Topolowa Residence

Opened in March 2014, this independent boutique hotel offers guests 11 intricately designed luxury apartments and suites in the beautiful Grzegórzki district. This quiet, blissful neighborhood is an escape from the liveliness of Old Town but an easy fifteen-minute walk away. The hotel is located in a historic 19th-century building that has been restored to maintain its original delicate details and a modern yet elegant upgrade. Spanning four stories and featuring marble floors and a classic wooden staircase, the Topolowa Residence gives a nod to the styles of Polish past.

Topolowa Residences boasts a high standard of comfort and service that is truly tailored to each individual guest. The team works hard to provide visitors with assistance on tours, transportation, shopping and restaurant recommendations, and even nanny service. The hotel hosts a well-equipped bar, a lounge area complete with board games and a TV, and a complimentary breakfast service. Enjoy the cozy furniture or a drink on the charming patio, and free Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel.

There are a variety of rooms available for different guest parties including the studio apartment, standard apartment, deluxe apartment, executive apartment, or family apartment. No matter the size of your party, this upscale boutique hotel is sure to be accommodating. With high ratings on Booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, it seems the only negative part of Topolowa Residence is going home. Topolowa Residence is conveniently located close to the main train and bus stations and is within walking distance of the Galeria Krakowska Shopping Center and Old Town.

Hamsa Restobar

With the hopes of bringing the rich flavors of Tel Aviv and the Middle East to Kraków, Hamsa Hummus was opened in 2012 by 3 non-Jewish Polish friends who were inspired by Israeli culture and cuisine. Do not let the lack of Israeli or Jewish ownership deter you, the food is authentic and delicious. The vibrant menu pays homage to traditional Israeli cuisine, featuring shakshouka, challah toasts, and typical breakfasts of breads, spreads, salads and cheeses.

On the weekends, Hamsa Hummus is known for its phenomenal breakfast buffet where you can indulge on fresh hummus, muhammara, cheeses, granola, veggies and more. For lunch and dinner, you can build your own mezze platter or choose from a selection of super salads or soups that are available a la cart. Hamsa Hummus also cooks a wide range of spiced meats and provides a handful of main vegetarian options, so there’s truly something for everyone on the menu. Make sure to save room for something sweet at the end of your meal. Hamsa Hummus makes traditional malabi, knafeh, and baklava, which are best enjoyed with a cup of hot Bedouin coffee.

The bright decor of Hamsa Hummus creates a fun, colorful culinary experience that pays tribute to the traditions of the Middle East. Their commitment to using fresh, seasonal products means every dish is delicately crafted to provide guests with the best experience possible. They kindly cater to a range of diets including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free, which can be difficult to accommodate for with traditional Polish cuisine. While Hamsa Hummus does not serve local food, it is a local restaurant that provides the community with unique flavors of a different culture, giving both locals and tourists food for thought.

 

Klezmer Hois

Located in a former bathhouse in the heart of Kazimierz, the Klezmer Hois is a unique Kraków institution that cannot be missed. Situated just 100 meters from the Remuh Synagogue, adding an evening visit to the Klezmer House – complete with traditional Jewish music and Polish cuisine – is an easy way to experience a slice of the old Jewish traditions of Kraków.

Authentically decorated and home to a large menu of delicious, hearty Galician Jewish food, the atmosphere of the Klezmer house is one-of-a-kind. Reviving the pre-war feel of Jewish Kazimierz by hosting nightly concerts, the Klezmer Hois has made a name for itself among international artists, actors, musicians, poets and painters. Celebrity guests of this culinary institution include Stephen Spielberg, Prince Charles, Roman Polański and many other notable visitors.

At Klezmer Hois, you’ll find delectable classics including an array of zupa (soup), knische (a Russian Pierog Pie), Litvak-style herring and scrumptious kreplach, to name just a few. The restaurant has no shortage of teas and coffees, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages thanks to its fully-equipped bar and you can enjoy your food (and the delectable decor) as you listen to live traditional klezmer music which starts at every evening at 8pm. While reservations are not necessary they are suggested for large parties or special occasions.

Good Deeds Day

Good Deeds Day is an annual tradition of good deeds. All over the world, hundreds of thousands choose to volunteer and help others, putting into practice the simple idea that every single person can do something good, be it large or small, to improve the lives of others and positively change the world.

National Bagel and Lox Day

National Bagel and Lox Day recognizes one of America’s favorite bagel combinations on February 9th.

Bagels are one of the few breads that are boiled then baked. This creates a soft inside while keeping a crisp outside. Bagels originated in Poland in the early 17th century and now sell over a billion dollars worth each year in the United States.
Salmon is cured in a salt brine for several months to make lox. The technique was perfected in Scandinavia. Using the fatty belly of the salmon results in a buttery, silky texture that pairs well with cream cheese and bagels

World Interfaith Harmony Week

World Interfaith Harmony Week came about as a result of a UN resolution for a worldwide week of interfaith harmony proposed in 2010 by HM King Abdullah II and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan.

It seeks to spread the message of harmony and tolerance among the followers of the three monotheistic faiths and all the world’s religions. It also seeks to promote the common basis of “Love of God and Love of the Neighbour, or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbour” among religions to safeguard world peace. Its message invites everyone, excludes no one, and is purely voluntary.

Remembering the World’s First Jewish Ghetto

Not a year goes by without a tourist walking into the Venice Ghetto asking where the concentration camps are or were. This question, unfortunately, reflects a lack of understanding as to why the Venice Ghetto was founded on March  29, 1516 and maintained for centuries–all of which had nothing to do with the Holocaust. That is not to say that the Venice Ghetto was not involved in the Holocaust. It was decimated by the Nazis in 1943 when most of its inhabitants perished in the Auschwitz concentration camp. It never recovered until this very day when only 20 Jews now live in the Ghetto itself. Two memorials, The Last Train and The Holocaust Memorial Wall, situated in the Ghetto Square bear witness to this tragedy.

The distinction between the two types of ghettos is important. The Nazi Ghetto was set up as an interim solution to the ”final solution’, the other as a means of segregating a group whose values were deemed harmful or dangerous to the common good.

venice_ghetto_square
Main square at the Venice Ghetto (photo credit: Wikimedia)

Members of my family who managed to survive the first kind of Ghetto reported a litany of horror stories about their experiences. My mother watched from the woods as the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania was liquidated. My uncle was lucky enough to escape the Lida Ghetto in Belarus before it too suffered the same fate. Obviously, no redeeming features will ever be reported from this type of ghetto. The Venice type of ghetto, for all it’s negatives, those of density, segregation and restrictions, did have a positive side to it. It provided protection, business opportunities and amazingly enough, a sense of community.

In an effort to close the gap between the misconception and reality of what the Venice Ghetto is and what it represents, the city of Venice has embarked on a year long program of events to mark the quincentennial of its founding.  It was kicked off nearly a month ago by an opening ceremony at the Fenice Opera House attended by local, national, and international dignitaries.

I was fortunate enough to wrangle an invitation to this event as well as the launch earlier that day  of an important book called The Venice Synagogues. It was written by Umberto Fortis, professor of Italian literature, coordinated by Toto Bergamo Rossi, Head of the Venetian Heritage Council, and published by Assouline Books, a prestigious book publisher. The book describes in rich and glorious detail five important synagogues of the Venetian Ghetto and stands as a symbol of the rich Jewish culture which blossomed regardless of, or despite the hardships imposed on the Ghetto Jews.

venice_ghetto_synagauge_book
Left to right: Jack Gottlieb, Toto Bergamo Rossi, Valentina Nasi Marini Clarelli, Sebastien Ratto-Viviani

When I leafed through this book I definitely had the sense that Jews in the Venice Ghetto were thriving, and that Jewish culture was flourishing, unlike the Nazi Ghetto where Jews were being killed and their cultural heritage was being erased. Rossi was quite right in describing this hand-bound book ‘as not just another high end collectible but as a work of art’. Kudos to Assoulin Publishing who is contributing half of the proceeds to the Venice’s synagogue restoration project which, unfortunately, is still short of the 8 million dollars it needs to begin.

In stark contrast to the joyous air at the book launch was the air of solemnity later that evening of the opening ceremony at the Fenice Opera House. The former was a celebration of life, the latter a commemoration of evil. Before giving way to Mahler Symphony No.1 (by the way, banned by the Nazis as degenerate), the keynote speaker of the event, Simon Schama, the noted author of the Story of the Jews and subsequent TV series, delivered a riveting commentary on the evolution of the ghetto. He explained that “history is not always a trip down memory lane”. And  events like the Venice Ghetto, the Holocaust and the recent bombings in Brussels are a stark reminder against complacency-that just when we think that things could not get worse, they unfortunately do! Specifically, he commented, “an event we think that we had left behind in a particular period or in a particular moment crashes into our present lives and leaves us at great risk!”

venice_ghetto_opening_ceremony
Playing the Mahler Symphony at the Fenice Opera House (Photo: Jack Gottlieb)

Thus, the central existential issue for Jews through the centuries, whether we are discussing medieval Venice, Nazi Germany or modern-day Islamic countries is simply an issue of cohabitation, the problem of living together with Jews in the same neighborhood, city, or country. What we see in common between the Venetians, Nazis, and Islamists is enmity and intolerance; there are individuals, groups, and, sometimes, nations who react, sometimes violently, to the idea of sharing the same urban space with Jews. It is inconsistent with their worldview to tolerate the presence of a group with a belief system somewhat different than their  own.

The answer to discrimination and hatred is to educate. And what better place to start this education than the place where it all started-The Venice Ghetto. That is why today my organization, the World Jewish Heritage Fund, is releasing for free an ebook about the year long commemoration of the Venice Ghetto. To do this, we have created the first ever interactive digital travel book about the ghetto, which gives you access to key sites, events, trails, guides, and tours – all at the click of a button.

venice_ghetto_ebook_cover
A Journey Through the Venetian Ghetto eBook (Photo: WJH)

We hope that giving people access to the story of the Venice Ghetto, we can prevent other Ghettos from being created-for Jews and non Jews alike. Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, said it best at the commemoration when he stated, “when you face the past with complete honesty, you actually create a much better future – for your children, for your country, and for all people.” Amen!

Wikipedia contest taking Israeli heritage to a new level

Review: Top 10 winning photos at the annual Wiki Loves Monuments Israel contest, with a special Jewish heritage twist.

Jewish heritage in Israel was put front and center over the past three months, when, for the first time, a Best Synagogue Photo Award was given as part of the annual Wiki Loves Monuments Israel photography contest. The award was initiated and sponsored by my very own World Jewish Heritage Fund, and resulted in the submission of more than 600 newly taken pictures of some 150 synagogues across Israel that hold great importance to our collective Jewish heritage. I am so happy and proud to have had the opportunity to add this extra value to the contest.

Out of many impressive synagogue photos, one photo of the Ancient Arbel Synagogue, taken by Abraham Graicer, really stood out, and was voted the winning photo in the Synagogue category.

CC BY-SA 4.0 Avraham Graicer

Hidden away near Tiberias in the Lower Galilee, the ruins of the fourth-century Ancient Arbel Synagogue lie next to a cave fortress. The mountain is mentioned by Josephus, in his Antiquities of the Jews, as a place where the last Hasmonean rebels hid. With cliffs created as a result of geological faults, and at 181 meters above sea level in a region that’s primarily below sea level, you can feast your eyes on the unmissable views of the Golan Heights and Galilee.

This year’s Wiki Loves Monuments Israel  contest, taking place for the fourth year in a row, had a total of 5,619 photos submitted, representing Israel’s (quite astonishing) unity in diversity. From urban skyscrapers to rural villages; from the evergreen northern mountains to the breathtaking simplicity of the desert; from secular to religious, and everything that’s in between… these photos created a colorful mosaic of Israel’s true face.

First place winner was a photo presenting a southern view overlooking the Old City of Acre.

CC BY-SA 4.0, Yigald11

The winning entry is of one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the region, which underwent name changes during the Greek, Judean, and Roman periods. It was captured during the Arab, Crusader and Ottoman periods, and Acre was finally restored to its former glory only during the British mandate period…before being decimated once more by a 1929 Arab pogrom.

Coming in second, an impressive photo of a woman walking towards the Dome of the Rock.

CC BY-SA 4.0 ,Tomere

The iconic golden Dome of the Rock is set on the Temple Mount plaza (the holiest site in Judaism; third holiest in Islam). The Dome itself has survived earthquakes, wars and intifadas. In Islamic thought, it is known as the place from where Mohammad ascended to heaven.

Third place winner was a vibrant photo of a flamingo pack in front of the Atlit Fortress.

CC BY-SA 4.0, Iliakriv

Located on the plains just before Haifa in northern Israel is the Atlit Fortress. Built in 1218 during the Fifth Crusade by the Knights Templar, it remained in excellent condition until an earthquake in 1837. It was later used during the British mandate to house illegal refugees to then-Palestine.

Winner of the Northern District award was a photo of the Nimrod Fortress.

CC BY-SA 4.0 ,DimaGalin

Nimrod Fortress, a medieval Muslim castle on the slopes of Mount Hermon, overlooking the Golan Heights. It was built in 1229 to guard a major access route to Damascus against armies coming from the west. In 1517, it was conquered by Ottoman Turks, who used the fortress as a luxury prison for exiled Ottoman nobles.

The Southern District award also had its share of entries, with the winning photo of ruined Nabataean city in the Negev desert, Ein Avdat.

CC BY-SA 4.0. Nis101

Founded in the 3rd century BCE, it was an important incense route after the Roman annexation of Nabataea. The town was totally destroyed by a 7th century earthquake and was never re-inhabited. It was also the filming location of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Other great runner up photos include:

Reading Power Station

CC BY-SA 4.0 ,Tomere

Sitting in north-western Tel Aviv at the mouth of the Yarkon River, runner up Reading Power station (named after the First Marquess of Reading) was the country’s first turbine, built in 1938. Part of the original power station is now a public exhibition area, and only one quarter of the power station is still operational, capable of producing 214 megawatts.

Jaffa Port

CC BY-SA 4.0, Yigald11

With a history spanning over three millennium, predating Muslims, Christians, Jews (and Egyptians), runner up Jaffa Port has been actively used for 7,000 years. It’s mentioned in the Bible and by Josephus. Since its unification with Tel Aviv in 1950, the port has slowly become a recreational zone, but the city remains famous for the export of Jaffa oranges.

Rockefeller Archaeological Museum

CC BY-SA 4.0. Zachary Ka-Tsun Wong

East Jerusalem’s very own archaeological museum, The Rockefeller Museum (formerly the Palestine Archaeological Museum) houses a large collection of artefacts from excavations during the Mandate period of the 1920s and 1930s. It’s home to one of the oldest pine trees in the country, which — according to Arab legend — was the place where Ezra the Scribe sat and wrote the Torah.

Dormition Abbey

CC BY-SA 4.0. Michas11

Dormition Abbey, lying on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, is traditionally the site where the Virgin Mary died. The Byzantine basilica was built in the early 5th century. Interestingly, due to how close it is to holy site David’s Tomb (the traditional site of the Last Supper), the Abbey’s bell tower is located far away to prevent its shadow touching the tomb.

An exhibition of all the winning photos will be hosted by theInterdisciplinary Center Herzlia (IDC) , at the Mark Rich Library, in cooperation with Hillel IDC and the World Jewish Heritage Fund, starting December 29th; the exhibition will run through the month of January and is open to the public.

Original Europe Tours

The Original Europe Tours Berlin hosts several tour options for visitors to experience the historical and cultural aspects of the city. The company hosts several tours including a look into Berlin’s World War II history, a tour of the city’s craft breweries, a somber look at the Berlin Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial,  a street art workshop, a pub crawl, as well as a visit to the Berlin Wall.

One of the tour company’s most popular tours is the Original Berlin World War II Third Reich Tour where you’ll discover the scars left behind from the Second World War. Local history guides share stories and urban legends while passing by historical sights, buildings, memorials, and monuments surrounding Berlin from World War II.

During WWII, Berlin served as Germany’s Nazi stronghold for Hitler and the Third Reich. Guides take groups to see the battlefields left behind from the Battle of Berlin. Guests can observe historical sights of the city while walking at a leisurely pace listening to guides retell tales from this turbulent period in world history. Local guides bring history to life, recalling tales from the past about famous events, people, music, and architecture.

Another one of the Original Europe Tours’ most popular options is the Craft Beer Tour which uncovers the history of beer with an emphasis on Berlin’s brewing culture. This tour takes guests to three different pubs and one brewery handpicked by local guides. Germany has a reputation for brewing some of the world’s best beers, and visitors get the chance to taste regional Berlin and German beer. The tour’s social atmosphere makes this a perfect choice for solo travelers or tourists looking to mingle.

This small company offers tours in some of Europe’s most popular destinations, covering everything from hidden gems to main attractions throughout Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, and Barcelona. Guests can enjoy free and paid tours while exploring Europe’s street art, history, and beyond.

 

🌍 Celebrating One Year of the Jewish Silk Road Portal

World Jewish Travel was thrilled at #IMTM 2024 to present a copy of the WJT Jewish Silk Road Pressbook to the CEO of the Azerbaijan National Tourism Board Florian Sengstschmid and Jamilya Talibzade its Israeli representative Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB).

The Pressbook celebrates the one year anniversary of the Jewish Silk Road Portal launch, an amazing example of using Jewish travel as a means of cultural diplomacy, whilst highlighting the significant Jewish contribution to the ancient trade route. Kudos to our participating partners from the Kiriaty Foundation (Turkey), National Board of Tourism of #Georgia, National Board of Tourism of #Uzbekistan, and Israeli Embassy of #India. 

See the overwhelming reaction from the press, by downloading our free pressbook. Special thanks to Moshe Gilad of the @haaretzcom for highlighting this forgotten but important story in the Galeria section of the newspaper and available to download on WJT.

👉Link to WJT Jewsih Silk Rad Pressbook and more is in our bio

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Step into the soul-stirring Pesach traditions of Jerusalem virtually. Experience the resonating echoes of Birkat Kohanim🌿

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#VirtualTravel #JerusalemVibes #SpiritualJourney #JewishTravel #Isarel  #BirkatKohanim #JewishJerusalem

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Discover the enigmatic “Donkey Stable” in Jerusalem's underground. Unveil the city's secrets from home. 🌌

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#JerusalemUnderground #CitySecrets #ExploreHistory #JewishTravel #Israel #Travel #WesternWall

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