Charleston Gil 375Secrets of the Jewish South, Charleston & Savannah

Dates: TBA
Price: TBD*
 
Shalom Y’All! Join us in Charleston and Savannah, two of the South’s most charming destinations. Cobblestone roads, unique architecture and Southern hospitality await us.
 
Jews arrived here as early as the late 17th century marking these cities with the distinction of being home to two of the oldest Jewish communities in the U.S.
 
Southern Jewish life has a rich history, which we will see and feel during our visits at a Colonial synagogue and Jewish cemeteries. No trip to the South would be complete without discussing the institution of slavery and the Civil Rights Era, which we will do at different points over this trip.

* Price does not include flight or hotel.

For the itinerary and other details, please see the tabs below. On a mobile device, use the menu icon (☰) to open other tabs.

Please read Melton's comprehensive health policy HERE.

  • The "Secrets of the Jewish South: Charleston & Savannah" tour will be led by scholar and editor Dr. Joellyn Zollman. Melton travel is open to adults of all ages.

    We are so pleased that you are interested in travelling with Melton! As you may know, Melton provides the educational content for its tours, but is not a travel agency. Gil Travel Agency (“Gil”) is the travel logistics provider for this tour and is responsible for the collection of all deposits and other fees. Because Melton does not collect any travel deposits or fees, it is not responsible for any financial loss associated with a cancellation of this seminar for reasons beyond Melton’s control, including COVID.

    We encourage you to read Gil’s Travel Protection Recommendation thoroughly, advising that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers both “cancellation for any reason” and for “COVID-related” reasons. Even where your destination does not presently restrict travel due to COVID, we still recommend you purchase a policy with such coverage.

    Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to travelling and learning with you,
    The Melton Travel Team

    Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to be notified when registration opens.

  • Includes

    • 5 nights' accommodation at select hotels
    • Three pre-trip online learning sessions taught by Dr. Joellyn Zollman
    • Travel between Charleston and Savannah
    • All site entrance fees and program fees (as per itinerary)
    • Daily breakfast, 3 dinners (as per itinerary)

    Hotels:

     Not Included:

    • Flights and personal insurance 
    • Personal expenses, including meals or drinks not mentioned in the itinerary, unless specified

    We will be pleased to assist you in any and all flight arrangements, including additional travel plans, through our partners at Gil Travel. Please contact Julian Banegas (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 215-568-6655, Ext. 377) with your flight requests.

  • Day 1 (Sunday)

    • Arrival to Charleston
    • Gil Travel will gladly assist with individual transfers to the hotel.
    • Check into hotel and relax.
    • Enjoy a welcoming dinner at Circa 1886 (or similar)*

    Overnight: Charleston

    Day 2 (Monday)

    • Enjoy breakfast at the hotel accompanied by a learning session with scholar Joellyn Zollman.
    • Begin your visit with a Walking Tour of Charleston, led by certified city guides who are also local Jewish residents.
    • Enjoy lunch on own.
    • Afternoon visit to the College of Charleston Center for Southern Jewish Culture, where curator Dale Rosengarten will lead a learning session featuring documents and objects from the Jewish Heritage Collection.
    • Dinner on own.
    • Option to attend the Sound of Charleston Concert exploring Charleston’s history through music at the Circular Congregational Church.

    Overnight: Charleston

    Day 3 (Tuesday)

    • Enjoy breakfast at the hotel accompanied by a learning session with scholar Joellyn Zollman.
    • Following breakfast, walk to Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim and enjoy a guided tour of Charleston’s colonial synagogue.
    • Continue to Coming Street Cemetery, the oldest Jewish burial ground in the American South.
    • Lunch and afternoon on own to explore museums or go shopping. Meet back at the Charleston Holocaust Memorial in the late afternoon for an analysis of the memorial.
    • Enjoy dinner at famed Butcher & Bee and taste a little Israeli saveur in the south. Meet with chef owner Michael Shemtov to learn about marrying his vision of tikkun olam with community partnerships.

    Overnight: Charleston

    Day 4 (Wednesday)

    • Enjoy breakfast at the hotel accompanied by a learning session with scholar Joellyn Zollman.
    • Check out of hotel and transfer to Savannah by bus. (approx. 2 hours)
    • Check in to hotel, refresh, and enjoy lunch on own.
    • Trolley tour of Savannah.
    • Visit the Owens/Thomas House and Slave Quarters. (Ticket includes access to two other museums, to visit on own if wanted.)
    • Relax and refresh at hotel.
    • Dinner on own

    Overnight: Savannah

    Day 5 (Thursday)

    • Enjoy breakfast at the hotel accompanied by a learning session with scholar Joellyn Zollman.
    • Walk to Mickve Israel and enjoy a private guided tour of the congregation and the museum, followed by coffee and conversation with members of the community.
    • Enjoy the afternoon for lunch and shopping.
    • Choice of a guided tour of Savannah’s Civil Rights Museum (or) The Girl Scouts of America’s First Headquarters and Museum.
    • Closing dinner at Fat Radish Restaurant (or similar) *

    Overnight: Savannah

    Day 6 (Friday)

    • Enjoy breakfast at leisure in main hotel restaurant (included).
    • Check out of hotel and transfer on own to airport.

    * Not all communal meals are kosher-certified, but fish and vegetarian options will always be available.

  • Need to Know

    • Group rates are per person based on double occupancy and a minimum of 20 fully paying participants. Should the number of participants drop below the minimum listed above, we may adjust the cost of the trip to reflect the additional expense of operating the program.
    • Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides, drivers, and the tour guide/educator are included.
    • A nonrefundable deposit of 50% of the seminar cost is due upon registration. If the seminar is cancelled, the registration fee will be refunded. The final balance will be due by September 13, 2022.
    • All cancellations must be submitted in writing. After October 13, 2022, there will be no refunds, nor will there be refunds for unused services.
    • Hotel Accommodations: The tour price includes all hotel accommodations, in hotel rooms with private bathrooms. Our standard is to provide the best available hotels while considering value. Although the level of the accommodations may differ slightly from hotel to hotel, we are committed to your comfort.
    • Meals are included as indicated in the itinerary. Participants can order kosher meals at prices set by our local agents.
    • A Melton educator will be with the group throughout the tour.
    • All gratuities are included.
    • Baggage: The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operator shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at time of incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to the insurance company. With regard to airline baggage allowance, different carriers have different regulations for business and coach, please check with your individual carrier with regard to permitted number of pieces, weights and dimensions. The tour operator is not responsible for fees levied by any air carrier for the transport of personal belongings of any kind.
    • Porterage at hotels. Please note that room service is not included.

     

    Not Included

    • Flights and personal insurance are not included.
    • Personal expenses, including meals not mentioned in the itinerary or drinks during meals, unless specified, or room service.

  • Please note that Gil Travel will obey all protocols/restrictions in place regarding COVID. In the event of a statewide travel ban, the hotels committed to a full refund. We strongly suggest purchasing travel insurance.

    Gil Travel recommends RoamRight Travel Insurance. Consider travel protection for:

    • Trip Cancellation
    • Trip Interruption
    • Emergency Medical Expenses
    • Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains
    • Trip Delay
    • Baggage & Personal Effects
    • Baggage Delay

    For more information on the available plans or to enroll, visit RoamRight Travel Insurance or contact RoamRight at 1-866-891-6614 and reference Gil Travel.

    Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within 21 days from the time you make your initial trip deposit, the entire non-refundable amount of the trip must be insured, and you must be medically able to travel at the time the premium is paid. However, the travel protection plan itself can be purchased any time prior to departure.

    Additional Information

    •  Airline Security Measures: Your name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.
      If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.
    • Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items.
    • Holidays and Museum Closures - Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or state and local holidays observed in the destinations being visited.
    • Photography During Tours: We will occasionally use photographs taken by fellow guests or your trip director for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify us at the start of your tour.

  • For more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

    T: 1–646–921–0747, Ext. 4