The organizers of this year’s conference in Israel of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies have announced a variety of exciting research and touring options for Sunday, July 5th, the day immediately preceding the 35th Annual IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy, from July 6th-10th in Jerusalem! The tours will all leave from and return to the conference location at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem.
While still in the final planning stages, registration for the various tour options will soon be available at http://iajgs2015.org.
After the June 15th deadline, tours will be available only if space allows. Prices will range from $45 to $100 depending on itinerary. All tours are in English. Individual tours remain subject to minimum number of participants. Please note that all information below has been provided by the International Association of Jewish Genealogy Societies. Inquiries should be directed to ortra@iajgs2015.org
Please note that some research venues require that record requests be submitted as early as April 1st, less than one month from now. So don’t procrastinate!
- Yad Vashem – Explore and research at Yad Vashem in a way you have never done before. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to spend a customized day discovering all that Yad Vashem has to offer as the world’s leading source for Holocaust-era documentation. Their vast archive houses the largest compilation of Holocaust collections in the world – documentation, survivor testimonies, photographs, Shoah victims’ names commemorated on Pages of Testimony, a library with titles in 54 languages and a media center with original footage and Holocaust related films. You are invited to an exclusive visit personalized to suit your needs. You will be able to spend the day conducting assisted research in the archives, join a special guided tour of the Holocaust History Museum and/or additional exhibitions and commemorative sites on the Mount of Remembrance and meet Yad Vashem experts presenting a behind-the-scenes look at collections and stories not as yet released to the public. Those choosing this option will be offered a menu of activities to choose from. (Box lunch included.)
- The Central Archives of the History of the Jewish People and the National Library of Israel – The Central Archives of the History of the Jewish People contains an amazing collection of materials from communities around the world. This is your opportunity to get a glimpse of the unusual materials in their collection. You may request material on your area of research (by April 15, 2015) and they will do their best to have the requested materials on site for you. As the Archive has limited space available, this trip is limited to 15 people. If there is a large request we will have two shifts. The second part of this day will be close by on the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew University at the National Library of Israel. They have some very unique collections to present to you and you will also have time for personal research. A box lunch will be provided and there are outdoor areas on the campus to enjoy your lunch.
- Central Zionist Archives and the Old Yishuv Court Museum – The Central Zionist Archives holds many materials relating to Israel, from the dream of Herzl for the founding of a homeland to the actuality of the State of Israel. The staff of the Archives will introduce you to many of their unique collections. Much of the holdings of the Archives have now been digitized and are found on their computers. If you have requests for specific documents they will try and have them available for you. Requests must be made by April 1, 2015. After a box lunch tour participants will head for the Old Yishuv Court Museum in the Old City. This museum presents a view of life in the Old City of Jerusalem for the Jewish community during the 19th and 20th centuries and until their expulsion in 1948.
- Ghetto Fighter’s House Museum and the Illegal Immigrants Detention Camp in Atlit – The first stop after the drive up north will be the first Holocaust museum in the world and also the first of its kind to be founded by Holocaust survivors. Since its establishment in 1949, the museum tells the story of the Holocaust, emphasizing the bravery, spiritual triumph and the incredible ability of Holocaust survivors and the fighters of the revolt. They were able to rebuild their lives in a new country about which they had long dreamed – the State of Israel. Box lunches will be provided and the lunch location is a special treat! Afterwards a visit to the Atlit Detainee Camp which is a museum dedicated to the pre-state illegal immigration period, telling the story of Jews who after fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe, finally reached Palestine, only to be incarcerated in camps similar in appearance to the death camps they just escaped. The museum offers its visitors a chance to step back into history through models of the original camp and a memorial to those who perished on their way to Israel.
- The Old City of Jerusalem – The Old City of Jerusalem is within the walls built in the 16th century by the Ottomans and is divided into quarters – Armenian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim. The enchanting quality of Jerusalem may come from the colorful markets and narrow alleyways, or from the city’s dynamic history – a history woven with war and peace, love and hate, destruction and resurrection. There are areas important to all religions, archaeological sites, museums and a mixture of sights, sounds and smells unique to Jerusalem. Your day will be unforgettable! (Box lunch included.) [This tour includes a lot of walking, some on uneven stones.]
- The New City of Jerusalem – Once the Jews began venturing from the Old City to live outside the walled city, the city grew by leaps and bounds. As the capital of the State of Israel, you can find all of the government offices including the Knesset and the Supreme Court. Culturally there are museums, galleries and parks galore. Each neighborhood has a special flavor and history. We will give you an overview of the city from a variety of vantage points as well as several stops (Ammunition Hill, Mt. Herzl, etc) that will enhance your understanding of this unique city that is the heart of Israel. (Box lunch included.)
- Latrun and Mini-Israel – Latrun is a short drive from Jerusalem and has several points of interest. There is the Armored Corps Memorial and Museum, the Monastery (and winery) of the Silent Monks and The International Center for the Study of Bird Migration (ICSBM). Not far from there is the Canada Park. A box lunch will be provided. Before returning to Jerusalem we’ll visit at Mini-Israel – a park with hundreds of scale models of historic buildings and other representations from areas all around Israel.
- Caesaria, Zichron Ya’akov and Ein Hod – Caesaria was built by Herod the Great 25-13 BCE as a port city and served as an administrative center for the Roman empire, followed by Muslim conquest, Byzantine rule, and before the State of Israel the British mandate. Zichron Ya’akov, a picturesque moshava, (semi cooperative village) built at the tip of the Carmel mountain range. Streets are paved with stones and known for wineries most famous baron Edmund de Rothschild. Two original buildings have been dedicated to pre state resistance movement (NILI) and museum of first Aliya. Close by are the Ramat Hanadiv gardens and burial places of the Rothschild family and are famous for their beautiful gardens. Ein Hod one of Israel’s most beautiful communities overlooking the sea. It is known as the Artists village, situated in the midst in a lush forest. There will be time for a lunch break with box lunches.
- Palmach Museum and Tel Aviv walking tour – Tel Aviv has much to offer in the way of culture and is known as the “Nonstop City”. To give you a taste of Tel Aviv we will visit the Palmach Museum covering this elite striking force of the “Hagana” – the underground military organization of the Jewish community pre-State – and their legacy through the stories of individuals and groups. Visitors join the group of young recruits from its establishment, and advance with the story of the Palmach through the end of the War of Independence. Following a box lunch we will experience some of the picturesque neighborhoods of Tel Aviv as we walk through areas like Rothschild, Shenkin and Neve Tzedek.
- Weizmann Institute, Rishon Le-Zion Aliyah Museum, Museum of Babylonian Jewry – The Weizmann Institute is an international center of scientific research in Rehovot. The Levinson Visitors center offers a glimpse into the wonders of the Weizmann Institute. It serves as a focal point for visiting the different attractions on campus including the home of the first President of the State of Israel and the Clore Garden of Science. Groundbreaking medical and technological applications have emerged from basic research conducted by the Weizmann institute. Professor Ada Yonath from the Institute was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Rishon Le-Zion Museum has restored some of the nostalgic scenery of its past and preserved its unique historical and cultural contributions in this Open-Air Museum. Located in some of the oldest buildings of the settlement (“moshava”), the museum exhibits retell the story of the city’s proud pioneer past taking you back in time to the beginning of modern Zionism in Eretz Israel. The Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center is both a research center and a museum with an impressive collection of ethnographic material, Judaica, archival documents, books and manuscripts. Along the way we’ll have a box lunch.
- Eretz Israel Museum and Jaffa – Each section of this Museum has its own building – The Land of the Baron, Ethnography & Folklore, Glass Pavilion, Ceramics, Kadman (the evolution of coinage), Nechushtan (uses of copper ore), the Alexander Museum (the evolution of the Mail Service) and more. A wonderful way to learn about the Land of Israel. After a box lunch the afternoon will be spent in the city of Jaffa -one of the oldest port cities in the Mediterranean. The tales of Jaffa are presented in the new visitors’ center at the heart of Kedumim Square in Old Jaffa, within an archeological space located under the square. The Old City has been renewed and is a wonderful area filled with galleries and shops and with a great view of the water.
- Dig For a Day – Archaeological Seminars is currently digging at Tel Maresha, in the area of Beit Guvrin, ancestral home of King Herod. Vast underground labyrinths of man-made rooms are being systematically cleaned and give evidence of underground industrial complexes dating from the Hellenistic period. Remains of olive oil production, weaving installations, water cisterns and baths confirm a high level of material culture. This site offers a wealth of discoveries and practical experience for those who want to “dig” but have limited time. An amazing opportunity to experience the excitement of participating in an archaeological dig.
- Masada and Dead Sea area – The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on the earth. Floating in the Dead Sea is an experience you will never forget! In the area of the Dead Sea are many caves and Qumran is known for the caves in which thousands of fragments from hundreds of manuscripts were found including parts of biblical and apocryphal books, biblical commentaries, works on Jewish law, prayers, sectarian texts, tefillin and mezuzot. An ancient Synagogue can be seen in Ein Gedi. After a box lunch we will visit Masada, the ancient fortress built by King Herod atop a high natural plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. At Masada you can see the preservation of a grand first-century Roman villa, the remains of the most complete Roman siege system in the world and more. It tells the story of the tragic events leading to the last chapter of the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans – the last stand of those rebels who became a symbol of our struggle for freedom from oppression.
Avotaynu Online
DOI: 10.17228/AVOL201503041
