A JRoots Journey is a chance to connect with your Jewish heritage in a rich and meaningful way. Jews have built their lives across the world for thousands of years and we ensure that our journeys rekindle some of that life even in the darkest places where the Jews themselves do not remain. See some of our destinations below.
Archives: Directory listings
Directory listings
Road Scholar
At Road Scholar, we develop learning adventures for those who want a depth of perspective not found on standard travel excursions. Working with expert faculty, we create one-of-a-kind experiences—rich, multifaceted investigations into every topic and destination. On a Road Scholar trip, you get privileged access to places and experts that we have developed through our extensive global network, a network built over four decades of research and experience.
Baltics Jewish Heritage Tour
The Baltics – a region that is home to over 1,200 years of Jewish heritage. Both Lithuania and Latvia have produced an abundance of scholars and thinkers and Rabbinical greats- such as the Vilna Gaon, a world-renowned Talmudist scholar. Many North American Jews can trace their family roots to this part of the world that at one time was the birthplace of the top Jewish writers, scientists and scholars. Yiddish was widely spoken and the tour includes a visit to one of the few remaining Yiddish institutes in Vilnius, once called the “Lithuanian Jerusalem.”
Both Latvia and Lithuania were part of the Nazi occupation and we will visit memorial sites and interactive museums such as the Zanis Lipske Museum- the “Underground Railroad” where numerous Jews were saved.
This tour takes you back in time to immerse yourself in the Jewish culture of past generations visiting shtetls, synagogues and other historic sites.
Israel Jewish Heritage Tours
Experience it all with our Israel In Depth Tours! Join one of our classic Jewish Heritage Tours to Israel – fully escorted with a professional guide throughout. These Israel tours are designed to engage participants from a Jewish perspective – exploring the historical, political, and religious sites and institutions that make Israel such a unique destination. On-line booking is available for all our Jewish Heritage In-Depth Tours to Israel. Explore the itineraries below or call us at 800-237-1517 to find the right tour for you! Our Jewish Heritage Tours are currently open for booking through February 2023. You may book for Israel Tours after this date by completing the Contact Us form at the bottom of this page.
Uzbekistan Jewish Heritage Tour
Journey with us through one of the World’s most endlessly fascinating countries, discovering experiences far from well worn tourist routes. Sometimes it feels as if you have stepped back in time for a few centuries. Join us in Eurasia for good food, traditional cultures and a simpler, slower life. Follow the footsteps of Great Silk Road tracking indigenous heritage and ancient ways of living.
Uzbekistan is a young nation, but its roots are ancient, steeped in the legends of the steppe. From the West came Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan erupted from the East, while Tamerlane made his home the heartland of Central Asia, the remarkable historical and architectural legacy inherited by modern-day Uzbekistan.
We love nothing more than designing unique trips that last with people a lifetime. If you’d would like us to do the same for you, just drop us a line with your rough ideas, and we can start the process. We’ll work out an initial itinerary based on what you tell us, and then, once you’ve let us know what you think about that, we can talk together, by phone, skype or email and really come up with the holiday of a lifetime for you.
Jewish Culture in Morocco
Jewish heritage tours Morocco has an exotic atmosphere, beautiful, landscapes, picturesque, markets, and Jewish community with strong ties. Jewish heritage tours in Morocco are an opportunity to discover the old Jews shelters (Mellah) and their Andalusian architectures; the unique Jewish Museum in African and the Islamic world; the Jewish cemeteries; the synagogues and Jewish families’ antics in some fine stores of the old cities.
Jewish Heritage Tour Throughout Greece
The Jewish presence in Greece dates back to the 6th century BCE, when the first Jews came to settle in the Greek territory after the destruction of Solomon’s Temple. These Jews established strong communities, long before the Roman invasion. When the Romans conquered Greece in 146 BCE., the Greeks called themselves «Rhomaioi» (citizens of Rome), while the Jews, in order to differentiate themselves from their fellow Greek citizens who were pagans at that time, called themselves «Romaniotes», which means «citizens of «Romania» (the word «Romania», in this context, indicates the eastern part of the Roman Empire, and bears no connection with the state of Romania). After the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal, a lot of Sephardic Jews settled in the Balkan region, mostly in the Northern part of Greece. In addition, some Ashkenazi Jews arrived in Greece following the newly appointed King Otto of Bavaria in the 19th century. This mixture of the “indigenous” Romaniotes and the newcomers, formed a population of approximately 80.000 people on the eve of WWII. Unfortunately, of these 80.000 Jews, only one-eighth, that is, 10.000 souls, survived the war. Today, less than 4.500 Jews live in Greece. Jewish Tour Throughout Greece
During WWII, Greece suffered one of the highest percentage of losses in Jewish population (87%). Before the war, there were Synagogues in over 32 cities. Only in Thessaloniki (also known as Salonica) there were more than 60 functioning Synagogues! Unfortunately, the vast majority of them was, either burned down by the Nazis, or never reclaimed, as, in most towns, no Jews came back… Nowadays, there are 8 active communities, however, most of them are facing a population decline… We are very lucky and proud that some of our holy sites like Synagogues, cemeteries and monuments, are still standing and being preserved, thus helping us and the new generations maintain Greek Jewry’s traditions alive.
Cross Section of Jewish Cultures Tours
Before World War II, Poland’s three million Jews represented one of the largest and most influential Jewish communities in the world. The diverse community included Hasidim, secular Jewish intellectuals, Yiddish writers, Zionists, and socialists. Recently, a world-class museum opened in Warsaw, devoted to what Jewish life and culture were like in Poland. Jewish festivals attract thousands of people each year. Additionally, several universities have opened Judaic studies departments where graduate students have published impressive publications, documenting Poland’s astonishingly rich Jewish history and culture.
Jewish Heritage Tours in Turkey
The history of the jews in Anatolia goes back to the 4C BC. Some ancient synagogue ruins have also been found in Sardis dating from 220BC. When the Ottomans captured Bursa in 1324 and made it their capital, they found and welcomed a Jewish community which had been oppressed under Byzantine rule. The Balkan Jews were aware of the Ottoman tolerance towards other religions and migrated to Ottoman territories. Later Ashkenazi Jews fled to Anatolia, followed by Byzantine jews and received by Mehmet II. Also in 1492 safety was offered to the refugees of the Spanish Inquisition. Throughout history, Jews have not only found religious asylum in Turkey, but also become part of its society and assumed important roles in different fields. Today over 26.000 Jewish people live in Turkey. The vast majority live in Istanbul, with a community of about 2,500 in İzmir and other smaller groups are located mainly in Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Canakkale, Iskenderun and Kırklareli. The jewish minority is more complex than other minorities because it lacks homogeneity in language and history. Most Jews are Sephardic whose ancestors fled from the Inquisition or were expelled from Spain and Portugal during and after 1492. In general they speak different mother tongues, such as Turkish, Ladino or French.
Noah Jewish Heritage Tours
Noah Tours was established in early 2004 and as you may have guessed, we are named after Noah from the Bible. Noah was the only righteous man of his time and was a kind and gentle soul. Our founders thought it fitting that our company be named after such a man. We aim to be like Noah and always do right by you and all of our travelers. Our team comes from all around the world and speaks many languages, ensuring there will be someone who can assist you in any language.
