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:
Spring Trip:
March 17-23, 2025*
Applications for the winter trip are now closed. Applications for the Spring LivingLinks trip are open through January 16, 2025, until 2 pm ET.
COST
Only $999 (United Kingdom: £349. Europe: €199)
The fee includes airfare from the departure location of your choice to Poland (up to $1,000) and all trip costs (food, lodging, attractions, and travel), except travel insurance, tips to the local staff (bus driver, logistics, catering, etc.), and spending money. There is a fully refundable $150 security deposit to be returned after you complete the trip and the post-trip survey.
The actual cost is $3,500 per person. We are able to offer a highly reduced cost thanks to the support from generous Chabad on Campus donors.
NEW! Complete a JewishU course before the trip departs and receive a $350 rebate – no credit redemption needed!
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
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 2
MAJDANEK > LUBLIN > LEJANSK
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 3
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 4
AUSCHWITZ
A palpable reminder of the full horror of the extermination of 1.5 million Jews, we tour Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
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.
Actual Itinerary will vary from trip to trip.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
WARSAW
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
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.
Your payment information is due when you apply. You will only be charged if you are accepted into the program. Once accepted, you will have one business day to decide if you would like to withdraw your acceptance and receive a full refund. (See below for our full cancellation policy.)
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.
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. You will then receive a status update via email. If accepted, your credit card will be charged. You will receive all the flight and trip information in your acceptance email and a series of pre-trip updates in the lead-up to the trip.
Within 1 day of acceptance:
Full Refund. You can cancel your trip up to 1 business day after being accepted and receive a full refund of your trip payment and the trip deposit, regardless of proximity to the trip departure date.Up to 60 days before the trip:
Refund minus Deposit. If you cancel after 1 business day but up to 60 days prior to the departure date, you will receive a full refund of your trip payment but not the $150 deposit. If we have already booked your flight, there is no refund.Within 60 days:
No Refund, plus costs: If you cancel within 60 days of the trip departure date, 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, airfare, hotel fees, and ground costs.
The acceptance committee considers many factors, including demographics, school, quality of the application, involvement in local Chabad, and references.
Once you are confirmed on the trip, you will book a ticket with our travel agent. You will have up to $1,000 credit towards your economy class flight, which should cover the total cost of your flight. If your flight is more expensive than $1,000, you will be responsible for the additional cost.
You can work directly with the travel agent when booking your flight according to your preferences, including extensions. So long as you arrive in Poland before or during the arrival window and depart after the group departure time. If your extension will increase travel costs, you will be required to cover those additional costs.
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.
As a special bonus for this year, take a JewishU course and get a $350 rebate on your LivingLinks trip! To receive the rebate, you must take a JewishU course during the academic year of your trip and before your trip departs. This rebate is in addition to JewishU credits you earn from the course and requires no other redemption. You will receive the rebate upon completion of your LivingLinks trip.
USA 718-510-8181
England (020) 80898181
Israel 972 (2) 3752181
Argentina 54 (11) 52738180