A Tale of Two Cities, a Prague & Berlin SeminarDates: July 13-22, 2022
Prices: $5,395 USD land only; $910 USD single supplement
Book This Seminar!
The Prague & Berlin Seminar, taking place in those European cities, will be led by Haim Aronovitz, Director of Melton Travel Seminars. The seminar is open to adults who enjoy in-depth Jewish educational travel, including all Melton students and graduates.
We are so pleased that you are interested in travelling with Melton! As you may know, Melton provides the educational content for its seminars, but is not a travel agency. Gil Travel Agency (“Gil”) is the travel logistics provider for this seminar 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
Includes
Tour Includes
- Accommodations: 8 nights
- Meals: Breakfast and one additional meal daily
- Educational Programming: All entrance fees and programs as per the Melton itinerary.
Hotels
- Day 1-3: Grand Majestic Plaza in Prague
The Grand Majestic Plaza is located in the heart of historical and business centre of Prague, within walking distance from famous Municipal House, Gothic Powder Gate, significant Republic Square and most attractive shopping centre Palladium. - Day 4-9: Titanic Gerdarmenmarket Berlin
Just like Berlin is very much a mix of heritage and modern influences, we have created an inspiring blend of classic elements and inspiringly playful and modern décor. Located on Französische Straße, in the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt area with its monumental 18th-century architecture our building was once used as a warehouse by the Staatsoper.
Note: We will do our best to assist you with extensions both before and after the seminar.
Tour Does Not Include Flights
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 Fred Bomze (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 215-568-6655 x 244) with your flight requests.
Itinerary
Day One: Wednesday
PRAGUE: A WALKING INTRODUCTION
2:30 p.m. Meet with your Melton educator and fellow group members to begin the program.
Orientation to the program.
Walking tour of the Old Town Square and its vicinity, a kaleidoscope of periods and styles: (how) were the Jews a part of this culture?
Welcoming dinner.
Return to the hotel.
Overnight: Prague
Day Two: Thursday
THE GLORY OF PRAGUE, GENERAL AND JEWISH
Breakfast at the hotel.
Introduction to the day: The Crown, the Cross and the Jews.
Transfer to the Strakhov Monastery for a special tour of their library, followed by a visit to the environs of the Hrad (Prague Castle).
Overview of the City of 100 Spires and walk along the Golden Lane, with a study session on the way: Politics and Leadership: Between Nobles, Burghers and Jews.
Walk through the Lesser Town and over the Charles Bridge crossing the Vltava River, once the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city's Old Town and adjacent areas
Lunch on your own en route.
Afternoon devoted to the Old Jewish Town (Yosefov):
Introduction: The Fabric of Jewish Life Until the 19th century
- Guided visit through the Altneu Shul
- Explore the rest of the Old Ghetto and the Precious Legacy Exhibit at the Jewish Museum, encompassing the Old Cemetery, the Maisel, the Klausen and the Pinkas Synagogues.
Dinner on own and evening at leisure.
(Optional): A Jew in K.'s Prague (walking exploration of Kafka’s World in Central Prague).
Overnight: Prague
Day Three: Friday
MEMORY & CONTINUITY
Breakfast at the hotel and introduction to the day: Twentieth Century Breakdown.
Depart Prague and drive to Terezin.
Visit Terezin, the town that was turned into the “model” ghetto and concentration camp. Visit the Historical Museum and the Art Exhibits, created by the artists who were prisoners of the camp, stop by the so-called Hidden Synagogue and the Crematorium. Conclude the visit with a special study session: What Makes For Heroism?
Boxed lunch en route back to Prague.
Meeting with a young leader of the Czech Jewish community.
Shabbat Dinner, possibly with members of the community.
Overnight: Prague
Day Four: Saturday
A PRAGUE SHABBAT
Breakfast at the hotel.
Optional Shabbat morning services at a local synagogue.
OR
Morning at leisure to explore Prague on own.
Lunch on own.
Afternoon walking tour.
Bein Kodesh Lechol: light Shabbat Snack, study session and Havdalah.
Overnight: Prague
Day Five: Sunday
FROM PRAGUE TO BERLIN
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Drive to Dresden, symbol of Germany in her defeat and of the price of war.
Site visit and discussion: Victor Klemperer - A Jew, Not by Choice.
Boxed lunch together, in a park near Dresden's cathedral.
Continue the drive to Berlin; upon arrival:
- Visit Nikolaikirsche Platz for an overview of the story of the city and its Jewish community.
- See Ephraim-Palais, home of the court Jew of Frederick the Great
- Presentation alongside Lessing's home: Lessing and "Nathan the Wise" (Moses Mendelssohn).
Check into the hotel.
Dinner on own and evening at leisure.
Overnight: Berlin
Day Six: Monday
JEWISH LIFE IN BERLIN
Breakfast at the hotel and introduction: German Jews and Their Judaisms.
Visit the Weissensee Jewish Cemetery, the second largest Jewish cemetery in Europe.
Walk along Grosse Hamburger Strasse, once the center of Berlin Jewry.
Tour to Jewish sites in the neighborhood, including:
- The Hackescher Markt
- The Jewish Cemetery, including Moses Mendelsson's grave
Break for lunch on own.
Guided visit to the Jewish Museum of Berlin, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. One of the most conspicuous architectural landmarks in the city, it embodies remembrance, melancholy, and departure.
Return to the hotel or remain in museum.
Dinner on own and evening at leisure.
Overnight: Berlin
Day Seven: Tuesday
FROM IMPERIAL TO NAZI BERLIN
Breakfast at the hotel and introduction to the day: From Bismarck to Hitler; Models of Authoritarianism.
The Fate of Books and People: Visit the Book Burning Memorial at Bebel Square, alongside Humboldt University.
Stop at the Victory Column in the Tiergarten: Bismarck, Architect of Modern Germany, and his Jew, Bleichroder (brief discussion).
Visit the 1936 Olympic Games stadium: Putting Symbols to Use.
Break for lunch on own.
Visit the "Places of Remembrance" Art in Public Space Memorial in the Bavarian Quarter, addressing the almost-forgotten history of this neighborhood, where Albert Einstein and Hannah Arendt once lived.
Visit the exhibition devoted to the residents of Schoneberg at the Municipal Hall: “We Are All Berliners!”
Free to explore or return to the hotel.
Overnight: Berlin
Day Eight: Wednesday
THE BEAST LET LOOSE: NAZI BERLIN
Breakfast at the hotel and introduction to the morning: The Thousand Year Reich
Drive to the Reich Ministry of Aviation and other Nazi-era buildings along Wilhelmstrasse.
Visit the Topography of Terror Museum.
Study Session: What to Remember? How to Remember?
Visit the Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the commemorative spots devoted to the Roma and Sinti, and to the Homosexuals.
Break for lunch on own.
BERLIN DIVIDED AND REUNITED
Visit Brandenburg Gate
Walls That Divided: Visit the Berlin Wall Museum and Memorial.
Dinner on own and evening at leisure.
Overnight: Berlin
Day Nine: Thursday
TAKING STOCK
Breakfast at the hotel.
Introduction to the day:Looking Back
How Do We Educate? A special session with the educational staff of the Wannsee Conference Educational and Memorial Site.
The Ongoing Construction of Memory: a visit to Gleis 17 (Track 17), the main deportation site for Berlin Jews during the Holocaust, located in Grunewald.
Boxed lunch en route.
Heart of the New Germany: The Reichstag and new Government Center.
What Lessons do Germans Take from their Past? Meet with an organization involved in refugee assistance or co-existence dialogue or a scholar of contemporary Germany society.
Group Session: What Lessons do WE Take from our Encounters?
Farewell dinner.
Overnight: Berlin
Day Ten: Friday
RETURN HOME or continue individual travel
Breakfast at the hotel and check out as per individual schedules.
Transfer on own to Berlin International Airport.
Note: Itinerary subject to change. Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed in the destinations being visited.
Terms
Need to Know
- Melton has offered quality educational travel opportunities for over 25 years, but it is not a travel agency and does not handle any payments made towards the seminar. We have contracted this seminar to Gil Travel and it is essential that you read their Terms and Conditions prior to your actual registration.
- Melton is not responsible for cancellation of this program for reasons beyond its control and your travel insurance should cover both "cancellation for any reason" and "COVID-related cancellation". This latter policy is being offered by a number of insurance companies (see Insurance, Health & Safety, on this page).
Please Note
CANCELLATIONS
Please refer to the Cancellation policy that appears in the Terms and Conditions of the Registration process with Gil Travel. (link)
The Gil Travel Cancellation policy states, in part:
On registration, a non-returnable fee of $500 is required. This will be applied to the overall seminar cost.
By 60 days prior to the opening of the seminar, the remaining amount should be paid.
- If an individual cancels more than 60 days prior to the seminar, s/he will forfeit the registration fee only.
- After that (60 days or less) no refunds will be issued.
- If the seminar is cancelled by Melton up to 61 days prior to the seminar, the individual will be reimbursed in full.
- If the seminar is cancelled due to COVID and according to the relevant governmental decisions up to 61 days prior to the seminar, the individual will be reimbursed in full. Every attempt will be made to determine the viability of a seminar at least 61 days prior to its opening date.
- If the seminar is cancelled due to COVID less than 61 days prior to opening, the monies paid (that is, the full price) will be held for when the seminar is run in the future.
Please note that all reimbursements on payments made by credit card will carry a 3% processing fee. All notifications of cancellation must be submitted in writing.
Additional Information
- Group rates are per person based on double occupancy and a minimum of 20 full paying participants per bus. Should the number of participants drop below the minimum listed above, we will 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.
- Hotel Accommodations: The tour price includes all hotel accommodations, in hotel rooms with private baths. 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. Two-bed rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bed rooms with a rollaway cot where available and are not recommended when considering the comfort of those in the room. King-size beds are not available in most hotels; what is considered king-size usually consists of two single beds pushed together and made up separately, but with one headboard. Some two-bed rooms may have two twin - not full- or queen-size - beds.
- Meals are included as specified in the itinerary. In travel beyond Israel, not all communal meals are kosher certified, but fish- and vegetarian options will always be available and kashrut and other dietary requirements of group members will be taken into account. Participants can order additional kosher meals at prices set by our local agents.
- All seminars are led by a Melton educator who remains with the group throughout the tour.
- Gratuities: All gratuities for the educators, guides, drivers, and restaurant staff 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 the 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.
- Holidays and Museum Closures - Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or religious, 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.
Not Included
- Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included.
- Personal Transfers from / to the airport.
- Personal Expenses: All personal expenses such as: laundry, valet service, cables, telephone calls and postage are not included.
Insurance, Health & Safety
Please note that Gil Travel will obey all protocols/restrictions in place regarding COVID.
We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Melton is not responsible for cancellation of this program for reasons beyond its control. Your comprehensive travel insurance should cover both "cancellation for any reason" and "COVID-related cancellation". This latter policy is being offered by a number of insurance companies. We refer you to a list published by Forbes magazine, showing those companies that offer this new policy.
Please note that such policies may require registration for the policy within 14-21 days of your registration for the seminar.
Gil Travel recommends RoamRight Travel Insurance.
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. It must also be exactly as it appears on your passport. Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the date of your return home.
- 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 visitthe U.S. Transportation Security Administration websiteat tsa.gov to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items.