Culture of Jewish Sthetl in Belarus

1 DAY

Morning arrival to Minsk-2 Airport. Our representative will meet you at the airport. Transfer to Minsk

Check-in at hotel, free time.

08:30 – SHAHARITH

Breakfast.

Jewish Minsk City tour (~2,5h): during this excursion, you will know history of Jews in Minsk, their religion and traditions, you will know names of famous Jews, and how people lived during Holocaust period. Also, you will visit Svobody Square and central area of Jews living-Rakovskoye Predmeste, Yubileynaya Square – one of the largest Ghetto in Europe, and its underground shelters, Old Jewish cemetery, monument “Yama” – symbol of the memory about dead Jews in Belarus.

14:00 – МINHAH

Lunch.

Visit Jewish History and Culture Museum of Belarus(~1h): there are more than 15 000 exhibits, documents, materials and photos in its fund which represents century history and culture of Belarusian Jews. The main purpose of the Museum is to save and transfer historic and cultural heritage of Jews to new generations. Museum constantly looks for evidence of Jews survival during nazi occupation period in Belarus and solicits Yad Vashem museum for giving survivals the rank of Righteous of the World Nations.

Free time.

Night at hotel.

2 DAY

Early check-out.

07:00 – SHAHARITH

Breakfast.

Drive to Mir (~99 km) – multi-religious town, center of handicrafts and trade, this town is world-known by its rich history and heritage.

Mir tour: Jews inhabited Mir in XVII century. Jews were governed by communities-Kahals, they had their own chairmen, court and they formed basis of merchant class. Mir has saved many objects reminded those times: complex of Synagogue buildings, Main and “Warm” (Merchant) Synagogues, religious elementary school-Cheder and Yeshiva, kahal`s building, bank and many others.

Visit Jewish cemetery and Rabbi Yeruchem Leibovitz grave–spiritual leader of “Mir” yeshiva.  Authority of Mir Yeshiva was very strongIn Belarus and abroad, as well. In 1920-1930 there were about 400 students from all over the world.

Visit exposition “Ghetto in Mir Castle”, that tells about culture of Jews, describes that tragedy what people faced with during Holocaust time and history of the town in time of the war. Besides, you can find a book of ghetto victims.

Excursion in Mir Castle – is in UNESCO list, symbol of Belarus, the most famous castle of Radzivilov dynasty.

14:00 – МINHAH

Lunch.

Arrival to Baranovichi (~58 km) – important center of Orthodoxy in 20 century in Poland, residency of hasidic Rabbis Kaidanov and Slonimsky dynasties.

City-tour: one can see Synagogues, Yeshiva and visit Jewish cemetery.

In the end of 19^th century, Baranovichi was railway junction, and Jews started inhabiting this area without any official allowance. Only in 1903 prohibition to live in Baranovichi was abolished. Exodus of the Jews to Israel, USA, Germany led to sudden reduction of Jewish inhabitants, nevertheless, there`s functioned Jewish community and Jewish cemetery which is in perfect condition.

Drive to Brest (~215 km).

Check-in. Free time. Night at hotel.

3 DAY:

08:30 – SHAHARITH

Breakfast.

Brest City-tour (~1,5h) tells you about history of the city and its inhabitants, as well. In XVI century Brest was named as Jewish capital of Great Lithuania, and in 1860 there were just 8829 people in Brest-Litovsk. Among them 7510 were Jewish. But during Great Patriotic War Brest Ghetto was organized, almost all its people were killed for the time of Holocaust.

“Jews of Brest” Museum (~1,5h): the main exposition tells you about Brest Jewish community life in XX century. Since 1920 exposition, devoted to Holocaust, was organized. It tells you about tragic time in history of Brest Ghetto, famous people, including Menachem Begin who won the Nobel Peace Prize and took part in creation of the State of Israel. The most remarkable museum rarities are part of the Torah roll (XIX century), it was founded on the garret of one of the buildings in Brest; textbook for boys (published in 1858), the main idea of which was to teach them basic Judaism; “Laws of prayers and aspects of the Religious Behavior of Jews in synagogue” was published in Warsaw in 1858.

14:00 – МINHAH

Lunch.

Drive to Kamenets (~38 km) –small town with 700-years history.

Walking tour and visit of Yeshiva and Synagogue.

Tour in Kamenetskaya Vezha and scenic view point visit.

Kamenetskaya Vezha– typical building of 13-17 centuries in Belarus. Brest, Grodno, Mstislavl, Myadel, Novogrudok, Polotsk, Radoshkovichi, Turov, Shklov used to have similar towers but the only one still exists in Kamenets, this is the reason why it`s considered to be unique all over Eastern Slavic areas (two almost similar towers but smaller than in Kamenets are in Holm town)

Return to Brest. Free time. Night at hotel.

4 DAY:

Early check-out.

07:00 – SHAHARITH

Breakfast.

Drive to Minsk (~300 km).

On the way it`s possible to visit Kobrin town and see Jewish buildings and Synagogues.

14:00 – MINHAH.

Lunch.

Transfer to Minsk-2 Airport.