Travel

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Travel resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

The Charm of Chalkis

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Something that one might be fairly certain will never appear in a shul, no matter where it is or what the denomination, is a cross. Well, almost nowhere. Visitors to the shul in Chalkis—on the beautiful (there are few other words that so…
Article
Jul 12, 2018

Salutations from Salonica

Rabbi Jay Kelman

As one enters the beautiful Yad Lezikaron shul in Salonica, one notices plaques on the wall. But unlike in most shuls, these are not yahrzeit plaques—or, as we have seen elsewhere in Greece, names of victims of the Holocaust. These plaques…
Article
Jul 11, 2018

Impressions from Ioannina

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the beautiful experiences in travelling around the Jewish world is seeing the richness and diversity of Jewish life. I imagine not many on this list have ever heard laining in the Romaniote (Greek) tradition. Its beautiful tune is…
Article
Jul 9, 2018

Commentary from Corfu

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Ma rabu ma’asecha Hashem, how beautiful are Your creations, G-d!” After travelling in Greece for a couple of days, one understands that the Greek emphasis on beauty is not coincidental; the land itself is one of great natural…
Article
Jul 6, 2018

Arrival in Athens

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Philosophy, mathematics, democracy, the Olympics, architecture, libraries, trial by jury, mythology, and the alphabet are just some of the contributions made by ancient Greeks to the world of today. Is it any wonder that so many were, and still are…
Article
Jul 3, 2018

Reflections from Frankfurt, Germany

Rabbi Jay Kelman

  Often when we think of Frankfurt we think of Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch. And for good reason. He almost single handedly is responsible for creating a community of observant Jews. But just as Zevulun comes before Yissachar because his…
Article
Aug 1, 2016

Reflections from Worms, Germany

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Moving along the Rhine from Mainz one arrives in Worms. Along with Mainz and Speyer Worms is one of the Kehilot Shum, the three great centres of medieval Torah learning in Ashkenaz. It was here that Rashi came to study before returning to France.…
Article
Jul 25, 2016

Musings from Mainz, Germany

Rabbi Jay Kelman

  Askenazic Jewry begins as Jews settle along the Rhine river in the middle decades of the tenth century. While individual Jews may have arrived in earlier years it is only in the 10th century when the first communities are established.…
Article
Jul 22, 2016

Reflections from Germany - Part 3

Rabbi Jay Kelman

  In our last post I discussed our meeting three of the communal rabbis of Berlin. We also met with the Rabbi of the separatist community of Adass Jisrael.    In 1876 Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch was granted…
Article
Jul 20, 2016

Some More Reflections from Berlin Germany

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Of the approximately 520,000 Jews living in Germany in 1933 over 300,000 emigrated before the war. Living under Nazi rule they saw the danger long before others and many managed to flee before it was too late. The Nazis yemach shemam …
Article
Jul 19, 2016