Journey to Germany
The Journal of Ecumenical Studies and the
Institute for Interreligious, Intercultural Dialogue
August 31 - September 12, 2006
Saturday, 2 September 2006: A full-day cultural program in Mainz and immediate environs with a focus on historical sites, such as Worms, from the Jewish past as well as presentations on the cultural history of the Rhine Valley. The area traces its 'civilization' to Roman times. Mainz was a Roman stronghold, located as it is across from the confluence of the Main and Rhine Rivers. This is the famous cradle of 'Ashkenazi Jews'--the first Jews came with the Romans and their communities became the most important centers of Jewish culture in Northern Europe, until the 14th century C.E., when many were forced to leave the Rhineland for mostly Eastern Europe, bringing a language called Yiddish with them. This area boasts the Gutenberg Bible, wine-tasting, the Lorelei of Henrich Heine, and much more.
Tuesday, 5 September 2006: With Josef Motschmann as our guide, we travel to Altenkunstadt, a small community with a close Cincinnati connection. Herr Motschmann, a teacher at a Catholic Academy in Bamberg, was almost single-handedly responsible for the preservation of the ancient Jewish cemetery and other sites in the community - to include the restoration of the synagogue. Through our visit there we will gain added perspectives to the experience in Oberwesel on both remembrance and renewal in current-day Germany.
Thursday, 7 September 2006: The day begins at Buchenwald Concentration Camp, of the Nazi regime, and the site of Elie Wiesel's liberation by Allied troops. From there, we drive on to Leipzig for a walk through the old-town of Johann Sebastian Bach and end the evening with a presentation by Dr. Weiman on "Holocaust Remembrance and Renewal." Accommodations in Leipzig or a nearby city. Friday, 8 September 2006: We proceed to Berlin, the new capital city of the Federal Republic of Germany. After check-in at the Park Plaza Hotel (our 'home' for four nights), Professor Schade will guide the group through central Berlin to the Brandenburg Gate and from there to the nearby Holocaust Memorial - a remarkable site of remembrance designed by Philip Eisenman. We will celebrate Shabbat with a Kiddush with the local Jewish community and the Abraham Geiger College, more illustrations of the rebirth of Jewish life.
Monday, 11 September 2006: Even as we pause to remember 9/11, the final day in Berlin is open for shopping, visits to museums, or a tour of Cold War sites - Checkpoint Charlie, the remains of The Wall, and so forth. An official visit to the Foreign Ministry will be arranged for the group. Prof. Schade served as a military counter-intelligence officer during the 1960s in Germany - he will have tales to tell of spies who came in from the cold in Berlin and elsewhere. A FAREWELL dinner will be held for the entire group. Tuesday, 12 September 2006: Departure from Berlin to Cincinnati and an arrival on the same day.
Wednesday, Thursday 13 / 14 September 2006: In 1942, the Nazi secret police (Gestapo) forcibly closed the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums / The College for the Study of Judaism in Berlin. Teachers and students went into exile, camp, or death. For more than sixty years no rabbinical seminary operated in Germany. This all changed in 1999 with the establishment of the Abraham Geiger College at Potsdam University. In 2001, the first class of rabbinic students started its training. The very first ordination in Germany since the end of the war and after the Shoah takes place in our presence over these two days in Dresden. Rabbi Gottschalk will be among those honored. As this is written, the Geiger College is still planning the celebratory events, which will include interaction with members from the faith communities as well as with government officials. Friday, 15 September 2006: Early morning departure for Berlin to board your Delta flights to Cincinnati.
PAYMENT CONDITIONS: A deposit of $500pp is required. Final payment will be due by June 23, 2006. Travel Insurance: Cost per person is based on cost of trip. Travelex Insurance prices begin at $192.00 per person and we highly recommend the purchase of insurance, which would allow for cancellation for medical reasons to you or your immediate family. To include pre-existing conditions, insurance must be purchased at time of Deposit and must be paid by check. For complete details, please ask for the brochure. CANCELLATION POLICY: Deposit - May 29, 2006 - $150.00pp; May 30 - June 23 - $700.00pp; June 24 - July 10 - $1600.00pp; July 11- August 31 - 100% TRANSPORTATION: Road transportation will be provided by deluxe motor coach throughout. Group economy air is reserved and price will be guaranteed when full payment is made. Airline reservation rules and penalties will apply - Air tickets are non-refundable HOTELS: First Class 4 & 3-star hotels as indicated in the itinerary, or similar. At these hotels, twin bedded rooms with private bath and air conditioning (where available) will be provided. NOTE: Unless specified otherwise in the itinerary, rooms are reserved on the basis of not being made available prior to the "check in" time and/or after the "check out" time as these times are set forth by the management of each individual hotel. MEALS: included as per itinerary: All breakfasts, 3 box lunches, 2 dinners, 1 wine tasting including taxes and tips. TRANSFERS: Unless indicated otherwise in the itinerary, transfers will be provided throughout if you arrive and depart with the group and will include the transportation of one average sized suitcase per person. SIGHTSEEING: As indicated in the itinerary, including the services of English speaking local guides and entrance fees to all included attractions visited. Sightseeing will be provided by overland motor coach and on foot. SERVICE CHARGES, TAXES AND PORTERAGE: All hotel taxes and service charges are included, as well as baggage porterage of one average-sized suitcase per person is included at all hotels (additional tipping is optional). MISCELLANEOUS: Charges for research, itinerary preparation, costing of arrangements, currency transfers and standard booking procedures are included. SERVICES NOT INCLUDED: Any service whatsoever not indicated as "included" in the itinerary and/or the above List of Tour Features; excess baggage charges; tips to drivers, guides and the European Tour Director. Expenses and fees connected with passports; trip and baggage insurance. Responsibility Clause: Pier 'n Port Travel, Cincinnati, OH, and Travel Bound, New York, NY, herein known as the Operators, are not responsible for any personal injury, property damage, or other loss a passenger may incur on any tour arising from an act or omission by any air carrier, public transport company, hotel, car rental company, subcontractor or other person or organization, whether negligent or otherwise, whether or not such company is rendering any service supplied on the tour. All tickets and vouchers are issued and supplied subject to the foregoing and to any and all terms and conditions under which transportation and services are provided. Operators accept no responsibility for losses or expenses due to delay or changes in schedule, flight cancellations due to mechanical problems, sickness, weather, strikes, war, quarantine or other causes. Passengers must bear all such losses or expenses. Operators sell air transportation from various independent air carriers that are not subject to its control. Operators cannot be held liable, assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to seat assignments, flight changes, cancellations or any other loss or damages which may be incurred when using the services of such carriers. Operators pledge to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. Travelers should be flexible as situations may arise, voluntarily or involuntarily. This may include museum closures. On these occasions, Operators reserve the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, substitute hotels and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to guests. Operators reserve the right to decline or to return any person home for unacceptable behavior on any tour and to cancel or alter the tour, providing, if possible, similar accommodations. Airline tariffs limit liability for passenger baggage. We cannot be held liable for damaged, lost luggage or for loss of personal affects. Therefore, we strongly recommend travel/baggage insurance. Foreign airport taxes cannot be included in our rates due to fluctuation; therefore you may be required to pay them in local currency upon departure, you will be informed by your tour escort, if applicable. |
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Remembrance to Renewal Tour
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Monday, 4 September 2006: We return to Oberwesel for a morning special school ceremony with the local schoolchildren, in honor of Rabbi Gottschalk. With box lunches provided, the bus takes us along the Rhine River to the Autobahn headed East past Frankfurt and up the Main River, a picturesque tributary to the Rhine. On the way, stop in Würzburg, at the splendid Baroque Palace, once the residence of the ruling prince-bishops, and the imposing medieval fortress high on the hill above the Main River valley. We continue to Bamberg for 2 nights at the Residenzschloss Hotel, meet with Josef Motschmann, our host for the region. 
