The Melton Greece seminar, meeting in Athens on May 20th, 2019 and ending there on May 20th, will be led by Avi Ben-Hur, Tour Educator and staff member for Melton Travel Seminars. The seminar is open to adults who enjoy in-depth Jewish educational travel, including all Melton students and graduates.
Seminar Dates:May 20-30, 2019
MONDAY
INTRODUCTIONS
1:30 p.m. Convene in hotel room for opening session
Is it All Greek to Me? Introductions to the program and to each other
The Glory of Classic Athens: Visit the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis
Opening dinner
OVERNIGHT ATHENS
TUESDAY
ATHENS & JERUSALEM
Introduction to the day
I. The Place of Public Space: A Cultural Comparison
(i) A visit to Greek and Roman Agoras/Fora (including study sessions)
Break for Lunch
(ii) Exploring Monastiraki and environs: The Modern Era, From the Ottoman Conquest Until Today
2. Hadrian in Athens: Symbol of Tolerance or Repression?
Summary discussion
Free time to explore markets and other public spaces
OVERNIGHT ATHENS
WEDNESDAY
THE ROMANIOTE JEWS
Introduction to the day
Depart for Volos (break en route near Thermopylae)
Lunch break at Volos
Makrinitsa, “the Balcony of Mt. Pelion": Between Geography & History
Volos: A Jewish Community Evolving Over Two Millennia
*Visit the Synagogue and Cemetery
*Meeting with a member of the Jewish community
*Brief summary session
Evening free
OVERNIGHT VOLOS
THURSDAY
WHO IS A GREEK?
The Question of Greek Identity Through to Modern Times: Introduction to the day
Depart for Meteora
Meteora, Between the Cross and the Crescent, Exploring Greek Identity
Visit the Great Meteoro Monastery
Break for Lunch in Kalambaka
Travel to Ioannina
Ioannina, A Greek Tragedy: What Happened to Ioannina's Jewish Community?
*Visit the Jewish Quarter and Synagogue
*Meeting with Allegra Matsa, member of the community
*Boat ride on lake
OVERNIGHT IOANNINA
FRIDAY
SALONIKA: PORTRAIT OF A COSMOPOLITAN CITY
Between Moslems, Christians and Jews
7:45 a.m. Leave for Salonika
Visit Jewish Museum of Salonika
Visit to synagogue and study session
Break for lunch
Driving Orientation of the Entire City, including the White Tower and the Citadel View
Break to prepare for Shabbat
Kabbalat Shabbat with the community at the community center (optional synagogue prayer)
Se'udat Shabbat (dinner) with the community
OVERNIGHT SALONIKA
SHABBAT
SALONIKA - JERUSALEM OF THE BALKANS
Morning Free (consider touring the Archaeology or Byzantine Museums)
Afternoon Jewish Salonika From Settlement to Holocaust: Walking Tour
including the Karasso Arcade, the Modiano Market, Yahoudi Hammam and Freedom Square
Late Afternoon Seuda Shlishit & group discussion
Havdalah
OVERNIGHT SALONIKA
SUNDAY
REQUIEM FOR JEWISH SALONIKA
Introduction at the Railway Freight Station
Visit to the site of Old Jewish Cemetery at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Jewish-owned Villas of the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries: a drive through the East Side of Salonika
THE CRADLE OF HELLENISM: FROM FATHER TO SON
Introduction to the day
Depart for Macedonian sites:
(i) Vergina: The Creation of a Unified Hellas (Phillip II's Tomb)
(ii) Pella: The Export of Hellenistic Civilization (Alexander the Great's City)
Athens & Jerusalem: Study session at Pella
Return to Salonika
OVERNIGHT SALONIKA
MONDAY
IN THE SHADOW OF THE HOLOCAUST (part I)
Two Models of Response to the Nazi Occupation and Genocide: introduction
(i) Veroia: Visit the Synagogue and the Cemetery
Break for lunch
(ii) Larissa: Visit the Synagogue and Holocaust Memorial
Meet with member of the community
Travel to Kamena Vouria
OVERNIGHT KAMENA VOURIA
TUESDAY
DELPHI: WHAT DID THE GODS SAY (OR MEAN)?
Visit this famous site and study with the Oracle
Break for lunch
IN THE SHADOW OF THE HOLOCAUST (Part II)
The Nazis and Collective Punishment: study session
Distomo: Visit the Memorial site
Return to Athens
From Ancient Glory to Modern Aspirations: A stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first modern-day Olympic Games
OVERNIGHT ATHENS
WEDNESDAY
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Pulling It All Together:
Visit to the Jewish Museum
Meeting with Zanet Battinou, Museum Director
Is There a Jewish Future in Greece?
* Visit the Beth Shalom Synagogue
* Meet with Rabbi Gavriel Negrin and community leaders
* Visit the Holocaust Memorial
Free time including lunch break
Summary and concluding session
Festive closing dinner
OVERNIGHT ATHENS
THURSDAY
RETURN TO DIASPORAS
Departure as per individual plans
For more information or to be notified when
travel dates and prices are available for this seminar, please contact
us.