According to a tradition of Georgian Jews they are descendants of the Ten Tribes exiled by the Assyrians in the 8th century BCE. The first Jews, however, must have come in the early centuries of the CE when Judeo-Christians converted the local people to Christianity. The Jews of Georgia came from Byzantium, Persia and Armenia. After its conquest by the Arabs, the county remained Christian. A Jewish sect that rejected some major Jewish laws and practices emerged in the 9th century. At that time the Jews of Georgia had as their neighbors the Khazars. In the course of time Georgian Jews became serfs after losing their property. The Russian occupation of Georgia in the second half of the 19th century opened a new chapter in the history of Georgian Jewry. They were now in contact with the Jews of Russia. From then on Georgian Jewry was under the impact of the developments and processes that prevailed in the territories dominated by Russia. Georgian Jews took a leading role in the struggle for the right to immigrate to Israel. The seminar will cover the fascinating story of a very special Jewish community.  

 

Mon, May 17:  Arrival in Tbilisi, a city filled with history and found in a dramatic
                        setting on either side of the Mtkvari River. City sightseeing tour by bus.
                        Orientation followed by dinner at King David restaurant.                                                      TBILISI                                            
                        
Tue, May 18:   Lecture: Between East and West: Jewish Life and Christian Narratives in
                        Georgian History and Art, S. Sabar 
                        Tour Tbilisi by foot with some of its sites.
                        Travel to Surami to visit the synagogue and the ruins of the fortress. 
                         Boxed kosher lunch.
                        Travel to Kutaisi, the former capital of western Georgia. Visit the Bagrati Cathedral, an

                        11th century masterpiece of Georgian architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site.    KUTAISI           
                                                                                                                                                                  
Wed,May 19:  Lecture: Treasures of Faith: Synagogues and Sacred Objects of Georgian
                        Jewry, S. Sabar  
                        Visit the synagogues in Kutaisi: The Small Synagogue inaugurated in 1815, the Great
                        Synagogue opened in 1886 and the third synagogue so-called the Synagogue of Above
                        located in a different neighborhood. Visit the Jewish cemetery.
                        Travel to Vani, one of the most ancient cities of Georgia where we tour the

                        archeological excavations.
                        Boxed vegetarian lunch.   
                        Travel to Kulashi to visit the complex of three abandoned synagogues, one 
                        of which is on the verge of collapse. At its peak the Jewish community was 
                        2,700 members strong.                                                                                                           KUTAISI

 

Thu May 20:  Travel to Akhaltsikhe, a town dominated by a castle dated to the 12th century 
                       as well as its rabati (old town).  Visit the synagogue. Vegetarian box lunch.
                       Continue to the famous cave monastery site of Vardzia from the 12th century. 
                       The caves stretch along the cliff for some five hundred meters and up to nineteen
                       tiers. Visit the Church of the Dormition with its beautiful frescoes.
                       Drive through the beautiful Borjomi Reserve, noted for its diverse landscapes.  
                       Fish dinner in Volodia’s Cottage 
                                                                                                                                                          BORJOMI RESERVE                      

Fri May 21:     Travel to the spring in Borjomi Reserve.
                       Travel to Kareli to visit the synagogues and proceed to Gori where we visit 
                       Stalin's birthplace and then the synagogue that caters nowadays for 90-100 families. 
                       Continue to Tbilisi. 
                       Shabbat services in the synagogue followed by a kosher dinner.
                                                                                                                                                                            TBILISI
Sat May 22:   Services in the Synagogue.
                        Kosher Shabbat lunch.
                        Afternoon: Visit the National Museum where the main rooms cover Georgia’s history. 
                                                                                                                                                                             TBILISI         
         
Sun May 23:   Lecture: Rituals and Traditions: The Jewish Life Cycle in Georgia through 
                        the Art of Shalom Koboshvili, S. Sabar
                        Travel to Mtskheta, a World Cultural Heritage site with some of the finest
                        architectural monuments in Georgia. Visit Djvari, a 6th century Georgian Orthodox 
                        monastery. Continue to Sveticxoveli, an Orthodox Christian Cathedral from the 
                        11th century and today a UNESCO World Heritage site. 
                        Kosher box lunch.
                        Travel to Kazbegi. View Zinvali, the water reservoir, Ananuri, the castle complex 
                        on the Aragri River and then the Friendship Monument.                                                       KAZBEGI                        
 
Mon May 24:  Visit Kazbegi with breathtaking mountain views and the Gergheti Trinity Church.
                        Vegetarian box lunch.
                        A jeep tour to the Truso Valley.   
                        Lecture:  Siman Orah: The Beautifully Illustrated Marriage Contracts of      
                        Georgian Jews, S. Sabar                                                                                                           KAZBEGI                       
                    
Tue May 25:   Travel to Tbilisi.
                        Visit the Georgian National Center of Manuscripts to view the ancient Hebrew
                        manuscript, the Lailashi Codex.                       
                        Visit the Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia.
                        Continue to the Farewell dinner                                                                                                TBILISI                                                                                       

Wed May 26:  Early Transfer to the airport for departure  

                                                   PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

 

Lecturer:      Prof. Shalom Sabar (Emeritus), Dept. of Art History/Dept of Folklore and Folk Culture, The Hebrew  
                     University of Jerusalem.

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Price for land arrangements only: USD 3250 per person in a double room

***EARLY REGISTRATION until Aug 14, 2026: USD 3190 per person in a double room***     
                                                                                                

Single supplement (Double room for Single Occupancy): USD 630
 

Price is based on minimum participants

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Price for airfare from Israel The flights for Georgia from Israel are not yet listed.
                          
People joining us from abroad should meet us in the hotel in Tbilisi or at the Tbilisi airport at the arrival of the flight of the group coming from Israel.

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Deposit: USD 950 with registration, of which USD 600 is non-refundable.
 

Remainder of payment is to be paid by March 1, 2027. Please register promptly as our trips fill quickly.                                                         
              
Cancellation fees:                                                                                            
Feb 1 – Mar 16, 2027….…….......................30%                                              
Mar 17 – Apr 16, 2027 ……..……..…..…....50%                                              
Apr 17, 2027 - Departure..…….…….........100%                                             
                                                                                                                                             

Hotels:

Tbilisi - Rooms Hotel and the Ambassadori Hotel
Kutaisi - The Kutaisi Inn
Borjomi - The Borjomi Likani Resort
Kazbegi - Rooms Hotel

   Subject to change

 

Trip includes:                                                                                                                                                                          

• Lectures by Prof. Shalom Sabar 

• JHS Tour escort       

• Local English speaking tour guide                         

• 9 nights accommodation in 4 and 5 star hotels with daily buffet breakfasts, kosher and vegetarian meals (and some packed lunches) according to the itinerary. 

• Local transport by tourist bus

• Entrance fees according to itinerary    

                
Not included in the price:                                      

• Obligatory health and cancellation travel insurance 

• Visa fees if required

• Tips USD 100  

                                                                         
Program subject to change:  All rights are reserved by Jewish Historical Seminars to make staff substitutions if necessary and/or make changes to the program and conditions as required by force majeure, including cancellation of the trip at any time due to drastic changes in the situation. Participants are reminded that weather conditions cannot be predicted and cancellations or changes to visits may be unavoidable.

Further information: Contact Debbie:   Tel: 972.2.534.5191, Cell: +972.54.2212503    Fax: 972.2.5700005
                                                                  Email: JHSeminars@gmail.com.   www.JewishHistoricalSeminars.com
                                                                  The trip is run in conjunction with Ayala Travel and Tours, Jerusalem