LivingLinks

BE THE LINK
Explore our past and be inspired to shape our future.

The persecution of our tribe during the Holocaust, and how we live as Jews today, connects us with the future of our people. Chabad on Campus explores this vital connection during LivingLinks, an inspirational seven-day Poland trip for college students.

Eye-opening and life-changing, the weeklong journey traverses through cemeteries, death camps, ghettos and other vestiges of Jewish life and loss across Poland. It affirms the need for a strong Jewish presence in Israel and among the diaspora. It may even spark a desire to strengthen your own Jewish commitment.

Trip Dates:
March 10, 2024 - March 17, 2024

NOTE: All trips depart out of NYC unless otherwise noted.

Applications for the LivingLinks Spring trip are now closed. Stay tuned for updates on future trip dates.

COST

Only $650 (or £199 or €99 to join from Europe or the UK).

The fee includes airfare from NYC to Poland and all trip costs (food, lodging, and travel), except tips to the local staff (bus driver, tour guides, etc.) and spending money. There’s a fully refundable $150 security deposit, to be returned after you complete the trip and a post-trip survey. 

The actual cost is $3,000 per person. We are able to offer a highly reduced cost thanks to the support from generous Chabad on Campus donors.

Enrolled in JewishU? Receive priority enrollment, $100 off your trip cost, and the option to use JewishU credits to cover your trip cost!

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1

WARSAW
Depart from New York City on an overnight flight to Warsaw, Poland

DAY 2

WARSAW

Explore the rich Jewish life existing in Poland prior to the Holocaust with a visit to the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery. We will also visit the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes Monument, Ghetto Wall Fragments, Umschlagplatz and the Nozyk Synagogue.

DAY 3

LUBLIN

Observe the unbreakable bonds of Torah study on a tour of Yeshivas Chochmei Lublin. From here, we will tour the well-preserved Majdanek Concentration Camp and visit the grave of Rabbi Elimelech of Lejansk (1717-1787), a founding Rebbe of the Chassidic movement.

DAY 4

RZESZOW -> LANCUT -> TARNOW -> KRAKOW

Start your day touring the beautifully restored Lancut Synagogue before heading to Tarnow, where the Nazis completely decimated the flourishing Jewish community. We will also visit the forest of Zbilatowska Gora, where the Jewish men, women and children of Tarnow were murdered and buried in mass graves.

DAY 5

KRAKOW

Delve into the illustrious history of Jewish Krakow, followed by a walking tour including Old Synagogue and Izaak Synagogue. Continue to the Plaszow Camp, and Krakow Ghetto, home of the Schindler Factory made famous by Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster. Celebrate Shabbat at our hotel.

DAY 6

KRAKOW

Join the local community for Shabbat Services followed by a much-needed rest or an optional walking tour of the Wawel Royal Castle and Old Town. We usher out Shabbat with a Havdalah service, followed by a walk in Krakow Old Town Square.

DAY 7

AUSCHWITZ

A palpable reminder of the full horror of the extermination of 1.5 million Jews, we tour Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

Actual Itinerary will vary from trip to trip.

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1

WARSAW
Depart from New York City on an overnight flight to Warsaw, Poland

DAY 2

WARSAW

Explore the rich Jewish life existing in Poland prior to the Holocaust with a visit to the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery. We will also visit the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes Monument, Ghetto Wall Fragments, Umschlagplatz and the Nozyk Synagogue.

DAY 3

LUBLIN

Observe the unbreakable bonds of Torah study on a tour of Yeshivas Chochmei Lublin. From here, we will tour the well-preserved Majdanek Concentration Camp and visit the grave of Rabbi Elimelech of Lejansk (1717-1787), a founding Rebbe of the Chassidic movement.

DAY 4

RZESZOW -> LANCUT -> TARNOW -> KRAKOW

Start your day touring the beautifully restored Lancut Synagogue before heading to Tarnow, where the Nazis completely decimated the flourishing Jewish community. We will also visit the forest of Zbilatowska Gora, where the Jewish men, women and children of Tarnow were murdered and buried in mass graves.

DAY 5

KRAKOW

Delve into the illustrious history of Jewish Krakow, followed by a walking tour including Old Synagogue and Izaak Synagogue. Continue to the Plaszow Camp, and Krakow Ghetto, home of the Schindler Factory made famous by Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster. Celebrate Shabbat at our hotel.

DAY 6

KRAKOW

Join the local community for Shabbat Services followed by a much-needed rest or an optional walking tour of the Wawel Royal Castle and Old Town. We usher out Shabbat with a Havdalah service, followed by a walk in Krakow Old Town Square.

DAY 7

AUSCHWITZ

A palpable reminder of the full horror of the extermination of 1.5 million Jews, we tour Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

Actual Itinerary will vary from trip to trip.

Gallery

FAQS

This trip is open to all Jewish students, whether affiliated or not. It is also open to those interested in furthering their Jewish education. All classes and readings will be in English.

No. The trip is intended to be an educational experience.

Yes. While the majority of participants are undergrads, eligible graduate students are welcome to join.

This trip is for current students.

No. The trip itinerary is very full. While students will have built in free time, it will be within the framework of a tight schedule. In addition, due to security concerns, students must remain with the group at all times.

Your safety is our number one priority. Our program does not travel to or through certain higher risk areas. We will be accompanied by an armed guard for the entire duration of the trip. We also monitor safety updates and we will cancel or modify specific trips as needed.

There will be rolling acceptance, based on eligibility. We endeavor to process all applications within three weeks.

If you are accepted to the program, you will be notified about how to proceed with submitting your payment and confirming your place. Be sure to follow those steps to secure your place.

Students need valid passports. American, Canadian, Australian, and United Kingdom citizens (and many others) do not need visas. If you do require a visa, you will need to contact our office to arrange the necessary documents. Your passport will need to be valid for at least six months from the date of your return to the U.S. 

In addition, starting in 2024, the EU will require travelers from visa-exempt countries to complete the ETIAS form, a simple electronic authorization, prior to entering the EU. 

The trip fee covers room, board, food, and all activities. There will also be a minimal fee for tips for the local staff ($100).

There will be WIFI in all of the places we stay. You can also check with your local cell provider about international roaming plans.

Thank you for applying! The acceptance committee will now review your application. If selected, we will notify you to schedule a Zoom interview. If you were to be accepted, you will receive an email detailing how to make your payment and confirm your spot.

  • You can cancel your trip up to 60 days before the departure date and receive a full refund of the trip fee (minus the $150 deposit). After that time, there will be no refunds.

  • If you cancel within 46-59 of departure, you will not receive a refund of the trip fee or the deposit.

  • If you cancel within 45 days of departure, you will not receive a refund, and you will be responsible for any costs incurred by LivingLinks due to your cancellation. This includes, but is not limited to, airline flights, hotel fees, and ground costs. Purchasing travel insurance for the full $3,000 cost of the trip is mandatory to cover your trip in the case of cancellation*. 

*Travel insurance reimbursement is subject to the provider’s terms and conditions.

There are many factors that the acceptance committee takes into consideration, including but not limited to: demographic, school, quality of applicant, involvement in local Chabad and references.

No. All trips leave from New York, and students are responsible for making their own way to New York City.

We will arrange itinerary and ticketing for students from outside of North America on an individual basis.

All students must be at the airport four hours prior to departure. If you are flying into New York, we recommend that you arrive with plenty of time to spare in case of delays.

No. If you have a unique situation, please get in touch with our office.

Yes. We follow all relevant safety guidelines and procedures. There are currently no warnings or advisories about travel to Poland. We will not hesitate to modify or change our itinerary if there are any security concerns.

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