Adath Jeshurun Congregation Journey to The Balkans

• Departure from the United States.

Today’s itinerary depends upon arrival time(s)

• Arrival in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and check in to hotel.
• Depending on arrival time, get an initial feel of Sarajevo’s vibrant, friendly atmosphere by taking a walk on your own.
• Meet for a brief orientation session followed by Welcome dinner.

The beginning of Sephardi presence in the city dates back to 1565, most Jews arriving via

Salonica. Over the next decade they established their cortijo or mahalla judia (Jewish quarter)

• Visit Il Kal Vjezu (the Old Synagogue). This fascinating pre-modern architectural masterpiece today serves as an active temple and also houses Sarajevo’s splendid Jewish museum.
• Continue with a visit to the ornate Ashkenazi Synagogue (1902), which serves as the main shul of the Jewish community.
• Visit the Grand Sephardi Synagogue (Kal Grande) and the Old Sephardic cemetery, established in 1630 and used by the Serbian military as a strategic firing position during the civil war.
• Continue to the National Museum, home of the Sarajevo Haggadah.
• Other stops include the vibrant Oriental Old Bazaar, the Gazi Hursevbeg Mosque (1531), the Latin Bridge (Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated nearby), and the array of lovely Austro-Hungarian buildings along the main promenade.

• Depart Sarajevo, through scenic mountainous canyons and pristine ravines. Pass through Jablanica, the site of a pivotal World War II battle.
• Visit Mostar, which was home to a sizable Jewish community, and the former synagogue today serves as the city’s puppet theater. Located on both sides of the turquoise Neretva River, the East and West parts of the historic Old Town are connected by Mostar’s most celebrated (and photographed) structure – the Old Bridge (Stari Most). Originally built in the 16th century, the bridge was destroyed in 1993 during the civil war and was impeccably rebuilt ten year later.
• Continue to Stolac to the grave of Moshe Danon, the noted 19th-century Grand Rabbi of Sarajevo. Bosnia’s Jewish community has renewed the pre-WWII tradition of a yearly pilgrimage to the site. Nearby lies the Radimlja medieval necropolis, whose ornate tombstones (or Ste ć ci ) are a unique regional phenomenon.
• Bid farewell to Bosnia and cross into gorgeous Croatia, arriving in Dubrovnik – the nation’s crowning coastal gem.

Until the Napoleonic conquest of 1808, for over four centuries Dubrovnik was coterminous

with the autonomous maritime Republic of Ragusa, reaching its commercial zenith during the

15th and 16th centuries. Sephardi Jews settled here – and across Dalmatia – in large numbers

after the Expulsion. They mostly traded in silk, leather, spices, wool, and textiles. In 1556,

Dubrovnik also welcomed a significant number of Jews expelled from Ancona by Pope Paul IV.

• Visit Dubrovnik’s 1532 synagogue, which is particularly enchanting. After Prague, it is the second-oldest active synagogue in Europe. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the most prominent Jewish family was that of the illustrious Rabbi Aaron ben David ha-Koen (from Florence).
• Walk along Dubrovnik’s Stradun thoroughfare, the town’s beautiful alleyways, and the romantic port.
• Free time to walk along and on the city walls, take a short boat ride to nearby Lokrum islet, or enjoy the charm of the Old Town.

• Begin the day with a drive on the famed Jadranska seaside road, along Dalmatia’s breathtaking southern Adriatic coast.
• Pass by medieval Ston, whose defense walls are sometimes likened to the Great Wall of China. The region is home to sunny vineyards, Franciscan monasteries, craggy cliffs, and oyster farms.
• From the northern coast of the picturesque Pelješac peninsula, cross the famed newly built Pelješac Bridge.
• Final destination is Split, Dalmatia’s undisputed hub.
• Check into hotel.
• Free time to explore Split on your own and prepare for Shabbat. (The Ivan Meštrović Gallery for example, is dedicated to the work of Croatia’s internationally renowned sculptor).
• Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Split Synagogue followed by Shabbat dinner.

Romaniote Jews lived in nearby Salona (no connection to Salonica) in the 3rd century. In the

middle of the 7th century they moved to the court of Diocletian, soon to become the town of Split. During the Middle Ages the Jewish merchants of Split and Ragusa (Dubrovnik) served as trade brokers between Dalmatia, Italy, and regions along the Danube. In the 16th century there were two distinct Sephardi communities in Split: the Eastern/Levantine from Ottoman lands and the Western – or Ponentine – Sephardim from Italy. One of the most prominent Ashkenazi families was the Morpurgos of Maribor. The historic Morpurgo bookstore still stands in the heart of the old town (though currently closed).

• Morning for Shabbat services
• Shabbat lunch
• Our Shabbat walking tour includes Diocletian’s Palace, where menorah engravings are clearly visible on the walls; the spectacular synagogue dating back to the early 1500s; and the historic Jewish neighborhood, converted into a ghetto from the mid-1700s until Napoleon’s arrival in 1806.
• The tour includes a stop by the fish market, and a walk up to the Jewish cemetery, from which you can enjoy a panoramic vista of the city and its port.
• Free time in the afternoon.
• Havdalah

• Begin the day with an exciting catamaran boat ride to the idyllic Island of Hvar. In the 4th century BCE, the Greeks founded here the Pharos colony. One of the most beautiful islands in Croatia, and by some accounts in the world, it is one of Europe’s famed lavender capitals.
• Take in the breathtaking views of the Adriatic from one of the island’s fortified peaks.
• Enjoy the island’s natural beauty and walk through the preserved historic Hvar Town and Stari Grad.
• Rustic lunch with regional dishes at an organic farm, and an opportunity to sample Hvar olive oils and native wines.
• Free time for personal exploration.
• Return by catamaran to Split in the early evening.

• Depart Split and drive through central Croatia, or Croatia proper to take in the natural beauty of the country’s inland geography, dotted by mountain chains and castles perched on hilltops.
• Stop at the Plitvice Lakes, which are the most spectacular natural formation in the region – and arguably in the entire country. The natural park is one of Europe’s top UNESCO World Heritage sites. Plitvice is composed of sixteen turquoise, crystal-clear lakes, a series of stunning waterfalls, dense forests, and a system of wooden bridges and boardwalks.
• From Plitvice, continue to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital city and largest metropolitan center.

The earliest Jewish settlers here date back to the 10th century, and in the late medieval

period, Jews arrived from lands as disparate as Albania, Malta, France, Hungary, and

Moravia. From the mid 18th century, the Jewish community included Jews from

Hungary, Moravia, Bohemia. Today Zagreb is home to the country’s largest Jewish community, whose 1867 synagogue was demolished by the Ustashe in 1941.
Zagreb has a unique vibe, a particular blend of Central European and Mediterranean charm.

• Enjoy a walking tour of the city, including the iconic Jelačića Square, the Dolac marketplace, the historic 19th century Tkalčićeva Street, the arrestingly baroque Upper Town, The Museum of Broken Relationships, and more.
• Time for personal exploration.
• Festive Closing Dinner

• Free time and departures.

*Program is subject to change, pending confirmations.