CuriOdyssey Travel
Custom & Curated Travel Planning
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi
A LITTLE BIT
OF LIGHT
DISPELS
A LOT OF DARKNESS
JEWISH WORLD TRAVEL
Jews still live in many far-flung places, living Jewish lives very different from our own. These trips combine a discovery of diverse Jewish heritage with seeing the must-see sights in the country. Afterall, it would be a shonda to go all the way to India and not see the Taj Mahal!
Jewish learning opportunities can focus on history, the diaspora, biblical references, and Tikkun Olam - repairing the world. Community building, opportunities for mitzvot, and multi-cultural discovery are guaranteed.
Trips are roughly categorized by a "Star of David Rating" to indicate the levels of Jewish experiences on each trip. Learn more about these ratings. Trips are not kosher unless requested and if possible. Kosher-style is possible.
Discover Morocco, with its exotic atmosphere, breathtaking and varied landscapes, colorful markets, and a Jewish community with strong ties to Israel. Since the destruction of the Second Temple and the expulsion from Spain in 1492, Jews have lived alongside Arabs and Berbers, while retaining their traditions and culture.
India stretches from the summits of the Himalayas to the tropical greenery of Kerala; its expansive borders encompass an incomparable range of landscapes, cultures and people. Encounter temple rituals performed since the time of Egyptian Pharaohs, onion-domed mosques, and echoes of the British Raj. The history of India’s Jews is ancient; it was one of the first foreign religions to arrive in India.
Journey along a less-traveled–but equally fascinating–section of the ancient Silk Road from post-Soviet Tashkent, through the beautiful blue-tiled city of Samarkand, to unspoiled Bukhara. Uzbekistan was situated in the center of the Silk Road routes. Jews claim to have arrived in Central Asia around 500 B.C.E; they were established as of the 4th century C.E. Today, several thousand remain, optimistic that they can practice their faith without fear and educate their children in Jewish schools.
What is life like for Cubans today, on the edge of major change? What about for Cuban Jews? Learn about the recent policy changes and their implications for Cubans, their economic future, culture, and religions. Discover picturesque towns, a vibrant arts and music scene, lovely landscapes, and fledgling private enterprises. Meet Jewish communities in Havana and in the smaller colonial cities of Cienfuegos and Santa Clara. Visit Jewish cemeteries, Holocaust memorials, and attend Shabbat services.
In Jewish circles, Uganda is best known as the proposed location for a Jewish state by Herzl a century ago, and for the spectacular Entebbe hostage rescue in 1976. But it is also the location of a community of Jewish Ugandans. Unlike other groups who claim to be descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes, these Ugandans simply and wholeheartedly chose Judaism. The Abayudaya, whose tribal name means "People of Judah," trace their Jewish origins to the turn of the 20th century and have clung to its tenets for nearly 100 years.
Iran was home to Jews who escaped the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E, long before Islam existed. Upon Cyrus’ defeat of the Babylonian empire, the captivity of the Jews in Babylon ended. Some Jews chose to return to Jerusalem, others to relocate to Cyrus' Persia, forming what is now the oldest Jewish diaspora. Cyrus' grandson was Xerxes I, believed to be King Ahashuerus of the Book of Esther. Through the centuries, Persian Jews have experienced both good times and persecution. Discover for yourself what they–and other Iranians– think now. You might be surprised….
The history of the great Central European cities is inextricably bound to the history of their Jewish inhabitants. The successful cities had thriving middle-class populations of Jewish merchants who added inestimable value culturally and monetarily. Visit Golden Prague, medieval Krakow, and flourishing Warsaw. Explore their former Jewish Quarters and witness their historical mix among the architecture, museums, art, and artifacts of the dominant culture. Meet Jews who today are reinvigorating the Jewish presence.
The story of Jews who came to Ethiopia over two thousand years ago and forged their own Jewish identities is fascinating. Ethiopian Jews, called Beta Israel, trace their heritage back to the time of the First Temple. They lived in more than 500 small villages around Ethiopia, alongside populations that were Muslim and predominantly Christian. While most have emigrated to Israel—a story unto itself—several thousand remain in Ethiopia, waiting and hoping to make Aliyah.
Patagonia Spectacular with a Jewish Twist
The epic landscapes of Patagonia await, from its rugged coastlines, home to elephant seals and orcas, to its massive glacier fields and breathtaking mountains. Bookending these tremendous natural experiences will be interactions with the Jewish communities of Argentina and Chile. The history of the Jews in Latin America began with conversos who joined the Spanish and Portuguese expeditions to the continents. The Spanish permitted only Christians to take part in New World expeditions after its Crown expelled the Jews in 1492.
The Beta Israel of Israel & Ethiopia
Visit the Jews who came to Ethiopia over two thousand years ago and forged their own Jewish identities. The 7,000 or so Jews still in Ethiopia are waiting for controversial Israeli permission to make Aliyah to Israel. Visit their remote villages and a number of important historical sites. Then fly to Israel, where the vast majority of the Beta Israel now live. Discover the challenges facing them, the vibrant programs that are assisting their absorption, and learn about how they express their culture (art, food, music) within the state of Israel today.
The Frozen Chosen: Breathtaking Alaska
& its Jews
Who knew? Four of Alaska's legendary mountains are named after Jews. Alaska Airlines airlifted Yemeni Jews to Israel. When the US purchased Alaska in 1867, Jewish traders, miners, fur dealers, and merchants arrived to seek opportunity. Visit Anchorage's Jewish community before exploring spectacular natural wonders from Denali to the coast. Enjoy a late night summer Shabbat in the great outdoors, then conclude with a visit to Fairbanks' Jewish community. Optional extension to Juneau's Jewish community.
Journey to Beijing, Tianjin, Harbin, Xi'an, Kaifeng, and Shanghai. Experience China's extraordinary sites: the Great Wall, its ancient Terra Cotta Warriors, and Shanghai's vivid Bund. Discover the long history of Jews in China. Although much of that is indeed confined to history, proud architectural testaments, synagogues, and small Jewish communities can still be found. Many other ethnic minorities also reside in China, continuing to live life as they have for centuries. Learn about China's fascinating culture and its outlook on minorities, history.
South Africa:
Social Activism
and Safaris
Discover South African Jewry's complicated history; they helped to maintain apartheid out of all proportion to their numbers because of their prevalence in commerce and industry AND they actively opposed apartheid out of all proportion to the size of their community because of a religious sense of righteousness and tikkun olam ("repair the world"). Visit a Jewish Museum, meet with members of the Jewish community, and discuss Jews and social justice. Then, see some of South Africa's best game on safari, including the Big Five. Enjoy a private Shabbat under the stars in a remote reserve.
Spain's Jewish History, Culture & Cuisine
The memory of the Spain’s Jewish heritage is primarily visible in monuments and historic districts: the whitewashed walls of Seville’s Jewish quarter, the preserved synagogues of Toledo, the statue of Maimonides in Cordoba. Spanish Jews once constituted one of the largest and most prosperous Jewish communities in the world, but this ended in 1492, when the majority of Spanish Jews converted to Catholicism. Those who did not were forced into exile. Despite cooking with a great deal of pork, Spain also has Jewish culinary roots that go back centuries. Discover restaurants, markets, and recipes.
Israel: Inside its Dynamic Jewish Ethnic Communities
Cultural differences between Jewish communities are observed as far back as the Bible. Over centuries, an array of Jewish communities were established around the globe. Recently, many diaspora Jews have returned to Israel from Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Spain, Ethiopia, Chile, Argentina, and more. Tour Israel and discover these fascinating communties. Learn about their foods, cultures, music, arts, languages, and challenges. This unusual trip provides rare insight into the breadth of worldwide Jewish culture - all within Israel.
Historic Scotland has been home to a dynamic Jewish community for 400 years. Most arrived in the 1890s, when Scottish shipping companies were active in transporting Jewish passengers from Eastern Europe to America. They invented Lox, there is kosher haggis, and Jews even have their own kilt. Although Scottish Jews have felt more insecure in recent years and many have left; there remains a dynamic sense of renaissance. Visit Glasgow, the Highlands, Islands, and Edinburgh; enjoy a Shabbat during the spring "white nights".
Kilts & Kishkes:
Scotland's Highlands Islands and Jews
Jewish Spain
& Morocco
Embark on a journey of Sephardic discovery. Travel through Spain: Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Cordova and Granada, to see architectural wonders, artistic masterpieces, soaring cathedrals, and beautifully preserved statues that paint a picture of ancient Spain. Learn about the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry as you wander down alley ways, old city walls, and other hidden gems. Then cross the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco and encounter a culture that reflects European and North African influences and traditions. Experience iconic Casablanca, the colors of Fes, synagogues, palaces, and markets; an exotic backdrop to a rich Jewish history and the grandeur of Sephardic Jewry.