JEWISH POLAND
JEWISH POLAND
JEWISH POLAND
JEWISH POLAND
Rabbi Mati Kirschenbaum was born in Wroclaw, Poland, one of the birthplaces of the European Reform movement. His family, like many European Jews after the Shoah, kept their Jewish heritage a secret. As a result, Rabbi Mati got involved in Jewish life as a teenager. During his college years in Warsaw, where he read Economics and Management, Mati became passionate about Progressive Judaism. Following graduation from college, Rabbi Mati worked as a Jewish educator in Polish non-profits. Rabbi Mati’s love of teaching Judaism motivated him to apply to rabbinical school. Rabbi Mati studied for the rabbinate at Abraham Geiger Kolleg in Germany and at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He was ordained as a rabbi at the Leo Baeck College in London. After ordination, Mati worked as a community Rabbi in Reform synagogues in London.
Rabbi Mati unwinds on long walks and mountain hikes in his spare time. He also enjoys learning about local history, studying foreign languages (currently Spanish and French), and searching for the best coffee and Indian food in Orange County.
WARSAW – ARRIVALS
Arrival in Warsaw International Airport (WAW)
Private transfer from the airport to the hotel arranged by the Taube Center. An approx. 40-minute drive
Suggested accommodation:
PURO Warszawa Centrum (a 9-minute walk from Ec Chaim)
Address: Widok 9, 00-023 Warszawa
Tel:+48 22 899 80 00
Depending on the arrival time:
Welcome session led by Rabbi Kirschenbaum and Helise Lieberman at the hotel
Introductory guided walking tour of Warsaw Old Town
Welcome dinner
Overnight in Warsaw
1000 YEARS OF JEWISH LIFE IN POLAND
Breakfast in the hotel
9:00 am – 10:00 am Morning session with Rabbi Kirschenbaum, in the hotel
10:00 am Private van to Nozyk synagogue followed by a tour of the Grzybowski Sq.
12:00 pm Private van to the POLIN Museum
12:30 pm Group lunch
1:30 pm Guided tour of the Core Exhibition
4:00 pm Private van to the Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Private viewing of the Core Exhibition
Return to the hotel
Time on your own
Kabbalat Shabbat at Ec Chaim
Shabbat dinner with the Ec Chaim community
Walk back to the hotel
Overnight in Warsaw
SHABBAT IN WARSAW
Breakfast in the hotel Shacharit at Ec Chaim
Shabbat lunch at Ec Chaim
2-hour guided walking tour of Warsaw Old Town
Free time
Dinner on your own
Overnight in Warsaw
WARSAW–TREBLINKA–TYKOCIN–JEDWABNE–WARSAW
Breakfast in the hotel
8:00 am Private van to the Umschlagplatz
8:15 am Brief visit to the site
9:00 am Private van to Treblinka
11:00 am Arrival followed by a guided tour
1:00 pm Private van to Tykocin
2:30 pm Arrival in Tykocin and lunch
4:00 pm Guided tour of the synagogue
4:45 pm Visit to Lopuchowo forest
5:35 pm Visit to Jedwabne
6:15 pm Return to Warsaw
8:15 pm Arrival in the hotel
Dinner on your own
Overnight in Warsaw
WARSAW: PAST MEETS PRESENT
Breakfast in the hotel
10:00 am Morning session with Rabbi Kirschenbaum, in the hotel
11:00 am Private van to the Okopowa Jewish Cemetery
11:15 am – 11:15 pm Visit to the Okopowa
1:30 pm Van to lunch
2:00 pm Group lunch
Free time
Dinner on your own
Overnight in Warsaw
WARSAW – LODZ – WROCLAW
Breakfast in the hotel
Check-out
9:00 am Private transfer to Lodz (an approx. 2-hour drive).
11:00 am Arrival in Lodz followed by the visit to the Jewish cemetery
12:30 pm Group lunch at Manufaktura
2:00 pm The tour of Lodz continues
4:00 pm Departure for Wroclaw
6:30 pm Arrival in Wroclaw and check in
Suggested hotel:
Address: Mennicza 24, 50-057 Wrocław
Address: Zaolziańska 2, 53-334, Wrocław,
Dinner at the hotel or in the old town
Overnight in Wroclaw
WROCŁAW
Breakfast in the hotel
9:00 am Morning session with Rabbi Mati Kirschenbaum in the hotel
PROGRAM of the day pending
Dinner on your own
Overnight in Wroclaw
WROCLAW – KRAKOW
Breakfast in the hotel
Check-out
9:00 am Departure via private van to Krakow
12:30 pm Arrival in Krakow and check-in
Suggested hotel:
Lwowska 1 Aparthotel
Address: Lwowska 1; 30-548 Kraków
Lunch on your own
3:00 pm – 5:30 pm Guided tour of Kazimierz
Krakow Jewish Culture Festival concert
Overnight in Krakow
FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
Breakfast in the hotel
8:00 am Departure for Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum
9:30 am Arrival and guided tour of Auschwitz I
12:00 pm Lunch break. Boxed lunch provided
1:00 pm The tour continues to Birkenau
3:30 pm Drive back to Krakow
5:00 pm Arrival in Krakow
Kabbalat Shabbat
Shabbat dinner
Overnight in Krakow
SHABBAT IN KRAKOW
Breakfast in the hotel
Shacharit at Or Hadasz
Shabbat lunch
2-hour guided tour of the Krakow Old Town
Free time
Krakow Jewish Culture Festival concert
Havdalah
Farewell group dinner
Overnight in Krakow
KRAKOW – DEPARTURES
Breakfast in the hotel
Check-out
Taube Center provides the airport transfers
* subject to change
Please read the two tour policy guidelines carefully. In case of any questions, please contact Director of Operations, Aleksandra Makuch at amakuch@taubecenter.org
Cancelation Policy:
We understand that plans can change, and we want to make the process as smooth as possible for you.
If you need to cancel your tour, we’re here to help.
The refunded amount depends on how far in advance you let us know:
If you cancel more than 90 days before the tour begins (by March 27, 2026, 11:59 pm CET), we’ll refund you 90% of the tour price.
If you cancel more than 60 days before the tour (by April 26, 2026, 11:59 pm CET), you’ll receive a 70%refund.
Cancel more than 21 days before the tour (by June 4, 2026, 11:59 pm CET) and we’ll return 50% of the tour price.
Cancel more than 14 days before the tour (by June 11, 2026, 11:59 pm CET) and you’ll receive a 30% refund.
Cancel more than 7 days before the tour (by June 18, 2026, 11:59 pm CET) and we can refund 10%.
For cancellations more than 3 days before the tour (by June 22, 2026, 11:59 pm CET), we’ll be able to refund 5%.
If you have any questions or need help with your cancellation, please reach out — we’re always here to support you.