It was the Jewish heritage trip of a lifetime when 45 Emet Outreach students visited Prague, Poland, and Vienna this summer. The itinerary celebrated Jewish survival from the midst of destruction, and the lessons resonated across generations. It was an eight-day experience that left participants with gratitude for their Jewish heritage, an appreciation of their daily lives, and a determination to strengthen their connection to Hashem.
Embarking on the annual tour has become a milestone of the Emet Leaders Fellowship, a ten-week program that provides an introduction to Judaism with inspiring classes and uplifting Shabbatons. Students who completed at least one semester were eligible for the trip.
They were accompanied by a devoted Emet team: Rabbi Mordechai Kraft, Co-Founder and Educational Director; Rabbi Reuven Kigel, Campus Director; Ms. Alexandra Zarka, Campus Mekareves; Ms. Liora Nimchinsky, Fellowship Mentor.
Rabbi Akiva Rutenberg, Emet Co-Founder and CEO, joined the group for Shabbos and the final days. The group was also escorted by Rabbi Tzvi Shiloni of J-Roots, who served as a dynamic and sensitive tour guide.
Curated to offer an in-depth perspective of Jewish life in the pre- and post-Holocaust era, the sites were intentionally explored to show joy alongside despair. From the beginning, there was tremendous ruach, light, and singing in the darkest places.
The trip began in Prague and continued to other former Jewish epicenters in Poland, including Warsaw, Lublin, Lizhensk, Tarnow, and Krakow. There were thought-provoking visits to cemeteries, synagogues, yeshivos, and the k’varim of tzadikim to witness the richness of Jewish communities before the war. Tours of ghettos and concentration camps like Treblinka, Majdanek, and Auschwitz-Birkenau deepened the students’ understanding of the attempted annihilation of European Jewry.
The group spent a memorable Shabbos in Krakow, filled with meaningful conversations, elevated davening, lively z’miros, and a rousing Havdalah.
Among the many powerful experiences, the group was privileged to share an incredible full-circle moment with Ronny Goldshmid, a St. John’s University student. In a true display of the connectivity of am Yisrael across generations, Ronny was able to complete a long-awaited chapter in her family’s history.
During a visit to a cemetery outside of Auschwitz, the group davened by the kever of her great-grandfather, Izydor Palinker.
Ronny shared: “One of the most meaningful moments for me was the opportunity to visit my great-grandfather’s grave. Since his passing in 1948, no one from our family had been able to return. When he was buried, there were no men present to say Kaddish. To stand there, generations later, and hear the men from our group take the initiative to recite Kaddish on his behalf for the very first time was deeply moving. It was an emotional moment that brought tears to all of us, and it is something my family will never forget.”
The final day of the trip was spent in Vienna, where the group explored Jewish sites and enjoyed the scenery after the intensity of the Poland journey.
At the closing banquet, to commemorate the experience, each student made a personal commitment to expand his/her Jewish observance. For many, the trip was life-changing.
Elizabeth Fattakhov, a Queensborough Community College student, said: “The Emet Poland trip was incredibly impactful. Learning about the history of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust was so eye-opening and humbling. It really made me appreciate how fortunate I am and the sacrifices our people have made. Getting closer with my friends and the rabbis was so meaningful. I now realize how many blessings I have from Hashem.”
When they returned home, students brought back a deeper sense of their Jewish identity and a determination to honor those who came before them. Ronny summed it up beautifully:
“Emet’s dedication to preserving the Jewish heritage and creating opportunities for connection and remembrance is truly invaluable. This was far more than a trip. It was a profound and transformative experience that will stay with me and my family forever.”