Hindu Kush Mountains in the west, to the Himalayas in the south. Known as the "Roof of the World" it is a unique region. There among breathless landscapes, and alongside lofty mountain ranges, in the vast open spaces, and between the lakes and the rivers, live the Chinese minority people of Tibet. Lhasa, the capital, is the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism which came into being when Buddhism wandered from India to China and the countries of the east, such as Nepal, Bhutan and – of course – India. Some of the world‘s most spectacular monuments are to be found in Tibet. Come join us on this expedition to an unusual, spectacular, elevated, spiritual and revealing part of our planet.
Australia - AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND - EAUN
Founded by ancient Polynesian (Maori) navigators, developed by European settlers and attractive to Pacific Rim immigrants the lands of "no worries" may be home to the happiest people on earth. They have it all: cosmopolitan cities like Sydney and Auckland, the Blue Mountains and many of the world‘s best beaches; the Great Barrier Reef, the most extensive collection of coral on earth, and a selection of native animals such as the cute koalas, bounding kangaroos, curious emus and diminutive kiwis. The soaring craggy mountains of New Zealand’s southern Island with its crystal clear fjords, gurgling volcanic pools and glacier-fed lakes, all beneath a brilliant blue sky.
North America - ALASKA CRUISE & THE CANADIAN ROCKIES - ECAL
Deep pristine lakes beneath towering mountains. Enormous creeping glaciers and swiftly rushing rapids. Experience Alaska and the Inside Passage from the sumptuous luxury of a grand and magnificent ship pampering you at sea. Watch the whales frolicking in the icy waters of the north, and hear the glaciers crackling as they creep at a snail‘s pace down to the ocean. Bask in the beauty of British Columbia, and then climb to the heights of Canada’s Rockies, North America’s principal mountain range. Traverse the Fraser River Canyon and wander the plains of Canada‘s First Nations. Negotiate the narrow gorges of Alberta and relax by the sides of the emerald-colored lakes. This glatt-kosher cruise & tour combination brings you nature at its most spectacular and most powerful.
South America - ECUADOR, GALAPAGOS & PERU - EEGP
Ecuador is the smallest country in the Andes Mountains and one of the most fascinating tourist attractions in South America. Thanks to the diversity of the native cultures, the well-kept colonial architecture, the volcanic scenery and the lush forests, this country has more points of interest within its borders than those of a country twice its size. Ecuador ranks as one of the richest countries in the world when it comes to its variety of animals and flora. Ecuador is considered one of the safest and most comfortable countries for travelers. Ecuador‘s tropical climate allows for tourism any time of the year, and the fact that it lies on the equator keeps the weather stable all year long. The weather in Ecuador is fickle and has a tendency for extremes. The only sure thing that can be said about the weather in Ecuador is that it is totally unexpected, and it‘s not rare to experience all 4 seasons in one day. Never the less, and despite all this, the fact that Ecuador is located on the equator, gives one the opportunity to tour Ecuador on most days of the year, and anywhere in the country: the Andes, the rain forests, the beaches and the Galapagos.
Exotic Peru is rich in some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Latin America. The mountains are home to millions of Indians who still speak the ancient Cachua language and maintain their traditional lifestyle. The green Amazon basin which spreads over half the area of Peru is one of the ten most populated wildlife regions in the world – the rain forests are so full of different types of animals and birds that trying to count them all will make your head spin. During this tour we’ll visit Cusco - capital of the Inca kingdom; Machu Picchu – the mysterious city high above the jungle and the most popular tourist site in Peru; and Lima, the Peruvian capital. These all combine to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will excite all your senses.
|