Poland, Past and Present: Art, Culture, and Living History May 4 13, 2015 TRAVEL The Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10128 Under the auspices of The Jewish Theological Seminary TheJewishMuseum.org travels@thejm.org 212.423.3200 Led by Norman L. Kleeblatt, Susan and Elihu Rose Chief Curator, and a special welcome and tour of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews by its core exhibition developer, Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett
INTRODUCTION Much of the art of Poland is imbued with a long and complex history of the Jewish presence. By taking part in this remarkable trip to Poland, you will experience the incredible wealth of art, architecture, grand museums, and history of three extraordinary cities. Experience Poland, with its lively pace. The Museum s Chief Curator Norman Kleeblatt will guide you on this extraordinary journey through the art, architecture, culture, and living history of the Jews of this dynamic country. Enjoy the company of the robust Jewish communities and visit historical homes that will give you a taste of the rich esthetic and intellectual cultures of Poland. Be among the few to visit the new Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, centrally located adjacent to the Warsaw Ghetto: there you will be welcomed by and enjoy a personal tour with none other than the esteemed and provocative core Exhibition Developer, Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett. Modern, contemporary and historical art will be one of the focuses of our trip as we explore numerous art museums. We will visit three very different and thriving cities: Warsaw, Krakow, and Lodz. Warsaw, with its modern day pace, edgy art scene, thriving economy, and growing Jewish community, is the best example of the nation s dynamic success after 1989, and is particularly etched by history. Krakow, the Florence of Poland, a Renaissance city, is the old capital and the seat of the Jagiellon kings, a city of intelligentsia and bourgeois tradition going back centuries. It is a locus of the history both of the Polish state and of Judaism. Today, Krakow is the site of the Jewish Culture Festival, the largest and most extraordinary festival of its kind. The festival has unparalleled influence on presenting the history and culture of Polish Jews to the world. Kazimierz is a historical district of Kraków and Kraków Old Town. Since its inception in the 14th century to the early 19th century, Kazimierz was an independent town, a royal city of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom. For many centuries, Kazimierz was a place of coexistence and commingling of Christian and Jewish cultures. Today, Kazimierz remains an important center of cultural life. In contrast to Krakow, Lodz, the third largest city in Poland, is a monument to 19th century industrialism and its influence on arts and culture. The Poznanski family s industrial expansion, from Kalman Poznanski s founding of a cotton business in the late 1700 s, profoundly impacted the people, culture and history of Poland. We will visit the Poznanski Palace, a breathtaking Neo- Baroque residence filled with exhibitions that trace the history of this splendid city. Lodz also is the site of the most important modern art museum in Poland; its founding date rivals that of The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Museum Sztuki s collection, created by leftist artists through exchanges with their colleagues in the West such as Fernand Leger, Max Ernst, and Kurt Schwitterst was donated to the city to provide workers with access to the arts. This program was created in cooperation with Monika Fabijanska, former Poland s cultural attache and Director of the Polish Cultural Institute in New York. POLAND, PAST AND PRESENT, PAGE 2 OF 10
DAILY ITINERARY Sunday, May 3 DEPART THE U.S. FOR WARSAW, POLAND During our visit to the National Museum, we will see paintings by Maurycy Gottlieb, Jan Metjko, and Jacek Malczewski. We also will see the Faras Gallery, home to Europe s largest display of cultural artifacts and artworks from the Christian period in Lower Nubia. Enjoy a visit to Zacheta National Art Gallery, one of the top three contemporary art venues in the country and the oldest gallery institution in Warsaw dedicated to contemporary art. Its impressive building was built between 1898 and 1900. We will also visit the Avant- Garde Institute and the latter of which was established in 2005 and focuses on contemporary art in Poland. By M. Starowieyska, D. Golik/POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews Overnight: Bristol Hotel, Warsaw (breakfast, lunch, dinner included) Monday, May 4 ARRIVAL IN WARSAW Check in* to the hotel. At 3 pm we will meet in the hotel lobby and head to the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Upon our arrival we will be greeted by Director Dariusz Stola, who will give a give a welcome address, along with Professor Barbara Kirshenblatt- Gimblett, head of the core exhibition planning team, who will give a tour to the group. Depart museum for dinner (included). *Upon availability; official check-in time is 2 pm By M. Starowieyska, D. Golik/POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews Overnight: Bristol Hotel, Warsaw (dinner included) Tuesday, May 5 WARSAW Depart to visit the Jewish Cemetery and the remaining monuments of the World War II Warsaw Ghetto, the largest in Nazi-occupied Europe. Moments include: the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes; Bunker at 18 Mila Street, headquarters of the Jewish Combat Organization (ZOB); Umschlagplatz; and the Footbridge of Memory, where a footbridge connected the socalled Large and Small ghettoes. Lunch at a local restaurant. Wednesday, May 6 WARSAW Depart by bus to Wilanow. Drive through Krasinski Sqaure and Royal Route with an expert guide to view the splendid interiors and gardens of the Wilanow Palace Poland s Versailles. We will have lunch and later visit the Poster Museum in Wilanów and the Warsaw Uprising Museum. Overnight: Bristol Hotel, Warsaw (breakfast, lunch, dinner) POLAND, PAST AND PRESENT, PAGE 3 OF 10
DAILY ITINERARY Launched in 1988, the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow became the pivotal event that that started the Jewish renaissance in Poland. In Kazimierz, the old Jewish district, we will enjoy a two-hour walk with a guide to the Remuh Synagogue and Cemetery, Izaak Synagogue, Temple Synagogue, Kupa, Corpus Christi Church, and Galicia Jewish Museum. After a rest at the hotel, Shabbat services (optional) will be held at the Kupa Synagogues and dinner at the Jewish Community Center Krakow, with the community proceeded by a special welcome by Director Jonathan Ornstein. Overnight: Sheraton Hotel, Krakow (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Lodz Poland By Poland MFA, via flickr Thursday, May 7 LODZ Travelling by bus to Lodz, our first stop will be the Museum of the City of Lods, the former palace of manufacturer Izrael Kalmanowicz Poznanski. Inside is a breathtaking Neo-Baroque residence. This museum within a museum is filled with exhibitions tracing the history, people, and culture of the city. At the Muzeum Sztuki (Museum of Art), see the most important collection of avant-garde and contemporary art in Poland. We will have lunch with one of the Museum s curators and then travel by bus to Lodz s downtown to see the historical buildings of the Muzeum Sztuki and the Herbst Palace Museum. Overnight: Bristol Hotel, Warsaw (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Friday, May 8 WARSAW / KRAKOW After breakfast we will check out of the hotel and depart for the train station to Krakow, where we will arrive at noon. After checking in at the Sheraton Krakow, we will have lunch with Janusz Makuch, Director of the Jewish Culture Festival. Oldest Synagogue By Emmanuel Dyan, via flickr Saturday, May 9 KRAKOW Spend the day observing Shabbat or exploring the city on your own. Dinner is followed by contemporary radical Jewish music by Shofar (Mikolaj Trzaska / Rafael Roginski). Overnight: Sheraton Hotel, Krakow (breakfast, dinner) POLAND, PAST AND PRESENT, PAGE 4 OF 10
DAILY ITINERARY Sunday, May 10 KRAKOW In the morning, we will visit the National Museum s Main building and its gallery of 19th-century Polish Sukiennice art. After lunch we will then proceed to the Old Town district with a guide and see the Wawel Cathedral and Castle, Kanonicza Street (the most beautiful street of Krakow), St. Francis Basilica, and Collegium Maius. Overnight: Sheraton Hotel Krakow (breakfast, lunch, dinner included) The Mogila Abbey Wawel Castle By Davis Staediter (CC BY 2.0), via flickr Monday, May 11 KRAKOW Travel by bus to Wieliczka and visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Founded in the 13th century, the Salt Mine is one of the oldest in the world and produced table salt until mining operations ceased in 2007. Enjoy a box lunch on the bus to Nowa Huta, the famous communist model urban complex and steel works, and Mogila Abbey, a Cistercian monastery founded in 1222. The complex includes the largest and most impressive church in medieval Poland after the Wawel Cathedral: the stuccoed Polish Gothic church, the Basilica of the Holy Cross. It serves as the Parish Church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle and the abbey church for the monks. Overnight: Sheraton Hotel, Krakow (breakfast, box lunch, dinner included) Tuesday, May 12 KRAKOW Depart by bus to the Heroes of the Ghetto Square and Under the Eagle Pharmacy. There we will visit Schindler s Factory, a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow. This brilliant museum presents the fate of the Jewish people in context with the fate of the Polish state and population. Visitors will feel immersed in history, thanks to many original artifacts. The tour will end in Mr. Schindler s office, which will further enhances your tour experience and its educational value. Then we visit Museum of Contemporary Art Krakow (MOCAK), Heroes of the Ghetto Square and Under the Eagle Pharmacy, and the Center for the Documentation of the Art of Tadeusz Kantor. POLAND, PAST AND PRESENT, PAGE 5 OF 10
DAILY ITINERARY The Cloth Hall Stroll through and visit the Rynek Underground, a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow. This high-tech museum takes visitors 13 feet under the Main Market Square to explore the recently excavated medieval merchant stalls that predate today s Cloth Hall. Experience the city s entire history from its first settlers right up to the death of Pope John Paul II over the course of approximately 64,000 square feet of multimedia exhibits. End the day visiting the Old Town boutiques in Krakow, which provide a plethora of antiquities, jewelry, and souvenirs. Overnight: Sheraton Hotel, Krakow (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Wednesday, May 13 Morning departure from Krakow, afternoon arrival in New York City or your city. Daily itinerary is subject to change. POLAND, PAST AND PRESENT, PAGE 6 OF 10
ACCOMPANYING GUIDES AND LEADERS Norman Kleeblatt TRIP CURATORIAL SCHOLAR Norman L. Kleeblatt is the Susan and Elihu Rose Chief Curator of the Jewish Museum. Over the past 25 years, Kleeblatt has played a leading role in shaping the holdings of the museum, acquiring unique, culturally relevant works in various media for its collection of modern and contemporary art. He is renowned for his highly original, well-crafted, and broad-ranging exhibitions such as the award-winning show Action / Abstraction: Pollock, De Kooning, and American Art, 1940-1976. Most recently, he curated Mel Bochner: Strong Language (2014) and co-curated From the Margins: Lee Krasner and Norman Lewis, 1945 1952 (2014 15). Over the years, Kleeblatt has traveled to Poland numerous times. In 2004, he participated in a study trip for American curators focusing on contemporary art in Poland. The intensive program across Poland was sponsored by the Polish Cultural Institute in New York, a subsidiary of the Polish government. Miriam Osman TRIP LEADER Miriam Osman has a Master of Arts in Classical and Modern History and in Education from Tel Aviv University. She s been a history educator in Israel for seven years and has been involved for more than 30 years in the travel field. She has organized travel for major Jewish organizations to destinations in Europe and Asia, such as Russia, Poland, Hungary, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and China. She specializes in the history of Jewish Heritage in Central Europe and is fluent in English, Polish, and Hebrew. POLAND, PAST AND PRESENT, PAGE 7 OF 10
ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel Bristol Located in the heart of Warsaw, Hotel Bristol represents over 100 years of exceptional history. It is one of Warsaw s countless landmarks and an emblem of a proud nation. The hotel is situated in one of the most prestigious locations in Warsaw, on the historic and renowned Royal Route just a step away from Nowy Swiat, the most fashionable street in Poland. The majestic neo-renaissance facade of the Hotel Bristol is surrounded by the Old Town and the Royal Castle, adjacent to the Presidential Palace. The magnificent location of the hotel captivates every explorer looking for unforgettable travel experiences and a touch of living history. Sheraton Krakow A five-star hotel located on the banks of the Vistula River, which offers guests the highest quality of service and a beautiful view on the Vistula Boulevards in Krakow and Wawel Castle. From the Main Market Square, Kazimierz and the main attractions of Krakow are a 10-minute walk away. POLAND, PAST AND PRESENT, PAGE 8 OF 10
PROGRAM DETAILS Participation Limited to 30 participants, this program is open to Members of the Jewish Museum. Non-Members are welcome to join the Museum in order to participate. Designed for people of all ages, Travel Programs entail walking moderate distances and may include uneven or slightly hilly terrain and/or stairs. Participants need to be in active, good health, able to keep up with the group, ready to travel as part of a group, and experience cultural differences with grace. Land Program Cost* Registration and full payment due by February 15, 2015, the trip cost is $5,950 per person, double occupancy. * Single Supplement $939 additional. Program Cost Includes 9 nights at deluxe hotels** Breakfast daily; 6 lunches plus 1 box lunch, and 9 dinners including farewell dinner. 10 days of sightseeing includes: Entrance fees to all sights on itinerary Travel in a deluxe air-conditioned motor coach (includes bottled water on the bus) English speaking guides All museum entrance fees and tours First class train tickets between Warsaw and Krakow All hotel porterage (1 piece of luggage per person) at each hotel, taxes, and service charges Tips to Guides, drivers, chambermaids, and at group meals, etc. ** Per person, based on double occupancy, for registration by February 15, 2015. Cost after Feb 15, 2015: $6,300. Single supplement $939 additional. Limited to 30 participants; based on minimum enrollment of 15 participants. To Register To reserve your place, complete the reservation form and return with your non-refundable deposit of $500 due by February 15, 2015 to our office at: The Jewish Museum Travel Program at GIL Travel 25 Broadway, 17th floor New York, NY 10004 T 212.284.6666 F 212.284.6783 Balance due: 60 days prior to departure March 3, 2015. Call 215.284.6666 with any questions. Changes All rights are reserved by the Program Directors to make faculty substitutions and / or to modify the itinerary (including hotels) as needed. Insurance For losses necessitated by participant cancellation, we strongly your participation, we strongly urge all participants to take out trip insurance. For your convenience, trip cancellation insurance information will be sent upon registration or consult your own insurance agent. Cancellations All cancellations must be received by the Jewish Museum Travel Program in writing. Cancellations prior to February 15, 2015 will be issued a full refund of the $500.00 deposit per person; after February 15, 2015, 50% of the deposit will be refunded per person; after March 21, 2015, 25% of the deposit will be refunded per personno refunds after April 21, 2015. Not Included Travel insurance Meals not included in itinerary Personal expenses of each individual including alcoholic beverages, laundry services, telephone calls, and airport transfers to Hotel in Warsaw. Airport car transfers can be arranged at $54 per person. POLAND, PAST AND PRESENT, PAGE 9 OF 10
REGISTRATION FORM Poland, Past and Present: Art, Culture, and Living History May 4-13, 2015 Please complete this form and include a non-refundable deposit. Registrations are accepted by telephone or fax. Registration forms may be mailed or faxed. Mail to: The Jewish Museum Travel Program at GIL TRAVEL 25 Broadway, 17th floor New York, NY 10004 Attn: Miriam Osman Name Name 2 Address Email Billing information: Card # Signature Expiration Security Code Check Encolsed MasterCard Visa American Express Accommodation preference: Double Room Single Room Share my room with: Disclaimer of Responsibility By registering for this program, participant specifically waives any and all claims of action against the Jewish Museum, the Jewish Museum Travel office, and their respective staffs for damages, loss, injury, accident, or death incurred by any person in connection with this tour. The Jewish Museum, the Jewish Museum Travel office, and their respective staffs assume no responsibility or liability in connection with the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, or other conveyance which may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the passengers. Neither will the Jewish Museum, the Jewish Museum Travel office, or their staffs be responsible for any injury, death, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity through neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for which tickets, vouchers, or coupons are issued. No responsibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, weather, strikes, wars, and other causes. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, such alterations may be made without penalty. All rights reserved to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at his / her own expense when such an action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the participant s health and safety, and that of the group in general. POLAND, PAST AND PRESENT, PAGE 10 OF 10