We kicked off September with an incredible group from Stanford Hillel.
Every group we welcome is special — and so is every tour we create.
Our first three (sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy!) days in Poland have been all about exploring the layers of Warsaw’s history. From the “classics” — the Old Town, Krakowskie Przedmieście, and the iconic Palace of Culture — to the vibrant Praga neighborhood, the Warsaw Zoo, the must-see Polin Museum, and the former Jewish Ghetto.
Wait… the Zoo?
Yes! Hidden gem within the Warsaw Zoo – the Żabiński Villa, a modernist house that sheltered 300 Jews during the Second World War. Jan Żabiński, the Zoo’s director, and his family, regardless of the consequences, rescued those in danger.
The students also had the chance to attend various sessions on e.g. hate and xenophobia in Poland, why we need Jewish museums, Jewish identity and heritage with experts like Prof. Rafał Pankowski of “Never Again,” Joanna Fikus from POLIN, and Taube’s Helise Lieberman.
We shared fun moments during dinners and got creative when spraying our own tote bags with Hillel Poland.
After diving into Warsaw for 3 days, the second part of the trip brought us deeper into Jewish history and memory—from the small town of Szydłów, once a bustling shtetl, to the old Polish capital, Kraków. Walking through synagogues, ruins of the castle, and streets, we connected with the traces of once-thriving Jewish life.
One of the most powerful points of the trip was visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau. Although one can never be ready for such an experience, following the educator’s voices, we organize preparatory sessions on how to visit Auschwitz. After the guided tour, the rabbi led the yizkor, a memorial prayer for the departed, and we held a reflective discussion at the Auschwitz Jewish Center.
Shabbat in Kraków brought community and warmth. Together with JCC Kraków we welcomed the day of rest and shared Shabbat dinner. The weekend also gave us time to explore the Old Town, meet inspiring voices like Daniel Tilles and Miriam Synger, and reflect on how history and contemporary Jewish life meet in today’s Kraków.
This journey truly embodied the path “From Darkness to ”Hope”—moving from the painful memory of loss to the resilience of Jewish life today, alive in community, tradition, and new generations.
