Rabbi Jonathan and Beverly Schnitzer Congregation B’nai Israel Tour to St. Petersburg* * * Copenhagen*Stockholm June 5 – 18, 2018 (Updated as of 8/4/17)

Day 1: Tuesday, June 5, 2018: DEPART THE USA  Depart on our overnight flight to Russia. ------Day 2: Wednesday, June 6, 2018: ARRIVE ST. PETERSBURG

 We land at the St. Petersburg Airport and are met by our Ayelet representative.  We begin with an orientation tour of St. Petersburg, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  We drive past the Smolny Institute and the famous Bronze Horseman statue, continue down the broad Nevsky Prospect shopping street, passing the Admiralty and many important historical sights.  Check into our hotel.  Tonight, we enjoy a welcome dinner together at our hotel (Fish / Vegetarian / Kosher style menu).

Overnight in St. Petersburg ------Day 3: Thursday, June 7, 2018: ST. PETERSBURG

 Breakfast at our hotel.  This morning, we visit the Choral Synagogue.  Next is an excursion to the town of Tsarskoye Selo, the home of the Imperial family from the days of Peter the Great up to the time of the last Tsar. We visit the 18th century Palace of Catherine the Great, a baroque masterpiece with a facade almost 304 meters long. The building is still being restored after extensive damages from World War II. The town was the home of the great poet Alexander Pushkin, whose statue was used for target practice by German soldiers during World War II.  On the way back to St. Petersburg, we stop at the "Formula of Sorrow", a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.  Later this afternoon, we visit Yesod, St. Petersburg’s Jewish Community Center, where we will have a chance to learn about different educational and community building programs furthering the state of Jewish life in Russia today.  Tonight, after dinner on own, we reconvene and enjoy a late night boat ride on the canals of St. Petersburg.

Overnight inSt. Petersburg

------Day 4: Friday, June 8, 2018: ST. PETERSBURG

 Breakfast at our hotel.  This morning, we visit Petrodvorets, the former summer residence of the Tsars, which was built by Peter the Great as the Russian answer to Versailles. A system of multiple fountains and waterfalls with an abundance of gold sculptures below the Grand Palace is still being restored following the destruction of World War II, a remarkable testimony to the skill of the restorers. From the terrace we view the cascade of the 129 fountains.  This afternoon, we take a guided tour of the Peter and Paul Fortress with the tombs of Peter the Great and the Romanov Dynasty.  Return to our hotel with time to relax and freshen up.  Tonight, we come together for Kabbalat Shabbat with members of the local community at the Grand Choral Synagogue, followed by dinner together at the kosher restaurant located at the synagogue (Kosher menu).

Overnight in St. Petersburg ------Day 5: Saturday, June 9, 2018: ST. PETERSBURG – SHABBAT SHALOM!

 Breakfast at our hotel.  Join one of the local congregation for Shabbat services.  This afternoon, we walk to and explore the vast and impressive Hermitage Museum with its incomparable collections of art treasures. Originally the Winter Palace of the Tsars, the Hermitage was not opened to the public until 1852. Catherine the Great was the first ruler to collect art on a large scale and the museum contains many objects of Russian culture and Oriental art in addition to its huge collection of western masters. The Hermitage possesses one of the world's richest collections of impressionist paintings, thanks largely to the private collections of the Stroganov and Yusupov families and others who commissioned such artists as Bonnet, Cezanne, Picasso and Matisse.

Overnight in St. Petersburg ------Day 6: Sunday, June 10, 2018: ARRIVE

 Breakfast and check out of our hotel.  Transfer to the airport for our flight to Vilnius, Lithuania.  We arrive at the Vilnius Airport and are met by our Ayelet representative.  Today, we enjoy a panoramic introductory tour of Vilnius, Lithuania’s largest city and capital. Our tour includes a visit to the Vilnius Castle Complex, the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. We also see the Lower and Upper Castle and the remaining Gediminas’ Tower (the traditional symbol of Vilnius), and the Cathedral. We end our tour at the Hill of Three Crosses.  Transfer to our hotel for check in.  Dinner on own this evening.

Overnight in Vilnius ------

Day 7: Monday, June 11, 2018: VILNIUS

 Breakfast at our hotel.  This morning, we enjoy a guided visit through the medieval Jewish Quarter and explore what was known throughout the Jewish world as Yerushalayim de Lita (the Jerusalem of Lithuania).  Continue to the Vilnius Choral Synagogue, built in 1903 (if open – currently under renovations), and followed by a visit to the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum, dedicated to the history of Lithuanian Jewish life, including an exposition on the Holocaust and a Tolerance Center.  This afternoon, we explore the Judenrat (Vilna Ghetto Council) and the Jewish Cemetery.  We then travel to the site of the Ponar Forest, a mass murder site during the Holocaust. Here, we see the museum and memorial and pay tribute to the 70,000 Jews massacred at this spot.  We enjoy a folklore dinner together this evening (Fish / Vegetarian / Kosher style menu).

Overnight in Vilnius ------Day 8: Tuesday, June 12, 2018: KAUNAS

 Breakfast at our hotel.  We depart early this morning to Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city and at one time its temporary capital.  Upon arrival, we enjoy a tour of the Old Town, view the Kaunas Cathedral, Old Town Hall and Square, and Kaunas Castle. We also visit the Sugihara House, and learn about the thousands of Jews that were saved from the Holocaust.  Next, we visit the Ohel Yakov Synagogue and Jewish cemetery before visiting the Children’s Memorial and the Museum of the Ninth Fort of Kaunas.  We return to Vilnius later this evening.

Overnight in Vilnius ------Day 9: Wednesday, June 13, 2018: ARRIVE COPENHAGEN

 Breakfast and check out of our hotel.  Transfer to the airport to catch our flight to Copenhagen, Denmark.  Upon arrival, we explore the charming little fishing village of Dragor. Here, we will encounter the fishing boat, Elisabeth, which took part in the miraculous rescue of 7,000 Danish Jews from the Holocaust in October 1943.  As we enter Copenhagen, we enjoy a panoramic tour, passing the Christianborg Palace, the Little Mermaid, Parliament, and the magnificent Grundtvig Church and Tivoli Gardens.  Check into our hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Copenhagen ------

Day 10: Thursday, June 14, 2018: COPENHAGEN

 Breakfast at our hotel.  Our Jewish interest tour takes us to the Jewish Holocaust Monument at the Jewish cemetery, which was consecrated in 1886, and to the Copenhagen Synagogue. We also visit the Danish Jewish Museum, designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind.  This afternoon, we visit the Rosenborg Castle. The castle is beautifully situated in the Royal Garden. The palace was originally used as a summer residence for the King. It was made into the Royal Family Museum in 1833, and contains a unique collection of china, silver, and paintings. We also see the Royal Crown Regalia on display in the castle.

Overnight in Copenhagen ------Day 11: Friday, June 15, 2018: ARRIVE STOCKHOLM

 Breakfast and check out of our hotel.  Transfer to the airport to catch our flight to Stockholm, .  Upon arrival, we are met by our local guide and begin our tour, which will include the streets of the Old Town (Gamla Stan) with its 17th and 18th Century houses and home to the first synagogue and Jewish settlement. We also visit Raoul Wallenberg Square, the Great Synagogue, and entrance to the Jewish Museum (moving to new location – visit pending completion of the move). We also visit one (or both) of the two Jewish cemeteries.  Next, we visit the Stockholm Jewish Community Center, where the youth movements, youth activities, culture activities, informal education, senior citizen activities, etc. takes place.  Check in to our hotel.  Tonight, we join Kabbalat Shabbat at the Great Synagogue, followed by Shabbat dinner in a private room at our hotel (Fish / Vegetarian / Kosher style menu).

Overnight in Stockholm ------Day 12: Saturday, June 16, 2018: STOCKHOLM – SHABBAT SHALOM

 Breakfast at our hotel.  Join one of the local congregation for Shabbat services.  The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore this beautiful city at your own pace.

Overnight in Stockholm ------Day 13: Sunday, June 17, 2018: STOCKHOLM

 Breakfast at our hotel.  This morning, we begin with a canal tour under the bridges of Stockholm!  Next we tour the modern city center, including elegant City Hall with its gilt mosaics and where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year. We visit the Royal Palace, where we watch the snappy changing of the guard, the Parliament Buildings, Cathedral, and Royal Theatre.  This afternoon we explore the amazing Vasa Museum.  Tonight, we enjoy a farewell dinner in a private room at a local restaurant (Fish / Vegetarian / Kosher style menu). Overnight in Stockholm

------Day 14: Monday, June 18, 2018: DEPARTURE

 Breakfast and check out of our hotel.  Transfer to the airport to meet our flight back to the United States.

THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!! *itinerary subject to change

U:\ITINERARY\Schnitzer Rabbi Jonathan JUNE 2018 ITIN.doc.docx