Dear friends,

As many of you are aware, we've been talking about a trip to Eastern Europe for a number of years. We've come to realize how important it is for us the children and grandchildren to visit and internalize the remains of the Holocaust and prewar Europe. Our own experiences will make sure that the lessons of the Shoah and the greatness of our parents' generation remain alive for our children as well.

As such, I'm organizing a trip to Poland and Hungary for mid August with the following itinerary:

Departure 11p.m.JFK

Arrival 3 p.m. Warsaw

Ger-visit old Bais Medrash & kever of the Sfas Emes & Chiddushei Harim

Warsaw Ghetto, Umschlagplatz (site of deportations) Mila 18

Underground headquarters, Pawiak Prison, Rappaport Memorial, Nozcik Shul- Only shul not destroyed by the Nazis. Overnight in Warsaw

Warsaw Cemetary-largest Jewish cemetery in the world- Rav Chaim Brisker, the Netziv, secret entrance to Ghetto, mass grave, Janusz Korzcak Memorial.

Kotzk,

Treblinka Death Camp.

Lublin

Ghetto of the 1700's and the Nazi era, Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, kevorim of the Chozeh of Lublin and Rav Shalom Shachna- The rebbe of the Remah.

Overnight in Lublin

Maidajnek Concentration Camp.

Rav Elimelech of Lizcensk-the Noam Elimelech,

Tarnow(Remains of Unique shul, Mikvah, town square),

Tarnograd- Shul and Kever Achim.

Krakow

Remah's shul, Kever of Remah, Bach, Tosfos Yomtov, Migaleh

Amukos. Overnight in Krakow

Krakow

Home of Sarah Schneirer- first Bais Yaakov, Old shuls in Ghetto, Schindler's factory

Auschwitz/Birkenau

Budapest. Arrive 4p.m. Kever of Rav Shimon Oppenheim,

Pressburg Kever of Chasam Sofer & Ksav Sofer- overnight in Budapest.

Budapest

Tour Ghetto area, the Dohaney Shul, Mikvah, Gestapo headquarters

Kerestier- Reb Sheyila Kerestierer

Ueihel- The Yismach Moshe. Overnight in Budapest.

Departure 7 a.m. Budapest .

Arrival 12:30 JFK

WHEW!!!!!

As you can see, it's a whirlwind tour! But, as most of you know I've done this a number of times and it works!

We cover in 4 & ½ days what the other tours do in 8 to 10! The way we do it is by starting early and ending late and taking no more than one bus load so that we don't have delays.

1. The cost of the tour at this time is approximately $3000, depending upon the number of people who register. It is all inclusive (airfare, hotels, transportation).

2. WE BRING OUR OWN FOOD. You don't really want to sit down in your hotel across from former Gestapo headquarters and eat elaborate meals, having just come from a mass grave or destroyed shul or shtetl. It also keeps the cost down and makes us more mobile- we're not tied down to any kitchen or dining room schedule.

3. Documents- All you need is a valid U.S. passport. No visas are required for Poland or Hungary.

4. We must have a minimum of 6 people, up to a maximum of one busload of approx. 45.

5. The tour is open to men , women, and teens 16 and older. Experience has shown that it is too grueling and disturbing for younger children.

6. Arrangements can be made to stay over in Europe.

If you are interested please email me at tex@ramaz.org.

Please note that I will be leaving to Poland on May 15 and will not be reachable until May 28th, so if you are interested please contact me in the next three week so that I can begin making arrangements for airfare and accomodations.

Sincerely,

Yossi Weiser