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- Jewish Religious History of Belarus
Jewish Religious History of Belarus
* to visit the famous Volozhin Yeshiva
* to pray at the tomb of the Chafetz Chaim
* to see the oldest synagogue in Europe
Highlights:
- Minsk: Old Jewish building (Rakovskoye Predmeste), Minsk Ghetto, Memorial “Yama”, Matseva – monument on Jewish cemetery
- Volozhin: Yeshiva, Jewish cemetery
- Ivie: Synagogue, Jewish Ghetto
- Radun: Yeshiva, Old Jewish Cemetery and Rabbi Hafetz Hayim`s grave
- Schuchin: (on the way to Grodno) Synagogue, Old Jewish houses
- Grodno: Great Choral Synagogue, Jewish cemetery, Rabbi Shimon Shkop`s grave, Jewish Quarter in the city centre (Old building)
- Borisov: Synagogue “Hevre Tylim” former synagogues and Old Jewish buidings,Yerucham Yehuda Leib Perelmann (Gadol mi Minsk) grave
Time | 4 days / 3 nights |
Type of accommodation | Hotels 3*, 4* |
Country Tour | Belarus |
Itinerary | Minsk - Volozhin - Radun - Grodno - Borisov |
Food | Kosher |
Advanced | Price - for 1 adult. Entrance tickets are included. |
The timing of the tour by day
Jewish Religious History of Belarus 4 days / 3 nights
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 tour 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.
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, survived 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.
Arrival to Volozhin (~85 km) – town, where one of the 1st Yeshivas in Belarus was established.
You will take a look the Yeshiva`s building– one of the main Jewish establishments of Mykolayev`s Russia time. The Volozhin Yeshiva played important role in Jewish life. Many authorities of different Yeshivas, magiday shiurim, mashgiahs studied here. Volozhin Yeshiva had become a prototype of contemporary Yeshivas in the world, and the symbol of contemporary Judaism.
In August, 1941 Jewish Ghetto was established in Volozhin. All Jews (about 3 500 people) from Volozhin, Vishnevo and Oshmyan areas were sent there by Germans.
After, you will visit old Jewish cemetery, common grave and monument devoted to Volozhin Ghetto victims.
Arrival to Radun (~125km) – town of Hafetz Hayim - spiritual leader of Jews in XIX-XX centuries.
14:00 – MINHAH
Lunch. Lesson in Hafetz Hayim Yeshivah.
Rabbi Israel Meir HaKohen (1838—1933), who is known as Hafetz Hayim moved to Radun on the age of 18. He dedicated himself to study and he lived modestly, and for living he worked in a small shop. While he was working, he couldn`t give up reading books. Having received the title of Rabbi, he refused any job offers in order not to stop studying. His name is concerned with famous Yeshiva in Radun which had reputation as the best Yeshiva in Eastern Europe. Hafetz Hayim was one of the founders of “Agudath Israel” - intergovernmental Jewish organization that is still functioning,beside this, he was an initiator of important establishment “Waad Hayeshivoth”. “Hafetz Hayim“ book (“Desirer of life”) was devoted to laws “lashon hara” (prohibition of gossiping), it was published in 1873 and along with its addition ”Shemirath ha-lashon” (“Guarding of the tongue”) got popularity all over the world. But the most famous work is “Mishnah Berurah”- broaded and comprehensive commentary to “Orach Chayim”. “Mishnah Berurah” was authoritative codex of Torah`s laws and sage`s provisions in all contemporary Jewish communities.
Cemetery and Hafetz Hayims grave visit.
Drive to Grodno (~135 km).
Check-in at hotel. Free time. Night at hotel.
3 DAY
Check-out.
08:30 – SHAHARITH
Breakfast.
Grodno city-tour (~3h): Grodno is the city which due to its location, closed to boundaries, has avoided destruction in 1941. It saved its unique architecture, historical buildings and old streets` planning. In 1388 Grand Duke of Lithuania Vitautas the Great granted privilege to Jews from Grodno. There is one of the most beautiful and oldest synagogues in Europe that is included in the list of Cultural and Historical values of Belarus.
You will visit The Great Choral Synagogue. The Great Choral Synagogue, or The Main Synagogue, on Bolshaya Troitskaya saved the first look as it used to be in XX century. It has long history. Choral Synagogue was built by Italian architector - Santi Gucci in 1578 according to Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe`s initiative. Besides, you will visit ''Museum-Drugstore''- where you know how medicine was developed in Belarus. It`s the oldest drugstore in the country.
Walking in historical city center and visit old Jewish buildings.
Visit Jewish cemetery and Shimon Shkop`s grave.
Rabbi Shimon Yehuda bar Yitzchak-Shmuel Hakohen (1859—1939) — remarkable researcher of Talmud, teacher, spiritual leader, lecturer in Grodno Yeshiva.
14:00 – MINHAH
Lunch.
Drive to Minsk (~285 km).
Check-in at hotel. Free time. Night at hotel.
4 DAY
Check-out.
08:30 – SHAHARITH
Breakfast.
Arrival to Borisov (~75 km) - old-town, founded in ХII century.
City tour (~2h): Jewish community in Borisov exists from XVI century. In XVII Borisov Kahal was one of the richest in Belarus, local Jews traded in bread and forest wood with Riga and North Black Sea areas. Number of Jews was increasing all the time. In 1910 there were about 10617 Jewish inhabitants, 7 Synagogues, Talmud-Thorah, private schools (for men and ladies) in Borisov.
Visit Synagogue “Hevre Tylim”, which was built in 1911, the building has saved its first look.
Visit Jewish cemetery andHa-Gadol mi Minsk`s grave –“The Great scholar of Minsk”-Yerucham Yehuda Leib Perelmann the main Rabbi of Minsk and Yeshiva.
14:00 – MINHAH
Lunch.
Transfer to Мinsk-2 Airport.
Reviews (5)
We had a fantastic time in Belarus with knowledgable tour guides who made our visit so worthwhile. There was so much to learn about all of the Jewish sites. Our kosher meals were all arranged for us so we did not have to worry about the food. I would defintiely recommend this company.
Thank you for the professionalism of your company!
My husband and I arrived in Minsk on a visit to friends and they took us on a tour of Jewish places in Minsk. It was very interesting!
I would like to express my gratitude for their help in the search for archival and improvement on the graves of my relatives.
There have been Israeli investors in Minsk at the opening of the new plant. It was necessary to organize a 2 day entertainment. I liked that do not ship a lot of history. It is sufficient and in Israel. It was the military museum in the line of Stalin. Belarusian drank moonshine in a village Dudutki.