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American Jewish Congress
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New York, NY 10003-1606
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...Exploring Our World Together
American
Jewish Congress
American Jewish Congress
World Wide Tours
...Exploring Our World Together
2006 2007
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S
ince our first trip 45 years ago, our reputation
for excellence, innovation and quality has
been spread by word of mouth and by
recommendation from returning travelers.
Some 400,000 AJCcongress travelers have
taken our tours – making ours the world’s
oldest and most respected Jewish tour program.
Each AJCongress tour is designed to
be special – for we’re not a commercial
travel agency. We’re a human rights
organization, founded in 1918, dedicated
to the fight against prejudice, injustice and
anti-Semitism, committed to the creation
and maintenance of a secure State of Israel,
and to the strengthening of Jewish
culture and connections worldwide.
Our tours are an expression of the
AJCongress agenda and are available
only to members of the American
Jewish Congress.
By joining one of our tours, you automatically
receive membership with American Jewish
Congress – with our compliments!
Our itineraries are very special and
rarely available elsewhere, planned to
include the perfect balance of fine hotels,
excellent meals, general interest and special
touring, museum visits, leisure time,
exclusive briefings and local insights –
combined with fascinating, often deeply
moving encounters with Israelis and
Jews in Israel, Europe, the Far East, India
and Africa.
From the moment you arrive at your
first destination until you board the plane
home, your Tour Manager is always at
your side, taking care of a-hundred-and-one
details so that you can enjoy your vacation.
AJCongress Tour Managers are never “9-5’ers”.
Your AJCongress Tour Manager is available
on leisure days and during the evenings –
precisely when many travelers, especially
those traveling alone – need advice and
companionship.
We are proud and pleased to introduce
several specific departures escorted by
some of our Professional Tour Managers,
such as Jacob Shoshan and Avi Camchi.
Those who have already had the privilege
of taking an AJCongress tour led by
these esteemed gentlemen, already know
that they are second to none-and that
you’ve shared an experience of a lifetime.
If you haven’t, we invite you to join the
hundreds of travelers who would never
miss an opportunity to travel with Jacob
or Avi – or any of our Professional Tour
Managers, based in New York and/or Israel.
To ensure the materialization of these specialized
and limited departures, EARLY registration
is a must! Don’t miss out on these exceptional
tours, led by exceptional tour directors/scholars!
All AJCONGRESS
Tours Include:
CONTENTS
(Except Where Noted)
◆ AJCongress selected hotels.
AJCONGRESS TOURS –
◆ Delicious meals (indicated by
B, L, D) in itineraries
45 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
2–3
MEET OUR TOUR MANAGERS
4–5
◆ Round trip Economy class
flights by scheduled airlines
INTRODUCTION TO ISRAEL
◆ Opportunities to upgrade
to Business Class on
selected airlines
ISRAEL – OLD & NEW –13 DAYS
◆ Extensive, comprehensive and
unique-to-AJCongress touring
Jerusalem, Tiberias, Haifa, Tel Aviv
GRAND TOUR OF SPAIN –14 DAYS
◆ Leisure time for relaxation
and shopping
Madrid, Toledo, Andalucia, Costa del Sol, Barcelona
◆ Meetings & briefings with
local Jewish Communities
Warsaw, Lublin, Cracow, Vilna, Budapest, Prague
◆ Ticket wallet, flight bag, luggage
& name tags
◆ Hotel information &
helpful hints
◆ Touring buses, entrance fees,
museum guides
6
7–9
10 – 11
EASTERN EUROPE DISCOVERY –19 DAYS
12 – 13
SPLENDORS OF CENTRAL EUROPE –12 DAYS
Budapest, Vienna, Prague
14 – 15
ROMANCE OF RUSSIA –10 DAYS
St. Petersburg and Moscow
16 – 17
SPLENDORS OF CHINA
PLUS! YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE –13 DAYS
Beijing, Xian, Shanghai & Yangtze River
◆ Transfers, luggage handling,
hotel and meal taxes
INDOCHINA –15 DAYS
◆ Tour Manager provided
with all groups of 15 or more
participants
INDIA & COCHIN –13 DAYS
◆ Groups departing with less
than 15 will be locally hosted
Nairobi, Amboseli, Mt. Kenya, Masai Mara,
Ngorongoro Crater
Bangkok, Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi
Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Delhi, Cochin, Bombay
18 – 19
20 – 21
22 – 23
KENYA & TANZANIA SAFARI –15 DAYS
24 – 25
AMAZING SOUTH AFRICA –12 DAYS
2
Cape Town, the Garden Route,
Game Reserve, Johannesburg
26 – 27
ALL ABOUT OUR TOURS
28 – 29
TRAVEL PROTECTION PLAN
29
GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS
30
RESERVATION FORM
31
3
Our
To u r M a n a g e r s
O
n tours with15 or more participants,
we include the services of one of our
professional tour leaders:
JACOB SHOSHAN
Born in Jerusalem,
Jacob is a licensed tour
guide in Israel. He is also
a teacher and lecturer for
Tour Guide College –
Hebrew University
(a joint program with
The Hebrew Union College, Jerusalem),
Tel Aviv University, and Everyman’s University,
Tel Aviv. Jacob is also a Senior Tour Director &
Lecturer for the Geographical Society, Israel.
Mr. Shoshan is one of AJCongress’ most
celebrated and leading Tour Managers.
He has visited 98 countries and led tours
in 65 countries on all 6 continents. He is
fluent in 15 languages and presents
in-depth discussions on Jewish History,
Philosophy and Culture as part of his
escorting responsibilities. His background
covers Holocaust Studies, Sephardi Jewish
Heritage and Jewish Musicology. And, almost
as important, Jacob’s personality is warm,
nurturing and caring. A truly amazing and
special person!
Jacob is a member of IATM (International
Association of Tour Managers).
AVI CAMCHI
Born in Haifa, Avi is a
government licensed
Tour Guide in Israel.
He is a founding member
of Kibbutz Yahel, the
Arava Valley (Reform
Movement). Director,
teacher & lecturer for the Tour Guide College,
State of Israel – Ministry of Tourism, for the
Sinai Peninsula and the Negev Desert. He is a
Senior Tour Director & Tour Guide for the
Hebrew Union College, Jerusalem and a
Senior Tour Coordinator, NFTY.
Mr. Camchi is one of AJCongress’ most
sought after Tour Managers, visiting and
escorting tours in 5 continents. He is fluent in
English, Hebrew and Spanish. His in-depth
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presentations include Holocaust Studies,
Sephardi Jewish Heritage & Comparative
Religions- including Jewish, Christian and
Moslem Theology. He enjoys discussing
topics ranging from Ancient & Modern
History, Geology and Architecture to
Ethnic Cuisine and Gastronomy. His sense
of timing and humor is inpeccable; truly a
joy to be with!
Avi is a member of IATM (International
Association of Tour Managers)
DAVID GILINSKY
Born in Jerusalem,
David was a Paratrooper
in the Israeli Defense
Force and now resides
in New York. He studied
political science in Tel Aviv
University and graduated
in Business Management
and Communications from Adelphi
University, New York.
David has traveled extensively around
the world with AJCongress including
Europe, the Orient and Cuba and has visited
a total of 54 countries on all 6 continents.
He is fluent in Hebrew, English and has a
working knowledge of German and Yiddish.
A congenial personality with a keen sense
of humor, David is very organized and
always looks for ways to enhance your
travel experience.
and sharing his experiences with others.
Long part of the AJCongress team of
professional Tour Managers, Mike has
excelled with our groups in Israel, Europe,
the Orient and China. His positive approach
to life is contagious and his special sense of
humor and “twinkle of the eye” observations
make it fun to travel with him.
SHMUEL HADAR
Raised in Tel Aviv and
a current resident of
Jerusalem, Shmuel has
been a licensed Tour
Guide/Manager for
over 35 years and is
currently (and for
the past15 years) the Chief Tour Guide of
the AJCongress programs in Israel.
A veteran of 4 wars in the Israeli
Defense Forces, Shmuel served as Army
Scout in the elite paratrooper unit which
liberated Jerusalem in1967. He is fluent
in English, Hebrew, Arabic and French.
A natural leader with an unquenchable
thirst for knowledge, deep love of this
country, diplomatic objectivity and the
ability to discuss and relate to any topic –
makes him one of our most popular
and respected Tour Managers.
So, whether your destination is Israel,
Europe or the Far East, with “Shmuelik”
at the helm, you will be treated to a
memorable and entertaining AJC learning
experience, leaving you “wanting more”.
A true professional.
ZEHAVA BITTON
Born in Beth She’an,
Israel, and currently
residing in California,
Zehava was a paratrooper
and commander in the
IDF, a diving instructor
and an expert on the
Bedouins of the Sinai Peninsual. A former
“Schlicha” to the Jewry of South Africa, and a
senior administrator at the Jewish Agency.
Zehava is a licensed government
tour guide in Israel, and has professionally
led tours for AJCongress to many countries
around the world. Personable, charismatic,
with a strong sense of leadership, Zehava
is caring and outgoing, and has a broad
knowledge of geography, geology, history
and theology, botany and zoology. A fitness
and work-out specialist, with a great sense
of style and wit, she will keep you active
and involved!
MIKE ENAV
Born in Israel, Mike resides
in Tel Aviv and is a senior
guide licensed by the
Israeli Ministry of Tourism.
He is a veteran of three
wars as a combat soldier
in the Israeli Army and
since the early 70’s has been guiding many
of AJCongress tour groups. Mike is fluent in
Hebrew, English, German & French. He has
vast knowledge of Middle Eastern History,
ancient and modern. His personal favorite is
the Roman Empire.
As a young man, and an officer at sea
as a sailor with the Israeli Merchant Marines,
Mike fell in love with roaming the planet
AJCongress in Budapest, with Avi Camchi, Tour Manager (left)
5
J E R U S A L E M , T I B E R I A S , H A I FA , T E L AV I V
F
We l c o m e t o
AJCongress’ Israel
F
or more than 40 years, AJCongress
has been the leader and number-one
innovator in American Jewish travel
to Israel. We’re proud of our record.
And we’re proud that more Jewish
Americans have visited Israel under
our auspices than with all other
American Jewish organizations
combined.
If you’ve never visited Israel,
now is the perfect time you did!
And, if you haven’t visited Israel for 5,
10,15 years or more, it’s the year to
come back! Because the changes are
magical and unbelievably impressive.
Our Tour Managers:
To be a guide in Israel is to be an academic
and a professional. And to be an Israel
Lecturer-Tour Manager for the American
Jewish Congress signifies the guide has
reached the pinnacle of his or her career.
Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs
We take care of all the arrangements for
anyone - young, elderly; old – to celebrate
their Bar/Bat Mitzvah during any
AJCongress Tour.
Limited Group Size
We limit the size of all of our Israel groups.
We try to restrict most tours to no more than
39. . . on a 55 seater bus. And, we keep many
of our groups to a comfortable 15, 20 or 25.
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or more than 30 years, it’s been a
common American Jewish truth that
AJCongress’ tour to Israel is the one to
emanate – the one to copy. It’s true!
Imitation is the best form of flattery.
Despite the headlines, some
1.5 million tourists visited Israel in
2005, in safety and security. This
classic Israel tour, revamped for 2006,
begins in Jerusalem, and makes a
circuit through Israel with stays in
Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee, in Haifa,
and in Tel Aviv – Israel’s “city that
never sleeps.” We include creative and
comprehensive touring, including
a side trip to the Dead Sea and
Masada – and an option to visit Eilat.
You’ll stay at Super-Deluxe hotels
including, the newest, most gorgeous hotel
in Tiberias – the Galei Kinneret, where
you can pamper yourself with luxurious
spa treatments. Of course, we continue
our tradition of staying at the legendary
King David – a Jerusalem landmark
for over 70 years. And to lead and guide
you, the finest Tour Manager-Lecturer,
who is with you every day – even on free
days. Wonderful meals! Spectacular
sights! Experiences to last a lifetime!
Don’t look elsewhere. You just
can’t go wrong with AJCongress’
World-Famous, Top-of-the-Line,
Nobody-Does-It-Better-Even-ThoughThey-Try Tour to Israel.
The cost of every AJCongress tour to
Israel automatically includes:
◆ AJCongress Lecturer-Tour Manager at
your service throughout the tour –
even on free evenings and leisure days
◆ AJCongress-selected hotels; always
Israel’s finest
◆ Delicious Meals! We include mineral
water or soft drinks with lunch and wine,
coffee or tea with dinner
◆ Round trip flights aboard El Al Israel
Airlines from New York. Inquire about
flights from Miami or Los Angeles
◆ Opportunities to upgrade to Business Class
◆ AJCongress specially arranged visits and
our unique and pampering special services
◆ Leisure time for relaxation and shopping
◆ Touring buses, all entrance fees, transfers,
luggage handling, hotel and meal taxes
◆ Departure Document Portfolio including
luggage tags, hotel information and lots of
helpful hints. Plus! Document Case and
and Flight Bag
◆ Gratuties for included meals.
Israel –
Old & New
13 Days
Plus! Optional 3 Day Extension to Eilat
1 Tuesday • En Route
Depart the U.S. for Israel.
2 Wednesday • Jerusalem
Welcome to Israel! Meet your AJCongress
lecturer-Tour Manager. Then, drive 3,000 feet
high into the Judean Hills to the Golden City
of Jerusalem. Early evening briefing on
Israel and your special program, followed
by a Welcome to Israel Get-Together. LM
3 Thursday • Jerusalem
Enter the walled Old City’s Zion Gate. Visit the
restored Jewish Quarter (its Cardo was Roman
“heart” of Jerusalem), and the quaint Old Yishuv
Court Museum. Visit the excavated Herodian
Mansions, intact after 2,000 years. Descend
to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site.
Walk through the extraordinary Western Wall
Tunnels and along the ancient Via Dolorosa,
which traverses the city’s ancient bazaars.
The remainder of the afternoon is free. B
4 Friday: Jerusalem
Drive to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to
the holocaust; visit the Museum, Children’s
Pavillion and walk along the Avenue of the
(Continued on next page)
7
Israel – Old & New, continued
AJCongress Group at the Western Wall, Jerusalem
Righteous. Then to Mount Herzl to pay respects
to Israel’s military heroes; visit the new Herzl
Museum . Drive via the Supreme Court
Building and the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament)
to the Shrine of the Book home of the Dead
Sea Scrolls. Time to walk through the Israel
Museum and the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden.
Visit the Scale Model of ancient Jerusalem
(opens June ’06). Tonight, Shabbat dinner at
your hotel. BD
5 Saturday • Jerusalem
Late morning walking tour to charming Yemin
Moshe, the first Jewish neighborhood outside
the Old city, and Mount Zion, traditional site of
King David’s Tomb. Visit the fascinating Tower
of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem
in the Old Citadel. Tonight, see the illuminated
walls of the Old City en route to a delicious
Restaurant Dinner. BD
6 Sunday • Jerusalem/Dead Sea/Masada
Descend through the stark Judean Desert to the
Dead Sea, lowest point on earth. Ascend Masada
by cable car; tour the remains of Herod’s palacefortress, where zealots chose suicide over
surrender. Continue to the Dead Sea shore,
for a wonderful lunch and an exclusive-toAJCongress afternoon as guests of an elegant
Dead Sea spa-hotel! Float in the Dead Sea,
or enjoy the sauna, pool and Jacuzzi. Return to
Jerusalem feeling 20 years younger! BL
7 Monday • Galilee/Tiberias
Drive to the military junction at Latrun,
once the border with Jordan. See the French
Trappist Monastery and visit the Tank Division
Memorial. Then visit one of the newest and
most astonishing sights in Israel today – Mini
Israel Park – where cities, towns and villages in
8
Israel has been re-created on a miniature scale.
You’ll see parklands, buildings, people, religious
sights and moving vehicles. Proceed to Megiddo
(Armegeddon) whose twenty layers of civilization
were inspiration for James Michener’s “The
Source”. After lunch, continue to Tiberias,
one of the four holy cities of Judaism, on the
Sea of Galilee. Tonight, Dinner in a waterside
restaurant. BLD
8 Tuesday • Tiberias
This morning, visit the vast Roman city of Bet
Shean, with its Roman and Byzantine excavations.
Then, ascend the monumental Golan Heights
for a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee and
surrounding areas. Arrive at Kibbutz Kfar Haruv,
settled by Americans and Israelis together;
meet kibbutzniks over lunch. See the 4th century
synagogue at Capernaum, before continuing to
Safed, one of Judaism’s four holy cities. Wander
its winding lanes to ancient synagogues and
artists’ studios. Dinner at your hotel. BLD
9 Wednesday • Tiberias/Haifa
Today, depart for Tzipori, 1st century capital of the
Galilee, one of the most important archeological
sites in Israel today. Then, on to Acre, the ancient
port immortalized by the Crusaders, the Turks
and the British. See the underground Crusader
City, the Mediterranean battlements and the
exotic markets. Time to stroll and have lunch
before traveling to Haifa, draped up the slopes
of Mount Carmel, accented by the magnificent
Bahai Gardens. Tonight, drive to the nearby
Druze Village of Ussafiyeh for an authentic
Druze Dinner! BD
10 Thursday • Tel Aviv
Visit Atlit Camp, where the British incarcerated
the Holocaust survivors. Then, on to Caesarea,
with its Roman Theater, Crusader Fortress
and newly opened multi media center –
history will come alive at this new attraction!
Continue to Tel Aviv, Israel’s bustling metropolis.
Visit the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora, an
extraordinary exhibition of 20 centuries of
Jewish wandering and see the campus of elite
Tel Aviv University. Tonight, discover the
bustling Tayelet promenade abuzz with cafes,
entertainment and crowds. B
11 Friday • Tel Aviv
Pause at Rabin Square, memorial to Israel’s
assassinated prime minister en route to
Independence Hall where Ben Gurion
proclaimed the State of Israel in 1948. Admire
the Art Deco and Bauhaus architecture of
Rothschild Boulevard and the revitalized Neve
Tzedek area – Israel’s “Soho.” Tour beautifully
restored Jaffa with its quaint lanes lined with
galleries and boutiques. Stroll Nachlat Benjamin
Street with its Friday afternoon crafts stalls
and lively throngs. Tonight, Shabbat Dinner
together. BD
12 Saturday • Tel Aviv
A delightful leisure day. Late afternoon Bon
Voyage Get-Together caps an unforgettable
visit to Israel. Evening departure to Ben Gurion
airport for your flight to the U.S. BLM
13 Sunday • En Route
Morning arrival at JFK International Airport.
OR EXTEND YOUR STAY IN ISRAEL...
Optional
Eilat Extension
Tel Aviv
Eilat
1
2
Dan Tel Aviv
Herod’s Palace
12 Saturday • Tel Aviv
Day at leisure as above. Overnight in
Tel Aviv. B
13 Sunday • Eilat
Morning transfer to the airport for your
short flight to Eilat. Taxi independently
to your gorgeous ocean-front hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure. B
14 Monday • Eilat
Full day at leisure in glorious Eilat on
the Red Sea. B
15 Tuesday • En Route
Day at leisure. Evening flight to Ben Gurion
Airport to connect with your flight to
the U.S. arriving Wednesday morning. B
Eilat Extension: $595
Single Supplement: $315
Tel Aviv
W h e r e Yo u ’ l l S t a y
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Jerusalem
5
Tiberias
2
Haifa
1
King David
(New City View)
The New Galei
Kinneret Resort
Dan Carmel
(Superior Bay View)
Tel Aviv
2
+ Day Room
Dan Hotel
Executive
(Sea View Rooms)
AJCongress Highlights
Israeli Buffet Breakfast daily, 3 lunches, 6 dinners
with wine, including: Welcome Get-Together &
Farewell Cocktail Reception, Shabbat Dinners
in Jerusalem & Tel Aviv, Lakeside Dinner in
Tiberias, Lunch & Swim at a Dead Sea Spa Hotel,
Druze Evening with Dinner, Jerusalem by Night
with Restaurant Dinner, Lunch with Golan
Heights Kibbutzniks. Plus! Special Old City Tour
◆ New Herodian Excavations ◆ Rabbinical
Tunnel ◆ Mini Israel Park ◆ Caesarea Multi
Media Center ◆ Visit Independence Hall
To u r P r i c e
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m N e w Yo r k
Depart
Return
Per Person
Tues
2 0 0 6
Sun
Gratuities for local guides & drivers
are not included.
Mar 21
Apr 02
$3995
Apr 25
May 07
$4150
May 02
May 14
$4195
Jun 13
Jun 25
$4250
Jul 11(S) Jul 23
$4395
Aug 15
Aug 27
$4465
Aug 29
Sep 10
$4250
Sep 05
Sep 17
$4250
Oct 17
Oct 29
$4250
Nov 07
Nov 19
$4150
Dec 19
Dec 31
$4395
Tues
✈
Single Supplement: Mar-Apr: $900
May - Dec: $995
Add U.S. departure taxes including
fuel surcharges & government fees
(S) Separate bus for Singles 29-49
Supplement for King David Old City
View & Dan Carmel Haifa Deluxe
Bay View: $200.
Single room, add: $350.
Preview Dates for 2007:
Apr 24 - May 06, May 01 -13,
Jun 12 -24, Jul 10 -22, Aug 14 -26,
Aug 28 - Sept 09, Oct 09 - 21,
Nov 06 - 18, Dec 04 - Dec 16 &
Dec 18 - Dec 30.
2 0 0 6
Sun
Jan 09
Jan 21
$4085
Feb 20
Mar 04
$4085
Mar 20
Apr 01
$4130
9
M A D R I D , T O L E D O , A N D A L U C I A , C O S TA D E L S O L , B A R C E L O N A
Tour Manager/Guest Scholar:
Avi Camchi
14 Days
S
pain was, once the center of the Jewish
world, a Moslem land where Jews were
at the pinnacle of comerce, finance, the
arts and diplomacy. Our tour is flavored
with memories of that Golden Age of
Sephardic Jewry –you’ll encounter
glimpses of that historic presence in
Toledo, Granada, Cordoba and Seville.
Today, Spain’s small yet flourishing Jewish
community lives mostly in Madrid and
Barcelona. But Spain is not only the
ancient. It is a vibrant and ultra-modern.
Spain’s capital, Madrid, is imposing and
high-tech. Barcelona is a truly grand
European city. And Toledo, Almagro,
Granada, Cordoba and Seville are
utterly exquisite. You’ll see the vast
Spanish landscape too, visit oh-so British
Gibraltar, and luxuriate on the Costa
del Sol. You’ll stay in deluxe hotels –
charming Parador – and in an elegant
resort on the chic Costa del Sol.
10
Barcelona
1 Wednesday • En Route
Evening departure from New York
to Spain.
2 Thursday • Madrid
Morning arrival Madrid, Spain’s
vibrant capital. Meet your Tour
Manager and begin! See the Royal
Palace, Retiro Park and the elegantly
colonnaded Plaza Mayor. Tonight,
a “Welcome Tapas” dinner and
briefing at a nearby restaurant. D
3 Friday • Madrid
Morning visit to Madrid’s Beth Yaacov
Synagogue for a briefing on Spanish
Jewry. Tour of the city includes the Reina Sofia
Museum, Plaza Espana, Plaza Colon and other
highlights of this exciting city. Tonight,
Shabbat dinner at your hotel. BD
4 Saturday • Madrid
Today’s walking tour includes a visit to the
treasure-filled Prado Museum, with
its wealth of masterpieces. This afternoon,
perhaps a siesta – for Spaniards dine late.
Your Tour Manager will make suggestions
for dinner. B
5 Sunday • Madrid/Toledo/Almagro
Drive to Toledo, once royal capital of Spain.
Visit the Grand Toledo Cathedral, Santa Maria
la Blanca (formerly the Grand Synagogue),
El Greco’s House and the El Transito Synagogue.
Continue into the open plains of La Mancha
to Almagro; arrive at your parador hotel.
Relax poolside, before dinner. BD
6 Monday • Almagro/Granada
Drive to the Andalusian city of Granada to
visit the intricately ornamented fortress
and palace of Alhambra and its gorgeous
Generalife Gardens. It was here that
Ferdinand and Isabella signed the decree
expelling the Jews from Spain. Tonight, dinner
and an exciting Flamenco performance. BD
G r a n d To u r o f S p a i n
7 Tuesday • Granada/Cordoba/Seville
Drive to Cordoba, birthplace of Maimonides;
visit the medieval Almodovar Gate and the
Jewish Quarter. See the statue of Maimonides
and walk the Calle de los Judios to the
ancient synagogue. Visit the 8th century
mosque, now a cathedral. On to Seville for
dinner and overnight. BD
8 Wednesday • Seville
Visit Seville’s enormous cathedral with its
Giralda Tower. See the Alcazar, a Moorish
Palace and royal residence, and El Barrio
de Santa Cruz, once the Jewish Quarter.
Balance of the day at leisure. B
Girls in traditional dress at fair in
9 Thursday • Seville/Gibraltar
Seville, Spain
Gerona
Today, drive along the
Mediterranean coast to
14 Tuesday • Barcelona
Barcelona
Madrid
British of Gibraltar. See the
Transfer to the airport for
Toledo
legendary Barbary Apes
the flight to the U.S. arriving
Almagro
and visit St. Michael’s Cave.
later the same day. B
See the Old Moorish Castle
Cordoba
and continue to the ancient
Seville
Granada
Jewish cemetery (Jews have
Marbella
lived in Gibraltar for at
Gibraltar
least 300 years). Visit the
200 year-old-Nefusot
Yehuda “Flamenco” synagogue before
W h e r e Yo u ’ l l S t a y
continuing to your hotel in Malaga. B
10 Friday • Malaga
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Morning visit to the synagogue, for a meeting
Madrid
3
Villa Real
with members of the Jewish community,
Almagro
1
Parador De Almagro
followed by a tour of the New Picasso
Granada
1
Hotel Granada
Museum. Afternoon flight to Barcelona;
Center
check into your hotel in time for Shabbat
Seville
2
Hotel Seville Center
dinner together. BD
Malaga
1
A/C Palacio Malaga
11 Saturday • Barcelona
Barcelona
4
Condes De Barcelona
Attend services if you wish, then join your
Tour Manager for a walking tour of the
AJCongress Highlights
Plaza Cataluna, Las Ramblas Avenue, the
20 Meals including Buffet Breakfast daily,
Gothic Quarter and the Call, the former
1 lunch, 7 dinners with wine including Shabbat &
Jewish Ghetto. Rest of the day at leisure. B
Farewell Dinners ◆ Briefing on Spanish Jewry
12 Sunday • Gerona
◆ Visit the Prado Museum ◆ Tour ancient Toledo
Follow the Mediterranean “Costa Brava”
◆ See the Alhambra ◆ Attend a Flamenco Show
highway north into the heart of Catalonia
◆ Tour Granada, Cordoba & Seville ◆ Stay in
Barcelona, Europe’s “hottest” city.
and the city of Gerona. See the Call,
the Old Jewish Quarter. Continue to Besalu,
To u r P r i c e
with its Call and ancient mikva. After lunch,
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m N e w Yo r k ✈
on to Figueras; visit the Salvador Dali
Museum before returning to Barcelona. BL
Plus U.S. Departure Taxes
Depart
Return
Per Person
Single Supplement: $1295
13 Monday • Barcelona
2 0 0 6
Tour of Barcelona, includes the Casa
Wed
Mon
May 17
May 30
$4595
Sefardita Jewish Community Center and
Aug 30
Sep 12
$4795
dual Sephardic-Ashkenazi synagogues Visit
Montjuic (Mountain of the Jews), and see
Preview Dates for 2007: May 30 - Jun 12, Aug 29 - Sep 11
Gaudi’s expressionist Church of the Holy
Family. Tonight’s Farewell Dinner caps a
magnificent tour. BD
11
WA R S A W, L U B L I N , C R A C O W, V I L N A , B U D A P E S T , P R A G U E
Eastern Europe
Discovery
Tour Manager/Guest Scholar:
Jacob Shoshan
T
19 Days
12
Kovno
••
his tour takes you to where the
ancestors of most American Jews lived
for seven centuries. Here, Ashkenazi
Judaism flowered and Yiddish
flourished in a world that perished
a half-century ago in a convulsion of
torment and horror so unspeakable it
could only be described as a Holocaust.
We’ll take you to ancient synagogues,
and Jewish museums. You’ll admire
hamlets and castles that seem plucked
from fairy-tales. You’ll marvel at the
grandeur of great cities. You’ll meet
Europe’s Jews young and old, members
of thriving, reborn communities.
You’ll visit places called Auschwitz...
Majdanek...Theresienstadt. Visits for
which none of the books you’ve read –
nor movies you’ve survived, nor
museums where you cried, could
adequately prepare you.
It’s a journey you will never forget –
and to lead you through the chapters of
history is our celebrated Tour Manager/
Guest Scholar – Jacob Shoshan,
arguably, the only person qualified to
bring you through this life-changing
experience – to discover – to learn –
to remember – and to never forget.
3 Tuesday • Warsaw
Today’s touring includes the former Warsaw
Ghetto, with its Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto
Uprising, Mila 18 and Umschlagplatz Memorials.
Visit the Jewish Historical Institute and the
200 year-old cemetery and the Yiddish Theater.
This afternoon, lunch in a local restaurant. BL
4 Wednesday • Lublin
Drive through the Polish countryside to the
ancient city of Lublin. On the outskirts of the
city, visit Majdanek, the horrific Nazi death camp .
After lunch, drive along Lubartovska Street to
the Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin and the ancient
cemetery, whose graves date back from the
1500s. Return to Warsaw. BL
• Vilna
Warsaw
Berlin
Terezin
••
•• Lublin
•• Prague
Cracow
••
Cracow
1 Sunday • En Route
Depart New York
for Poland.
2 Monday • Warsaw
Morning arrival in
Warsaw. Meet your Tour
Manager and transfer to
your hotel. This afternoon, drives along the
Royal Route; see the
Chopin Memorial, the
President’s Mansion,
the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier, and
more. Stroll through Old
Town, lovingly restored.
Early evening briefing
on your special program
and Welcome Dinner. D
•• Budapest
5 Thursday • Cracow
Morning train to Cracow, once Poland’s Royal
Capital. Orientation drive takes us to Kazimierz,
once the thriving Jewish Quarter with its
Museum of Jewish History, housed in the Alte
Shul, Poland’s oldest remaining synagogue,
and the Remu Synagogue with its ancient
cemetery. See Oscar Schindler’s factory, Plazow
Concentration Camp and the former ghetto.
Tonight, dinner in a local restaurant. BD
6 Friday • Cracow
Early morning drive to Oswiecim, site of the vast
Auschwitz and Birkenau camps; the retreating
Germans blew up the Birkenau gas chambers
as the Red Army approached, but the notorious
platform, barracks, debris . . . and memories. . .
remain. Tonight, Shabbat Dinner together. BD
7 Saturday • Cracow
Shabbat at leisure to spend as you would at home.
Join your Tour Manager on a walking tour of the
Old Town, including a visit to Wawel Castle. B
8 Sunday • Vilna
Flight, to Vilnius, capital of independent Lithuania.
Afternoon visit to the cemetery, with its
Mausoleum of the Gaon of Vilna. See Vilna’s
historic heart; the magnificent Medininkai
Gate, Gediminas Square and Gediminas Castle
Tower. Tonight, dinner together. BD
9 Monday • Vilna/Kovno
Visit Kovno with its Holocaust Memorial and
9th Fort Martyrs’ Museum, once fortress of the
Czars . See the former ghetto, the synagogue,
the Slobodka Yeshiva and the former Japanese
Consulate, where the benevolent Chiune
Sugihara granted visas to thousands of Jews
who journeyed to Shanghai and survived the
Holocaust. After lunch, return to Vilna. BL
10 Tuesday • Vilna
This morning’s tour includes the Jewish Quarter,
with its synagogue and Jewish Museum.
Afternoon drive to Ponary Forest, where Vilna’s
Jews were massacred, then visit Trakai, home to
the Karaite Jews. B
11 Wednesday • Vilna/Budapest
Morning exploration of Vilna; then, flight to
Budapest.Tonight, enjoy dinner at Gundel, the
most famous restaurant in Central Europe. BD
12 Thursday: Budapest
Morning visit to the massive Dohany Street
Synagogue and view the turn-of-the-century
Rumbach Street Synagogue, the Carl Lutz
Memorial and the striking Willow Tree
Memorial. This afternoon, tour the fascinating
Jewish Museum. B
13 Friday • Budapest
Cross the Danube to Buda and pay homage to
Raoul Wallenberg’s Memorial Statue. Proceed
to Old Buda and tour Castle Hill and Fishermen’s
Bastion. Stroll the cobbled-stone streets housing
tiny antique shops and boutiques. Tonight,
Shabbat Dinner together. BD
14 Saturday • Budapest
Shabbat at leisure. Visit the fabulous outdoor
food market – indulge in a Turkish Bath –
perhaps explore the quaint village of Szentendre.
Tonight, at leisure. B
15 Sunday • Budapest/Prague
Morning flight to Prague, the magnificent and
medieval Czech capital. Visit the four synagogues
of the Jewish Museum, once Prague’s ghetto,
including the medieval Altneushul, Europe’s
oldest synagogue, and the ancient cemetery
crammed. Visit Castle Hill with the Strahov
Monastery and the Loretto Treasury. On to
St. Vitus Cathedral; stroll along Golden Lane.
Tonight, a theatre performance. B
16 Monday • Prague/Terezin
Full day excursion to Theresienstadt the
“model ghetto,” to which “elite” Jews were
deported. After lunch, return to Prague. BL
17 Tuesday • Prague
Today, stroll across the ancient Charles Bridge,
with its twin watchtowers, statues and lively
crafts market. Walk past Franz Kafka’s house, as
well as Rabbi Loew’s Statue. Visit the beautiful
Old Town Hall, with its towers, turrets and
astronomical clock. Evening at leisure. B
18 Wednesday • Prague
Our final day – completely at leisure in this
beautiful of European cities. Tonight’s Farewell
Dinner completes an extraordinary experience. BD
19 Thursday • En Route
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the U.S.,
via Warsaw, arriving later the same day. B
W h e r e Yo u ’ l l S t a y
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Warsaw
Cracow
Vilnius
3
3
3
Budapest
4
Sobieski
Holiday Inn
Astoria
Radisson Hotel
Budapest
Intercontintal
Prague
4
Praha
Intercontinental
AJCongress Highlights
29 Meals – Buffet Breakfast Daily (B),
4 Lunches (L), 7 Dinners (D) with Wine including
Shabbat & Farewell Dinners ◆ Gratuities To Local
Guides & Drivers ◆ Led By A Celebrated Tour
Manager & Guest Lecturer ◆ Briefings on Polish,
Lithuanian, Hungarian & Czech Jewry ◆ See the
Mausoleum of The Gaon Of Vilna u Tour of the
Dohany Street Synagogue ◆ Visits to Terezin and
Auschwitz ◆ Theatre Performance ◆ See the
Raoul Wallenberg Memorial ◆ Walking Tour
Of Old Prague
To u r P r i c e
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m N e w Yo r k
Depart
Sun
Return
Per Person
2 0 0 6
Sun
Apr 30
May 18
$5995
Aug 27
Sept 14
$6295
✈
Single Supplement: $1450.
Plus U.S. Departure taxes
Preview Dates for 2007: Apr 29 - May 06, Aug 19 - Sep 06
13
B U D A P E S T, V I E N N A , P R A G U E
Splendors
of Central
Europe
Charles Bridge, Prague
12 Days
Terezin
Prague
Vienna
14
B
udapest . . V
. ienna . . . P. rague. . . t. he
names conjure up glamorous images;
candlelight romance, waltzes, goulash,
coffeehouses and medieval glory. This
AJCongress discovery takes you to the
gorgeous capitals of Hungary and the
Czech Republic – each undergoing a
lavish renaissance. And, we take you
to Vienna, that most European of
Europe’s cities and fabled capital of
Austria. In each city, you’ll encounter
Europe’s richest Jewish heritage. In
Budapest, you’ll be awed by Europe’s
largest synagogue – in Vienna you’ll
breathe in the old-world ambiance
of the cobbled streets where Herzl
was inspired to dream of the return to
Zion, and in Prague, you’ll marvel at
the oldest synagogue in Europe and at
Jewish treasures so splendid they are
visited by almost every visitor to the
Czech capital.
Budapest
1 Wednesday • En Route
Evening departure from Kennedy for
Budapest via a connection in Prague.
2 Thursday • Budapest
Arrival in Budapest, Hungary’s vivacious
capital – two cities separated by the River
Danube – Buda to the west, Pest to the east.
Meet your Tour Manager and enjoy a
panoramic drive via Heroes Square and the
elegant streets of Pest en route to your hotel.
Welcome Cocktails, followed by a briefing on
the special itinerary planned for you.
3 Friday • Budapest
Visit the fascinating Jewish Museum and
massive Dohany Street Synagogue, the Carl
Lutz Memorial and the striking Willow
Tree Memorial. Cross the Danube to Old
Buda’s quaint Castle Hill and Fisherman’s
Bastion. Pay homage at Raoul Wallenberg
Memorial Statue and see the gothic
Medieval Synagogue (when open).
Tonight, Shabbat dinner together. BD
4 Saturday • Budapest
Attend services, if you wish, followed by a
walking tour which includes the impressive
National Ethnographic Museum. Balance
of the day at leisure for strolling, or perhaps a
cruise on the Danube. Perhaps an optional
visit to the quaint town of Szentendre. B
5 Sunday • Budapest/Vienna
Morning drive to stylish, historic Vienna,
Austria’s capital. This afternoon, see the
magnificent buildings lining the elegant
Ringstrasse, including the State Opera, National
Museums, Imperial Palace, Parliament, and
Town Hall .Tonight, dinner and a concert! BD
6 Monday • Vienna
Today’s touring takes in “Jewish Vienna”
including a morning visit and briefing
on Austrian Jewry at the Stadtempel
Synagogue. Explore the Judenplatz and
see the Holocaust Memorial, before continuing
to the Jewish Museum . Afternoon visit to the
beautiful Schonbrunn Palace for a guided
tour of the Imperial Rooms. End the day at
the famous French Gardens at the Belvedere
Palace. The evening is at leisure. B
7 Tuesday • Vienna
Day at leisure. Choice of optional visits. B
8 Wednesday • Vienna/Prague
Drive through the lush picturesque
landscape of Southern Bohemia, stopping
at the magical medieval town of Cesky
KrumlovVisit the historic “old town”, and
after lunch, continue to Prague, magnificent,
fairy-tale capital of the Czech Republic.
Evening at leisure. BL
9 Thursday • Prague
Visit the four synagogues of the Jewish
Museum, once Prague’s ghetto, including
the medieval Altneushul, and the ancient
cemetery. Afternoon walking tour takes you
past Franz Kafka House as well as Rabbi
Loew’s Statue. Visit the vast and beautiful
Old Town Hall, with its towers, turrets and
astronomical clock. Tonight, a theatre
performance. B
10 Friday • Prague/Terezin
Today, visit Terezin, the Nazis’ model ghetto
to which “elite” Jews were deported. After
lunch, return to Prague. Tonight, Shabbat
dinner together. BLD
11 Saturday: Prague
Attend services, if you wish, at the medieval
Altneushul, then our walking tour continues
with a stroll across the Charles Bridge, with
its twin watchtowers, statues and lively crafts
markets. Tonight, Farewell Dinner. BD
12 Sunday • En Route
Depart Prague for your return flight to JFK,
New York, arriving later the same day. B
W h e r e Yo u ’ l l S t a y
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Budapest
3
Vienna
3
Prague
4
Budapest
Intercontinental
Intercontinental
Vienna
Intercontinental
Praha
AJCongress Highlights
16 meals including Buffet Breakfast daily,
2 lunches, 4 dinners including Shabbat & Farewell
Dinners ◆ Welcome Cocktail Reception ◆ Briefings
on Hungarian, Austrian & Czech Jewry ◆ See Raoul
Wallenberg Memorial ◆ Visit Vienna’s Palaces
◆ See rural Bohemia ◆ Visit the Dohany Street
Synagogue ◆ Walking tour of Old Prague
◆ Theatre Performance
To u r P r i c e
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m N e w Yo r k
Depart
Return
Per Person
Wed
2 0 0 6
Sun
✈
Single Supplement: $1150.
(Jul & Aug: $900)
Plus U.S. Departure Taxes
May 10
May 21
$3995
Jun 21
Jul 02
$4295
Jul 26
Aug 6
$3995
Aug 16
Aug 27
$3995
Sep 6
Sep 17
$3995
Oct 18
Oct 29
$3995
Preview Dates for 2007: May 09 - 20, Jun 20 - Jul 01, Jul 25 - Aug
05, Aug 15 - 26, Sep 05 - 16, Oct 17 - 28
15
S T. P E T E R S B U R G
AND
MOSCOW
Romance
of Russia
10 Days
To our grandparents, “Russia” meant
the Czars, pogroms and oppression.
To us, it meant purges, the gulag, the
Cold War, and refuseniks. But there
is a new Russia – one of capitalism
with a passion – and, a Russia where
Jewish life is enjoying a resurgence of
creativity and freedom, after centuries
of repression.
We begin in Moscow, whose glorious
museums, palaces, Kremlin towers and
Red Square never fail to inspire wonder.
Then, to St. Petersburg, home of the
Hermitage and the Winter Palace,
undoubtedly one of the world’s most
glorious cities. Its museums, brightly
pastelled buildings, bridges and
canals have undergone a spectacular
renaissance. You’ll stay in beautiful
hotels, enjoy delicious meals, attend
cultural performances and discover of
one of the world’s most fascinating lands.
Helsinki
St. Petersburg
Moscow
1 Tuesday • En Route
Evening departure for Russia, via a connection
in Helsinki
2 Wednesday • Moscow
Morning arrival in Moscow, capital of Russia,
pervaded with the unique atmosphere of the
old and the new, of ages-old solidity and a
deeply rooted cultural heritage. Meet your
National Guide/Tour Manager; transfer to
your hotel. Welcome to Russia Dinner. D
16
Moscow — St. Basil’s Cathedral
3 Thursday • Moscow
This morning’s panoramic city tour
encompasses Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral
with its onion-shaped domes and the
Historical Museum. Continue to Tverskaya
Street and the Moscow State University.
After Lunch, visit the Moscow Choral
Synagogue, one of the most beautiful in
the world, for a briefing on Russian Jewry.
Drive to Memorial Hill, where a new
synagogue has recently been built, and is
part of a large memorial complex and
museum commemorating the victims
of the Holocaust. Evening at leisure. BL
4 Friday • Moscow
Today, tour the fascinating Kremlin to see
the grounds, and within its walls, the palaces,
cathedrals and towers including the “Ivan
the Terrible” Bell Tower. Visit the Armory
Museum, where the Czars treasures are
displayed. Stroll famed Arbat Street for the
best prices for antiques, souvenirs and
Russian handicrafts. Watch jugglers entertain
or listen to a jazz band. Evening: Shabbat
Dinner at your hotel, followed by a theatre
performance, near the hotel. BD
5 Saturday • Moscow
Shabbat at leisure in this fascinating
city. Attend services if you wish.
Optional tours can be arranged to the
Tretayakov State Gallery, a treasure
house of Russian art. Tonight, the
“Moscow by Night” drive provides
incredible views of the city. B
6 Sunday • Moscow/St. Petersburg
Morning flight to beautiful
St. Petersburg, known for 70 years
as Leningrad. This city, originally
conceived and planned by Peter
the Great is built on 101 islands
connected by lacy, elegant bridges.
It’s many palaces, once homes of
the nobility, have pastel-colored
facades which add to the charm of
this lovely city near the Neva River.
Evening at leisure. B
7 Monday • St. Petersburg
Today, visit to the Peter & Paul
Fortress, now a final resting place
for some of the Romanov Csars.
Continue to St. Isaacs Cathedral,
with its magnificent gilded dome .
Afternoon visit to the Great Choral
Synagogue, the second largest in Europe,
for a briefing and meeting with
members of the Jewish community.
Visit the Center of Jewish Arts and Crafts on
Gatchinskaya Street with its vast
display of Judaica. Evening: Cultural
Performance at the Hermitage Theatre. B
8 Tuesday • St. Petersburg
Morning return to Palace Square with its
Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum’s
three million exhibits. Your guide will
recommend a spot for lunch, then stroll
the city’s elegant streets. Perhaps, visit the
Chamber of Oddities, founded by Peter
the Great. B
9 Wednesday • St. Petersburg
Today, we drive to Pushkin to see the
Holocaust Monument by sculptor
Vadim Sidur, resembling a woman
weeping. It was erected in 1991 through
the efforts of both Russian and American
Jews. Tour the spectacular Palace of
Catherine the Great, restored to its original
splendor. Enjoy a typical lunch and
folklore in a countryside restaurant
before returning to St. Petersburg.
Tonight, our Farewell Dinner. LD
10 Thursday • En Route
Flight to the U.S., arriving later the same day. B
Catherine Palace in Pushkin, Russia
Peterhof Petrodvorets St Petersburg, Russia
W h e r e Yo u ’ l l S t a y
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Moscow
4
St. Petersburg
4
Le Meridien
National
or Metropol
Hotel Astoria
or Grand Europe
AJCongress Highlights
13 Meals including breakfast daily, 2 lunches &
3 dinners ◆ Briefings on Russian Jewry ◆ Cultural
performance in both Moscow & St. Petersburg
◆ See the Hermitage Museum ◆ View the Romanoff
Crown Jewels ◆ Moscow by Night Tour ◆ Tour
Catherine’s Palace
To u r P r i c e
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m N e w Yo r k
Depart
Tue
Return
Per Person
✈
Single Supplement: $1400.
Plus U.S. Departure Taxes
2 0 0 6
Thur
VISA REQUIRED FOR RUSSIA.
Jun 20
Jun 29
$5195
Aug 08
Aug 17
$4895
Preview Dates for 2007: Jun 21 - Jul 02, Jul 12 - Jul 23,
Aug 02 - Aug 13
17
B E I J I N G , X ’ I A N , S H A N G H A I F E AT U R I N G : YA N G T Z E R I V E R C R U I S E
13 Days
Xi‘an
Shanghai
Nanjing
Splendors
of China
Beijing
Hong Kong
Beijing
China, long an AJCongress favorite,
is complex, charming, astonishing,
fascinating, vibrant – and remains,
in some respects, the “last frontier”
for the American traveler. Traveling
to China with AJCongress affords
you the opportunity to enhance
your exposure to this exotic land
with glimpses of its extraordinary
Jewish history. For while there is
no longer an established Jewish
presence in the People’s Republic,
your touring will be augmented
by glimpses of China’s rich Jewish
history and lore. See the Great
Wall of China, the Terra Cotta
Warriors, and the tumult of
Shanghai. Cruise on the Yangtze
River, which winds 4,000 miles
from the glaciers of Tibet to the
East China Sea at Shanghai.
The world’s 3rd longest river is
a confluence of the physical
majesty of China and a narrative
of daily life of the 200 million
people who live along its shores.
18
1 Wednesday • En Route
Depart San Francisco on United Airlines,
crossing the International Date Line.
2 Thursday • Beijing
Evening arrival in Beijing, China’s political,
cultural and communications capital. Meet your
National Guide and transfer to your hotel.
3 Friday • Beijing
Full day of sightseeing in Beijing. Wander about
the immense plaza that is Tiananmen Square,
capable of holding more than one million
people. Visit the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece
of 15th century architecture. After lunch,
enter the Forbidden City, the 9,000-room home
to Ming and Qing emperors, with its priceless
historical treasures. Visit the Beijing Jewish
Community, located in a private home followed
by Shabbat Dinner hosted by the Rabbi and
his wife. BLD
4 Saturday • Beijing
Full day at leisure to explore at your own
pace. This evening, you’ll be treated to a
special Banquet Dinner featuring the city’s
world-famous “Peking Duck.” BD
5 Sunday: Beijing/X’ian
Today’s journey takes us outside the city to the
Great Wall of China; for 5,000 kilometers, it
snakes up and down rugged mountains like a
huge imperial dragon. Ascend and descend
by cable car. Lunch, and then fly westward to
X’ian, ancient capital of eleven dynasties.
Dinner at your hotel. BLD
6 Monday • Xian
The day begins with a visit to one of the
country’s most prized treasures – 6,000 life-sized
terra-cotta warriors and horses that guard the
tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, as they
have done faithfully for 2,000 years. After lunch,
see the well-preserved artifacts at the Provincial
Museum and stop at the large Wild Goose
Pagoda. Tonight, Dinner and a performance
at the Tang Dynasty Theatre. BLD
7 Tuesday • Xian – Yangtze River Cruise
Today, fly to Chongqing, for sightseeing of
this major city on the Yangtze. Dinner at a
local restaurant before boarding your Yangtze
River Cruise boat. BLD
8 Wednesday • Yangtze River Cruise
Enjoy today’s excursion to the small
mountainous city of Wanxian, gateway
to the Eastern Province, or, depending
on sailing conditions, visit Fengdu, known
as the “City of Devils”, where you’ll see
eerie devil statues molded into the site of
the temples lining Mingsham Hill. BLD
9 Thursday • Yangtze River Cruise
After passing through the scenic Qutang
Gorge and Wu Gorge surrounded by the
Twelve Peaks, disembark at Wushan, where
you’ll cross over steep hills for an excursion
through spectacular scenery to the Danning
River or Shennong Stream. Sail through the
three Gorges ship locks. BLD
10 Friday • Yangtze River Cruise/Yichang/Shanghai
Arrive Yang Jia Wang, site of the Three Gorges
Dam, the world’s largest construction project
and the most ambitious hydroelectric project
in the world; see the diversion canal, power
station and the dam construction. On to Yichang;
transfer to the airport for the flight to Shanghai,
China’s most cosmopolitan city; transfer to
your hotel. Tonight, Shabbat Dinner. BLD
11 Saturday • Shanghai
Shabbat at leisure. Stroll along the bund,
the city’s elegant waterfront boulevard,
browse the striking Shanghai Museum with its
remarkable artifacts, or perhaps, an optional
excursion to Suzhou with its classical gardens
and winding canals. Tonight, a performance
by the Shanghai Acrobats. B
12 Sunday • Shanghai
Visit lovely Yu Yuan Gardens in bustling
Shanghai. See the Arts & Crafts Exhibition
Hall, the World War II Ghetto and the
Ohel Moshe Synagogue, with its museum
depicting past Jewish life in the ghetto.
Kosher lunch in the Jewish Community
Center, followed by a stroll along the scenic
and bustling waterside Bund. Tonight, our
Farewell Dinner caps a fascinating tour! BLD
13 Monday • En Route
Transfer to the airport for the return flight to
San Francisco. B
Beijing Opera
W h e r e Yo u ’ l l S t a y
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Beijing
X’ian
3
2
Cruise
3
Shanghai
3
Shangri-La Hotel
Golden Flower
Shangri-La
Victoria Cruises
“Anna”
Shanghai Hilton
AJCongress Highlights
28 meals – Buffet breakfast daily, 8 lunches,
9 dinners ◆ Visit the Temple of Heaven ◆ Enter the
Forbidden City ◆ Walk through Tiananmen Square
◆ Ascend the Great Wall ◆ See the Terra Cotta
Warriors ◆ Cruise the Yangtze River ◆ Enjoy bustling
Shanghai – see the formerly Jewish sites ◆ Attend an
acrobatic show ◆ Enjoy a Kosher lunch at the Jewish
Community Center in Shanghai ◆ Special Upgraded
Menu on Cruise
To u r P r i c e
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m We s t C o a s t
Depart
Return
Wed
2 0 0 6
Mon
Per Person
✈
Single Supplement: $850 (Apr)
$995 (Oct)
Plus U.S. Departure Taxes
Apr 26
May 08
$ 3595
Oct 18
Oct 30
$3695
NY Departures: Add $225
VISA IS REQUIRED FOR U.S. CITIZENS
Preview Dates for 2007: Apr 25 - May 07, Oct 10 - 22
19
B A N G K O K , S I E M R E A P, H O C H I M I N H C I T Y , H A N O I
Port of junks Halong Bay, Vietnam
Indochina
New for 2006! Introducing Indochina!
With their subliminal landscapes,
ancient temples and diverse architecture,
Vietnam and Cambodia are beguiling
gems. Ancient culture, the vestiges of
French colonialism, and modernism all
live side-by-side – with magical pagodas,
French cathedrals, and lively markets
as intoxicating as Vietnam’s natural
beauty. Explore all aspects of Vietnam’s
magnificence, from bustling Hanoi to
spectacular Halong Bay. Begin in
Bangkok – majestic and bustling –
a scene straight out of a “King and I”
including a visit to its synagogue and
tiny Jewish community. Continue
to Siem Reap to explore the astounding
Angkor Wat Temple. Then, on to
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)
and ending in historic Hanoi.
Join us for a highly educational and
exciting journey!
Siem
Reap
Bangkok
Hanoi
Hong Kong
1 Wednesday • En Route
Evening departure from Los Angeles
via Cathay Pacific Airways.
2 Thursday • En Route
Cross the International Date Line
and lose a day – don’t worry,
you’ll get it back on the way home!
3 Friday • Bangkok
Morning arrival in Bangkok, exotic
capital of Thailand; meet your
Tour Manager and transfer to
your luxury hotel on the banks of
the Chao Praya River. Relax and
unwind, before tonight’s briefing
on the special program
we’ve designed, followed by
Welcome Shabbat Dinner. D
4 Saturday • Bangkok
Shabbat at leisure to spend as you would
at home. Your Tour Manager will provide you
with optional excursions or visits. Perhaps a
full day excursion to Dam-nern Saduak
Floating Market. Tonight, a sumptuous
Thai Buffet & Siamese Folklore Show. BD
5 Sunday • Bangkok
Morning visit to the Grand Palace, symbolic
and ceremonial heart of the kingdom,
with its elaborate architecture; see the
Emerald Buddha Chapel, the Tower of the
Nine Planets and the Great Throne Hall
of Chakri Kings. Then, on to one of Bangkok’s
three synagogues for a briefing on Thai
Jewry and to meet members of this tiny
Jewish community. Evening at leisure. B
6 Monday • Bangkok/Siem Reap
Flight to Siem Reap; transfer to your hotel.
Discover AngkorWat, one of the true “Wonders
of the Ancient World.” In 1992, UNESCO
declared the monument and the city of Angkor
a World Heritage site. Visit Preah Khan, a temple
with towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging
corridors in a jungle setting. At sunset visit
Phnom Bakheng, with its spectacular view
of the city. B
7 Tuesday • Siem Reap
Further explorations of this ancient site.
On the south gate of the Bayon, the Angkor
Conservation area, Temple of Ta Prohm, Ta Keo,
Chay Saytevada, Thommanoum and many
other unforgettable sites. Lunch in a local
restaurant. Tonight, Dinner at the hotel. BLD
8 Wednesday • Siem Reap/Ho Chi Minh City
Flight to bustling Ho Chi Minh City, formerly
Saigon, often called “Paris of the East.” Transfer to
your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. B
15 Days
9 Thursday • Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is a teeming metropolis
with timeless traditions and the hustle and
bustle of Vietnamese life everywhere.
Visit the French colonial-era Notre Dame
Cathedral, facing bustling Dong Khoi Street
in the heart of Old Saigon. Continue to
Independence Palace and the War Remnants
Museum, with its collections from two
Indochina wars. Continue to the Pagoda of
the Jade Emperor, a spectacularly colorful
structure. After lunch, explore Ben Thanh
Market – one of the liveliest markets
anywhere and Cholon, the “Chinatown” of
the city. Tonight, Buffet Dinner and Cruise
along the Saigon River while enjoying
traditional Vietnamese music, and
entertainment. BLD
10 Friday • Ho Chi Minh City
Visit the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels, an
underground network of living areas,
hospitals, and command centers. Drive to
Long Than, northwest of the city to the site
of the Cao Dai Temple. Along the road, see
the fragrant tamarind, frangipani and banana
trees. The cathedral is surreal; huge carved
lotus blossoms snake around the columns;
its roof is typical pagoda style. After lunch,
return to Ho Chi Minh City. Shabbat Dinner
at your hotel. BLD
11 Saturday • Ho Chi Minh City
Attend a special service at your hotel,
comprised of members of your group.
Balance of the day is at leisure. Optional
excursion to the Mekong Delta. B
12 Sunday • Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi
Flight to Hanoi and transfer to your hotel.
Balance of the day is at leisure. B
13 Monday • Hanoi
Depart for scenic Halong Bay, a World
Heritage Site and one of the natural wonders
of Asia. Embark on a traditional wooden
boat and cruise the emerald waters and
craggy limestone cliffs of Halong Bay. You’ll
be dazzled by the amazing scenery! Lunch is
served on board . Return to Hanoi. Dinner at
the hotel. BLD
14 Tuesday • Hanoi
Discover Hanoi with its beautiful architecture,
strongly influenced by its French roots.
See enchanting Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart
of the city, the delightful Ngoc Son Pagoda
and the unique One Pillar Pagoda.Visit Ho
Chi Minh’s House and Mausoleum and the
Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius.
This afternoon discover the old quarter of
Hanoi on a “cyclo” ride (rickshaw). On your
walking tour you’ll pass by the Israel
Embassy. Tonight, Farewell dinner followed
by a performance of the world-famous
Water Puppets. BD
15 Wednesday • En Route
Transfer to the airport for your return flight
to the U.S. – or continue on an extension to
Hong Kong. B
Street vendors near Cho Ben Thanh Market,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
W h e r e Yo u ’ l l S t a y
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Bangkok
Siem Reap
Ho Chi Minh City
3
2
4
Shangri-La Hotel
Sofitel Plaza
New World Hotel
Hanoi
3
Hilton Opera Hotel
AJCongress Highlights
23 meals: Buffet Breakfast Daily, 4 Lunches,
7 Dinners ◆ Briefings on Thai Jewry ◆ Visit the
Synagogue and Jewish Community in Bangkok
◆ See Bangkok’s Emerald Buddha ◆ Explore
amazing Angkor Wat Temple ◆ Tour Ho Chi
Minh City and Hanoi ◆ Cruise Halong Bay
To u r P r i c e
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m We s t C o a s t *
Depart
Return
Wed
2 0 0 6
Wed
Per Person
Jul 05(S) Jul 19
$3995
Dec 20(S) Jan 03
$4395
✈
Single Supplement: $750
Gratuities for local guides & drivers
are not included.
Add U.S. departure taxes including
fuel surcharges & government fees
* Add $200 for departures from
New York
(S) Special bus for Singles under 49
THIS TOUR IS DESIGNED FOR:
Couples ◆ Mature Singles ◆ Singles under 49 (Separate Bus)
Preview Dates for 2007: Jul 04 - 18, Dec 19 - Jan 02,
Ho Chi Minh City
20
21
D E L H I , J A I P U R , A G R A , K H A J U R A H O , VA R A N A S I , D E L H I , C O C H I N , B O M B AY
U
nique in Jewish history as one land
where Jews have never been persecuted
in their over 2,000 years of residence,
India is a place of special meaning
and mystery – a land of magic,
discomforting extremes and puzzling
paradox. A continent of a country,
with a culture uniquely its own. India’s
history of Jewish settlement dates back
to the 1st century with the arrival of
those fleeing persecution after the
destruction of the Second Temple.
Today’s 5000 Jews are as diverse and
polyglot a population as that of India
itself. A visit to India is a revealing and
intriguing immersion into the more
exotic aspects of Jewish life and culture
and the more mysterious recesses of the
human soul. It is a truly illuminating
journey- and we add Nepal, as an
option, to complete the adventure.
Delhi
Jaipur
Khatmandu
Agra
Khajuraho
Varanasi
Bombay
Cochin
3 Friday • Delhi/Jaipur
Morning tour of New Delhi, including a visit to
the synagogue and meeting with some of its
members for a briefing on Indian Jewry. Then,
depart for Jaipur. En route, visit the Amber Fort,
a marvelous example of Rajput architecture.
The ascent to the Fort is on gaily-caparisoned
elephants. The Fort interior has various royal
halls decorated with intricate ivory work,
exquisite wall paintings and tiny mirror chips,
creating a tantalizing effect. Late afternoon
IPlus!nExtension
d i ato Nepal
& Cochin
Taj Mahal in Agra, India
1 Wednesday • En Route
Evening departure from New York aboard
your Air India flight to Delhi.
2 Thursday • Delhi
Late evening arrival in Delhi. Meet your Tour
Manager and transfer to your hotel.
22
13 Days
arrival in Jaipur, the “Pink City”, in time for
Shabbat dinner together. BD
4 Saturday • Jaipur
Full day at leisure in this beautiful city where
your Tour Manager will provide a variety of
options. B
5 Sunday • Jaipur/Agra
Morning tour of Jaipur visits the City Palace
Museum, an imposing blend of traditional
Rajasthani and Mughal Art. Depart for Agra,
stopping in Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red
sand stone city built by Emperor Akbar as his
capital. A veritable fairy tale of a city, its ruins
are still in pristine conditions, evoking the wealth
and grandeur of its past court life. Late afternoon
arrival in Agra. Dinner at the hotel. BD
6 Monday • Agra
This morning’s touring includes the impressive
Agra Fort, whose forbidding walls protectively
enclose white marble palaces and mosques and
the local bazaar. See the highlight of the city –
the lacy-white grandeur and loveliness of the
Taj Mahal, the most perfect example of Mogul
construction and epic power of love, set to
architectural poetry. This masterpiece was
built by Shah Jehan in tribute to his beloved
Queen. Tonight, dinner together and overnight
in Agra. BD
7 Tuesday • Agra/Khajuraho
Morning express train to Jhansi; then, drive to
Khajuraho, stopping for lunch en route.
Arrival in Khajurho. Dinner at the hotel. BLD
8 Wednesday • Khajuraho/Varanasi
Morning visit the world-famous Khajuraho
Temples built by the Chandela Kings. Marvels
of three-dimensional sculpture, they are erotic
in a land noted for its spiritual consciousness.
Today’s touring includes the Eastern and
Western Temples. Afternoon flight to
Varanasi. Dinner and overnight. BD
9 Thursday • Varanasi
Rise before dawn for a boat ride on the
Ganges. Here you will observe devout Hindus
performing their early morning rituals. Tour
of the city includes the Durga Temple and the
Temple of Vishwanath. Walk along the narrow
lanes of the bazaar whose shops display their
famous Benares silk, brocades and brassware.
Afternoon flight to Delhi. B
10 Friday • Delhi/Cochin
Morning flight to Cochin, India’s most
important Jewish city and the heart of the
State of Kerala. Boat Cruise on the backwater
and through the lush greenery for which the
area is famous. Our tour of Cochin includes
the Portuguese Fort, the Mattanchery Palace
and the Synagogue. Meet with members of
the Cochin’s Jewish Community whose
origins date to the 5th century BCE when
Jews fled biblical Israel. Shabbat Dinner
together. BD
11 Saturday • Cochin
Shabbat at leisure to enjoy all of the wonderful
Jewish sites in Cochin. B
12 Sunday • Cochin/Bombay
Flight from Cochin to Bombay. Today’s tour
of the city includes a visit to the Gateway of
India Statue, the Prince of Wales Museum,
Marine Drive, the Hanging Garden and the
Crawford Market. A special visit has been
arranged at the Jewish Center to meet with its
members. Tonight, Gala Farewell Dinner. BD
13 Monday • En Route
Transfer to the airport for the flight back to
the U.S.
OR CONTINUE ON AN EXTENSION
TO KHATMANDU IN NEPAL. PLEASE
INQUIRE. (Price: $1095 per person in twin.)
W h e r e Yo u ’ l l S t a y
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Delhi
Jaipur
Agra
1
2
2
The Grand Delhi
Jai Mahal Palace
Mughal Sheraton
Khajuraho
Varanasi
Delhi
Cochin
Bombay
1
1
1
2
1
Taj Chandela
Taj Ganges
The Grand Delhi
Taj Malabar
Taj Mahal
(New Wing)
AJCongress Highlights
18 delicious meals – Buffet Breakfast daily, 1 lunch,
7 Dinners including Shabbat Dinners in Jaipur and
Cochin ◆ Tour the holy city of Benares (Varanasi) on
the River Ganges ◆ See the extraordinary Khajuraho
Temples ◆ Visit the breathtaking Taj Mahal ◆ Visit
Cochin, India’s most important Jewish city ◆ See
Bombay – Gateway to India ◆ Optional visit to
Khatmandu, Nepal – high in the Himalayas
To u r P r i c e
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m N e w Yo r k
Depart
Return
Wed
2 0 0 6
Mon
Per Person
✈
Single Supplement: $950.
Plus U.S. Departure Taxes
Feb 15
Feb 27
$4595
Nov 01
Nov 13
$4595
Dec 20
Jan 01, ’07 $4895
Preview Dates for 2007: Feb 14 - 26, Oct 17 - 29, Dec 19 - 31
23
N A I R O B I , A M B O S E L I , M T. K E N YA , M A S A I M A R A &
T
his exciting and beautifully paced
Safari-tour combines your immersion
into a world of magnificent wildlife . . .
with stays at some of the continent’s
most beautiful and legendary hotels
and safari lodges. Plus! fascinating
meetings with Jewish Kenyans. You’ll
see glorious landscapes throughout
Kenya, as you tour some of the
country’s most magnificent game
reserves. From the shadows of majestic
Mt.Kenya and Mt.Kilimajaro to the
floor of the legendary Ngorongoro
Crater – Africa’s “Garden of Eden” –
MORE
this is a journey like no other. Escorted
by experienced rangers, adept at
leading you to the perfect “photo-op”,
you’ll see some of the world’s rarest and
most beautiful animals – meet Masai
warriors – and, experience a world
that seems a trillion miles distant
from life at home. You’ll experience
extraordinary levels of elegance and
pampering everywhere you stay,
including the famed Mount Kenya
Safari Club consistently rated by
prestigious travel magazines as one
of the finest hotels in East Africa.
S af ari I n Ke nya
a n d Ta n z a n i a
15 Days
5 Thursday • Aberdare – Mt. Kenya
Deep in Kikuyu country, is a legendary resort
built on the slopes of Mt.Kenya. The Mt. Kenya
Safari Club is world-renowned for its history
and the drama of its setting. It is a day for
relaxation and roaming the resort’s
magnificent grounds. BLD
6 & 7 Friday & Saturday • Masa Mari
Fly to the storied Masai Mara and Northern
Serengeti. On the ground, you’ll see migrating
herds, prides of lion lazing in the shade, zebra,
wildebeests and ivory-tusked elephants.
Morning and afternoon game drives during
the three days, to take it all in. BLD/BLD
8 Sunday • Masai Mara/Nairobi/Amboseli
Return to Nairobi by air. After lunch, drive
south and become transfixed by the imposing
sight of legendary Mt. Kilimanjaro – the
backdrop of Amboseli National Park. BLD
Mt. Kenya
Lake Naivasha
Masai Mara
Nairobi
Amboseli
Ngorongoro
Manyara
1 Sunday • En Route
Depart New York on your flight to Nairobi, Kenya.
2 Monday • Nairobi
Welcome to Nairobi, the Safari Capital of the
world. Transfer to your hotel set in sumptuous
gardens with a casino and Olympic-sized
swimming pool.
3 Tuesday • Nairobi
Morning visit to the Nairobi Hebrew Synagogue
to hear about Kenyan Jewish life, followed by a
visit to the home of Karen Blixen, author of
Out of Africa. Then, a visit to the Kenya Cultural
Center, a kaleidoscope of the country’s treasured
24
arts, and traditions. Visit authentic bomas
(villages) representative of Kenya’s 16 different
ethnic groups. Tonight, Welcome Dinner
celebrates your arrival. D
4 Wednesday • Nairobi – Aberdare National Park
Today, we head north into the heart of East Africa.
First stop is Aberdares where majestic Mt. Kenya
dominates the landscape. After lunch at the
Aberdare Country Club, continue to The Ark,
a modern viewing wonder perched atop a
natural spur. All around you see lush mountain
forests and watering holes where animals come
to sample the salt lick. Dinner and overnight. BLD
9 Monday • Amboselli
Famous for its awesome scenery, Amboseli
is home to the “big five” – elephant, leopard,
lion, rhino and buffalo – that roam freely
amongst the proud Masai warriors tending
their cattle. While here, you’ll go out for early
morning and late afternoon game drives. BLD
10 Tuesday • Lake Manyara
This morning, cross the border into Tanzania
and drive to Lake Manyara National Park.
Our lodging is the new Lake Manyara Serena
Lodge, overlooking both the Great Rift Valley
and Manyara’s beautiful soda lake. BLD
11 & 12 Wednesday & Thursday •
Ngorongoro Crater
After a game drive at Lake Manyara, head
northwest to legendary Ngorongoro Crater,
Africa’s “Garden of Eden”, one of the
largest extinct volcanic craters in the world.
The second morning, descend into
the crater. As you draw closer to
the floor, you see it is an unspoiled
plain, swarming with roving
wildlife. Your lodging on the
Crater’s rim, is the spectacularly
designed Ngorongoro Serena
Lodge. BLD/BLD
13 Friday • Nairobi
Drive to Arusha. A picnic lunch is provided.
Flight to Nairobi; transfer to your hotel, and
tonight, Shabbat Dinner caps a magnificent
journey. BLD
14 Saturday • Nairobi
Our final day. Shabbath is at leisure to spend
as you would at home. Late night transfer
to the airport for your return flight.
15 Sunday • En Route
Late morning arrival in JFK. B
Please note: Since there are some small aircraft
flights within Kenya, luggage weight is limited
to approximately 33 lbs.
W h e r e Yo u ’ l l S t a y
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Nairobi
Aberdare
Mt.Kenya
2
1
1
Safari Park Hotel
The Ark
Mt.Kenya Safari Club
Masai Mara
Amboseli
2
2
Mara Safari Club
Amboseli
Serena Lodge
Lake Manyara
1
Lake Manyara
Serena Lodge
Ngorongoro
2
Ngorongoro
Serena Lodge
Nairobi
Safari Park Hotel
1 + Day Room
AJCongress Highlights
32 meals: Buffet Breakfast Daily, 10 Lunches,
11 Dinners including Shabbat & Farewell
Dinners ◆ See the “Big Five”– elephant, rhino,
leopard, lion, buffalo ◆ Briefings on Kenyan
Jewry ◆ See Mount Kilimanjaro ◆ Spend a
night at the legendary Mt. Kenya Safari Club
◆ Explore Masai Mara – enjoy fabulous game
drives ◆ See Lake Manyara National Park and
the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater
To u r P r i c e
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m N e w Yo r k
Depart
Return
Per Person
Tue
2 0 0 6
Thu
Aug13
Aug 27
$5595
Dec 17
Dec 31
$5595
✈
Single Supplement: $650
Plus U.S. Departure Taxes
Preview Dates for 2007: Aug 12 - 26, Oct 21 - Nov 04, Dec 16 - 30
25
CA P E TOW N ,
THE
GARDEN ROUTE, GAME RESERVE & JOHANNESBURG
STouroManager/
uth Africa
12 Days
Cape Town,
South Africa
Victoria Falls
Guest Scholar:
Jacob Shoshan
1 Wednesday •
En Route
Evening departure
from New York for
Johannesburg
South Africa.
or over thirty years
2 Thursday •
Cape Town
AJCongress was in
Early evening
the vanguard of
George
arrival in Cape
Stellenbosch Knysna
Cape Town
international efforts
Plettenberg Bay
Town, one of the
to end racism in
world’s most
South Africa. Now we’re proud to offer beautiful cities, nestled beneath Table
Mountain. Meet your AJCongress Tour
tours enabling AJCongress members
to journey south of the equator to one Manager and transfer to your elegant hotel on
the edge of the lively Waterfront district. This
of the world’s most beautiful lands.
evening, a briefing on the special itinerary
South Africa, of course, is home to one designed for your group, followed by
of the world’s most important Jewish
Welcome to South Africa Dinner. D
communities. Our tour begins in
3 Friday • Cape Town
Visit the Victorian Synagogue and hear about
stately Cape Town, its tree lined
Jewish life in South Africa. Then, a short drive
avenues framed by the unique backdrop of Table Mountain. You’ll visit the brings you to the heart of the Cape Winelands
to Stellenbosch, with its white Cape Dutch
Cape of Good Hope
Homesteads and oak-lined streets and lanes.
hinterlands and Cape Peninsula.
Visit a wine estate for a fascinating tour of the
Continue to the Garden Route and
wine-making process with time to sample
wines directly from the estate. Continue on a
Knysna. Then an exciting visit to a
scenic drive over the majestic Helshoogte Pass
Private Game Reserve adjacent to
famed Kruger National Park. Lastly – to the charming village of Franschhoek for
lunch. Visit the Cape Dutch homestead of
Johannesburg, South Africa’s most
Boschendal en route to Paarl to visit the Taal
bustling city. Join us on a fascinating,
Monument and the tiny Synagogue on New
and exciting journey – Indeed, it’s an Breda Street. Return to your hotel in time for
Shabbat Dinner. BLD
AJCongress trip of a lifetime!
26
F
Kruger National Park
4 Saturday • Cape Town
Attend services, if you wish, then spend
Shabbat as you would at home. Browse the
colorful Waterfront area with its boutiques
and cosmopolitan cafes.Tonight, your Tour
Manager will offer suggestions for dinner. B
5 Sunday • Cape Town/Peninsula
Morning visit to the Jewish Museum. Then, a full
day excursion takes you along the Atlantic coast
drive to Hout Bay, a former fishing village.
Continuing south, reach Cape Point in the
Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where
the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Take the
funicular to the panoramic viewpoint encompassing the whole of False Bay and the Boland
mountains. Stop to visit the unique penguin
colonies at Boulders Beach. Then, drive to the
naval base of Simonstown, and stroll Jubilee
Square with its interesting shops and street
vendors. Afternoon visit to the famous
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. BL
6 Monday • Cape Town/Garden Route/Knysna
Depart Cape Town by flight to George. Tour to
the semi-desert rugged region of the Little Karoo,
via the spectacular Outeniqua Mountain Pass.
Sample the excellent wines of the area over lunch
at a working ostrich farm. Continue to the
Garden Route, named because of the lush
indigenous forest covering the region. Stop at the
Wilderness National Park a wetlands paradise
boasting a variety of bird life. Continue to your
luxurious boutique hotel. Time to enjoy the
pool and health spa Dinner at the hotel. BLD
7 Tuesday • Knysna
Visit the resort town of Plettenberg Bay known
for its superb beaches, and the Robbberg
Nature Reserve. An opportunity to enjoy a
short walk in the reserve or in the Garden of
Eden. Continue to Knysna on the edge of the
glorious lagoon. Cruise across this lovely lagoon
to visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Then,
travel to the top of the reserve to begin a guided
walk, followed by a delicious lunch of fresh
caught fish. Rest of the day is at leisure. BL
8 Wednesday • Knysna/Kruger National Park
Return to George for the flight to Hoedspruit;
transfer to a Private Game Reserve situated in
the pristine African bushveld. Experience
game viewing by day and at night, guided
by highly qualified game rangers and skilled
trackers. See a myriad of wild animals
including lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and
antelope. Late afternoon game drive becomes
a night safari following nocturnal animals as
they begin to hunt. Tonight’s dinner is in a
“boma” for a particularly evocative treat. BD
9 Thursday: Safari
Very early morning game drive – this is the
best time to spot the variety of animals. Return
to the lodge for breakfast. Join an optional
guided walk into the bush with a ranger, relax
at the pool, enjoying this magnificent setting.
Lunch at the lodge. Then, a late afternoon
game drive followed by dinner around the
open fire. BLD
10 Friday • Johannesburg
After a final early morning game drive and
breakfast, return to the airport for the flight to
Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city where
most of the country’s Jews reside. Arrive in the
lovely suburb of Sandton, situated near an
eclectic mix of boutiques, and restaurants.
Today, you’ll see the city sights and visit a major
synagogue for a briefing on South African
Jewry. Tonight, a Farewell Shabbat Dinner. BD
11 Saturday • Johannesburg
A leisure day for a variety of personal pursuits.
See the black township of Soweto or nearby
Pretoria, Late afternoon transfer to the airport
for the flight to New York. B
12 Sunday • En Route
Morning arrival in John F. Kennedy
International Airport.. B
OR CONTINUE ON AN EXTENSION
TO VICTORIA FALLS. PLEASE INQUIRE
FOR DETAILS.
CITY
NIGHTS
HOTEL
Cape Town
Knysna
4
2
Kruger Park
2
Johannesburg
2
Victoria & Alfred
Belvidere or
Parkes Manor
Motswari or
Thornybush
Sandton Sun
AJCongress Highlights
21 delicious meals – American Buffet Breakfast
daily, 5 lunches & 6 dinners including Welcome &
Shabbat dinners ◆ Visit the Jewish Communities
of Cape Town & Johannesburg ◆ Two day safari
at a private game reserve ◆ Visit the winelands
of Stellenbosch ◆ Tour of the Jewish Museum of
Cape Town ◆ See Plettenberg Bay ◆ Spend a
weekend in Johannesburg – plus much,
much more
To u r P r i c e
P e r P e r s o n i n Tw i n f r o m N e w Yo r k
Depart
Return
Wed
2 0 0 6
Sun
Per Person
May 10
May 21
$5495
Sep 06
Sep 17
$5795
Oct 18
Oct 29
$5495
✈
Single Supplement: $700
Plus U.S. Departure Taxes
Preview Dates for 2007: May09 - 20, Sept 05 - 16, Oct 17 - 28
27
All about
O u r To u r s
Eligibility: Participation in the AJCongress
Travel Program is only available to members
of American Jewish Congress. Enrollment in
an AJCongress tour automatically includes
membership.
Tour Documents: Documents are mailed
approximately 3 weeks prior to departure
including airline tickets, itinerary details,
flight bag, documentation wallet, luggage
and name tags.
Passports/Visas: All tour participants
must travel with a passport valid for at least
6 months after your tour ends. A visa to
most countries is not required for U.S. citizens.
For tours that do require a visa, we’ll send
you the appropriate instructions and
applications forms.
Reservation Process: Place a booking
with our Reservations office:
Toll-free: 1-800-221-4694
New York City: 212-879-4588
Fax: 212-867-6622
We accept MasterCard or Visa for the
$300 per person deposit. Or, if you prefer,
complete and mail or fax the Reservations
Form along with your deposit. Signing this
reservations form indicates you have read and
agreed to the cancellation information and
responsibility paragraph of this tour catalogue.
Tour Payment: We bill you for the balance
of your tour cost about 75 days before
departure. Final payment is due 60 days prior
to departure by check. If you book within
45days of departure, we’ll need a minimum
deposit on Visa or MasterCard. A reservation
booked within14 days of departures will
incur a $45 per party service charge to cover
additional administrative costs.
Price Charts: Our price charts indicate the
total tour price, per person, including air fare,
based on 2 persons in a room. Prices in this
catalogue re subject to change, as they are
based on airfares, land costs and exchange
rates in effect on December 1, 2005.
Kashrut: In Israel, all hotels and most
restaurants included in our tours are kosher.
In the rest of the world, hotels and most
restaurants are not kosher. We will, however,
28
Security: Your safety is of paramount
importance. Many airlines, particularly EL AL
takes stringent security precautions. We’ve
never permitted a tour to proceed if we felt
that our membership would be in danger.
ensure that fish, vegetarian or dairy meals are
available for those who prefer. Shellfish and
pork products never appear on an AJCongress
pre-set menu.
Saturdays & Holidays: Our tours observe
Shabbat and Jewish holidays. We schedule
appropriate walking tours, otherwise Shabbat
& Jewish holidays are at leisure. In Israel,
we follow the custom of single-day Shavuoth,
Sukkot and Pesach observance. Tours over
holidays invariable involve rescheduling
the itinerary. Sometimes, we have to
substitute or omit some sites; shops and
restaurants may be closed.
Tour Manager: All tours with 15 or more
passengers are accompanied by an AJCongress
Professional Tour Manager in addition to
local guides. Groups departing with fewer
than 15 participants are locally hosted by
AJCongress appointed guides.
Not Included: Gratuities are not included.
You will be given a suggestion of our
recommendations for local guides, drivers,
waitpersons and hotel personnel. Tour cost
does not cover optional items or personal
expenditures such as visa costs, additional
meals or beverages, other than those stated.
Travel insurance, hotel bar, laundry, phone and
room service bills. Gratuities to Tour Managers,
bus drivers in Israel, chambermaids at
hotel & airports, or airline departure taxes,
fuel surcharges and government fees.
The final itinerary sent with your tour
documents will detail your schedule.
If for any reason, you leave the tour early
or choose to miss any part, there can be
no refund for unused services.
Getting There:
Airlines: We use excellent scheduled airlines for our tour’s flights. The routing and
scheduling is the responsibility of the airlines
we’ve selected. When you reserve, let us
know if you need a special airline meal.
Air Fares: Tour price includes the lowest
economy class airfare projected on Dec 1, 2005.
Should airfares rise, we’ll advise you and try
to protect you on the lower airfare. Should
they drop, you’ll receive a refund.
Hotels: We feature hotels specially selected
for our tours, based on location as well as
amenities. We’re occasionally obliged to
make substitutions. All hotels offer us
standard grade (run-of-house) rooms.
If you are arriving at a hotel before mid-day,
please be patient, if checkout delays
preparation of your room.
Traveling Alone: Single rooms are often
limited, so please reserve early. We can also try
to match you with a roommate. Sharing a room
requires flexibility and tolerance. We can
only assign a roommate if another person
on the tour wishes to share. For those tours
with a special section exclusively for Singles
under 49 (with a minimum of 15 participants),
we’ll guarantee a roommate if you book no
less than 90 days prior to departure.
Three in a Room: We can usually arrange
for 3 travelers to occupy one room. But, for
adults, the reduction is small, and you’ll
be in a standard room for two, with an extra
foldaway bed and it can get cramped.
Meals: We don’t feature “standard” menus –
but always try to make each included meal
special. Breakfasts usually are American
Buffet-style. Beverages are not included with
meals except where indicated.
On Tour
Baggage: Because of restricted storage space
on motor coaches, we limit travelers to one
large suitcase per person on all our tours,
plus a carry-on.
We’ll send you an attractive and roomy
AJCongress flight bag to use, if you wish,
as hand luggage.
Motor Coaches: We utilize luxury Air
Conditioned motor coaches wherever
possible. Your guide/Tour Manager arranges
a daily rotation of seats to ensure that
everyone has an opportunity to sit up front.
In many countries, motor coaches do not
have toilet facilities. We do not permit
smoking on an AJCongress tour bus.
For smaller groups, we utilize air-conditioned
7 or 11 or 18 seater passenger cars or limos.
About Your Health: AJCongress travelers
should be in stable health and confident
of their ability to undertake the tour chosen.
Each tour includes substantial amounts
of walking. Those who require assistance
must be accompanied by a companion
capable of, and totally responsible for,
providing such assistance. Please consult
our Reservations Staff, as well as your
physician, if you’re in doubt of your ability
to undertake the tour you’re considering.
Also, your physician can advise if the
U.S. Public Health Service has recommendations
on Special Health precautions relevant to
your destination.
T R AV E L P ROT E C T I ON P LA N — O n l y $155 Pe r Pe r s o n
Schedule of Coverages
Maximum Benefit
ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000
MEDICAL EXPENSE / EMERGENCY EVACUATION . . . $25,000/$50,000
PRE-DEPARTURE TRIP CANCELLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . UP TO TRIP COST
POST-DEPARTURE TRIP INTERRUPTION . . . . . . . . . . . UP TO TRIP COST
TRAVEL DELAY (UP TO $100 PER DAY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 500
BAGGAGE AND PERSONAL EFFECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,500
BAGGAGE DELAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 200
COVERAGE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Certain exclusions and limitations apply and are detailed in the
Travel Insurance Certificate. For example, coverage does not
apply to: any sickness or condition of you, a Traveling Companion
or an Immediate Family Member traveling with you that existed
during the 60 days prior to the effective date of the coverages;
(this exclusion is waived if your premium is received within 7
days of your initial deposit/payment for your trip and you are
not disabled from travel at the time your premium is received)
suicide; normal pregnancy; war or any act of war; mental or
nervous disorders. Other Covered Events, as defined, includes
the following events or their consequences: common carrier delay
due to strike, cancellation of arrangements by an airline, cruise
line, or tour operator due to strike or bad weather; a documented
traffic accident while en route to departure; jury duty; destruction
of your residence by a natural disaster; a documented theft of
passports or visas; or a terrorist act which occurs in your departure
city or in a city which is a scheduled destination for your trip
provided the terrorist act occurs within 30 days of the Scheduled
Departure Date and your premium is received within 7 days of
the initial deposit/payment for your trip. A Traveling Companion
is defined as a person booked to share accommodations in the
same room with you during your Trip. Sickness or Injury must
commence while the Travel Protection Plan is in effect for you.
This plan does not cover a loss that results from an illness, disease,
or other condition (of you, an Immediate Family Member, Traveling
Companion or Business Partner), event or circumstance which
occurs at a time when this policy is not in effect for you. This plan
is underwritten by: Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company,
Columbus, OH. This policy is administered by: Trip Mate
(In CA, dba Trip Mate Insurance Agency), 9225 Ward Parkway,
Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64114, 800-888-7292.
THIS IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
ASK FOR THE TRAVEL INSURANCE CERTIFICATE WHICH FULLY DETAILS
THE COVERAGES, PROVISIONS, LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS OF
THE PLAN OFFERED AND IS AVAILABLE TO YOU, UPON REQUEST,
AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO YOUR PURCHASE OF THE PLAN.
* This travel protection plan covers you if you must cancel or interrupt your trip due to a pre-existing medical condition - if you purchase
the plan within 7 days of the initial deposit/payment for your trip and are not disabled from travel at the time you pay your premium.
* For all trips 16-30 days $209.00.
464-03
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GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS
Reservations & Payments: Deposits can be made by
check, Visa or MasterCard. A deposit must accompany the
reservation form together with optional insurance in order
to register. Balance is due no later than 60 days prior to
departure, by check only. No refunds for unused services.
The AJCongress Travel Program includes membership
with AJC gratis.
Deposits and Cancellations
CANCELLATION FEES (PER PERSON)
are based on the number of days you cancel before your
tour departs. Cancellation penalties will not exceed:
• TOURS TO ISRAEL
61 days or more –
60 - 46 days prior –
45 - 31 days prior –
30 - 16 days prior –
15 days or less –
No Charge
$100
$200
$500*
$500**
• TOURS TO OTHER DESTINATIONS
61 days or more –
60 - 46 days prior –
45 - 31 days prior –
30 - 16 days prior –
15 days or less –
$75
$300
$500
50% of tour price*
100% of tour price*
* Airline tickets are generally non-refundable and issued
30 days prior to departure.
** Less whatever sums we can recover from suppliers
(airlines, hotels, etc)
Please understand that in all instances, AJCongress will endeavor
to return whatever sums can be recovered from suppliers.
countries weight is limited to as little as 18 pounds (Kenya)
to 44 pounds elsewhere. Please call our Reservations
Office for specific details for your tour.
Rate Fluctuations: All rates and airfares utilized were
based on exchange rates valid at press time (Dec. 2005)
and are subject to change without prior notice, depending
on currency fluctuation, fuel surcharges, and/or inflation.
Tour Information: Upon receipt of the authorized deposit
of your reservation, we will send you a confirmation kit
including visa information (when applicable). Approximately
3 weeks prior to departure, you will receive a complete set
of personalized tour information, including destination
specifics, facts on weather, clothing, shopping, and a travel
wallet containing airline tickets, baggage and name tags,
a day-by-day itinerary and list of tour participants.
Itinerary: Should it become necessary to change the
day-to-day sequence of the itinerary to suit the needs
of circumstances, a revised itinerary will be sent along
with your final documents.
Not Included: Visa fees, departure taxes, laundry, valet
services, additional baggage in excess of allowance, baggage
& accident insurance, wines, liquors, mineral waters, food
and beverages except where indicated, and other expenses
of a purely personal nature. Additional foreign airport
departure taxes, when required are to be paid departing
each country.
Tipping: Tips to guide, driver & other service personnel
are not included, unless noted in your specific program.
A separate information sheet will be sent regarding
NOTE: Insurance Premiums are non-refundable.
ALL CANCELLATIONS MUST BE REQUESTED IN WRITING. recommended tipping.
Responsibility: AJCongress acts as tour operator/agent.
Travel Documents: All travelers must have a passport
valid for six months after your return to the United States. The suppliers providing transportation, sightseeing
Non-U.S. citizens are advised to check with their respective arrangements, and hotel accommodations for the tour
consulates to see if visas are necessary for the country of programs are independent contractors and are not
their choice. At publication, U.S. citizens require visas to: employees of AJCongress or any subsidiary company.
Cambodia, China, India, Kenya, Nepal, Russia, Tanzania, All coupons, receipts, and tickets are issued subject to the
terms and conditions specified by the supplier. AJCongress
Victoria Falls & Vietnam. Information will be sent to you
in regard to securing a visa. Costs for visas are not included. assumes no responsibility nor liability in connection with
the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, or other
Insurance: We recommend that you purchase adequate and conveyance that is used wholly or in part, in the performance
comprehensive travel insurance before departure. AJCongress of its duty to the passenger. Neither will they be responsible
is not responsible for loss or damage to luggage, accidents for any act, error, or omission; or for any injury to either
en route or ill health that may require you to miss part
person or property, loss, accident delay or irregularity that
of your trip or your return to the U.S.A. with the group.
may be occasioned by reason of any defect in any vehicle,
Please see the AJCongress Travel Protection Plan Above. or through neglect or default of any company or person
engaged in carrying out the purpose for which tickets or
Air Transportation: Your tour price includes travel by
coupons have been issued. In the event that it becomes
regularly scheduled economy jet services. Special Group
or Apex fares require advance purchase and are subject to necessary or advisable, or for any reason whatsoever,
cancellation fees. Should airline schedule changes result in to alter the itinerary or arrangements, such alterations
may be made. Additional expenses, if any, shall be borne
a necessity to alter the land arrangements, any additional
by the passengers; conversely, refund will be made to
expenses must be borne by the traveler. It is vital that all
passenger names must be matched to the names on their the passengers. Remember that all passports and visas,
as well as compliance with customs regulations, are your
respective passports and must be identical on the airline
responsibility. The terms under which you agree to take
record and on the ticket. Air fares are subject to change
these tours cannot be changed or amended. Airlines
at any time and without notice, and therefore might
concerned are not to be held responsible for any act,
be changed after invoices are issued and will only be
omission, or event during the time you are not on board
guaranteed once ticketed.
Hotels: Throughout each tour, accommodations are based the aircraft. The passage contract in use by the airline,
on twin-bedded rooms with private facilities. The operator when issued, constitutes the sole agreement between it
and you. AJCongress reserves the right to decline any
reserves the right to substitute hotels in the same or a
person as tour participant should such person’s health,
superior category.
mental condition, physical infirmity, or general deportment
Meals: Meals are provided as indicated on each itinerary
impede the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare,
(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner. Lunches or Dinners
or enjoyment of other tour participants. AJCongress
when included at hotels or restaurants are Table d’Hote
reserves the right to cancel the tour prior to departure.
(unless otherwise indicated) and limited to specific dining If any tour is withdrawn, AJCongress’ liability is limited
rooms when at hotels. Beverages are not included
to a refund of the monies received.
unless specified.
It is agreed by and between the passenger(s) and
Baggage: Most carriers permit 2 pieces of baggage per
AJCongress that all disputes and matters whatever arising
person with a weight limit of up to 70 pounds per piece.
under, in connection with or incident to this agreement
Our tours, however, permit one checked suitcase and one shall be litigated, if at all, in and before a court located in
carry-on per person. When traveling between or within
The City of New York, New York State, U.S.A.
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RESERVATION FORM
Call an AJCongress Travel Counselor and we’ll help you complete this form and make your reservation.
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (EST) 212-879-4588 or 1-800-221-4694
Mail complete form to AJCongress Travel 233 Park Ave S, New York, N.Y. 10003
Reservations with credit card deposits may be faxed to: 212-867-6622
Name of tour ____________________________________ Departure date __________________________________
Extensions or additions ___________________________ Home city airport________________________________
Do you need assistance connecting flights from home city to gateway?
Do you wish to request Business Class?
Kindly register using EXACT PASSPORT NAME
LAST NAME/FIRST ___________________________________________________________ Date of birth ________________
LAST NAME/FIRST ___________________________________________________________ Date of birth ________________
LAST NAME/FIRST ___________________________________________________________ Date of birth ________________
LAST NAME/FIRST ___________________________________________________________ Date of birth ________________
Address______________________________________________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________________________________ State_______________ Zip ______________________
Telephone (day) ( __________ ) _________________________ Telephone (home) ( __________ ) _________________________
Fax ( __________ ) ______________________________________ E-mail _________________________________________________
Payment: Enclosed is my/our check in U.S. dollars for $ ____________________
Representing ____________________ deposit of $300 per person
____________________ optional insurance of $155 per person
____________________ full payment for entire party
Make check payable to American Jewish Congress Travel Program
(If credit card deposit, sign the application below)
Charge my payment of $ __________________ to: Visa MasterCard
Card number ____________________________________________________________ Expiration date ___________________
I/we understand that all prices are based on airfares, land rates & rates of exchange projected on
Dec. 1, 2005. I/we further agree to pay all balances by check upon receipt of invoice. I/we have read
and agree to the conditions set forth in this brochure under General Terms & Conditions section and
the Responsibility Paragraph.
Signature ________________________________________________________________ Date ______________________________
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