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 11:  Arrival in Tbilisi, a city filled with history and found in a dramatic

                        setting on either side of the Mtkvari River. City sightseeing tour.

                        Orientation and kosher dinner.                                                                         TBILISI

                        

Tue, May 12:   Lecture: Between East and West: Jewish Life and Christian Narratives in Georgian

                        History and Art, S. Sabar 

                        Tour Tbilisi with some of its sites.

                        Travel to Surami to visit the synagogue and the ruins of the fortress.

                         Boxed kosher or vegetarian 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 13:  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 kosher or 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 14:  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.  

                                                                                                                                 BORJOMI RESERVE                     

               

Fri May 15:   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, the beating heart of the Caucasus. 

                       Shabbat services in the synagogue followed by a kosher dinner.                        TBILISI

 

Sat May 16:   Services in the Synagogue.

                       Kosher Shabbat lunch

                       Visit the National Museum where the main rooms cover Georgia’s history.       TBILISI                

        

Sun May 17:   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.

                        Vegetarian 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 18:  Lecture:  Siman Orah: The Beautifully Illustrated Marriage Contracts of Georgian

                        Jews, S. Sabar

                             Visit Kazbegi with breathtaking mountain views and the Gergheti Trinity Church.

                        Vegetarian box lunch.

                        A jeep tour to the Truso Valley.                                                                             KAZBEGI                                    

Tue May 19:   Travel to Tbilisi.

                        Visit the Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia.

                        Continue to the Georgian National Center of Manuscripts to hopefully view the

                        ancient Hebrew manuscript, the Lailashi Codex.

                        Farewell dinner                                                                                                         TBILISI

 

Wed May 20:  Early Transfer to the airport for departure  

 

                                            PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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Price for land arrangements only:  USD 3150 per person in a double room

      ***EARLY REGISTRATION UNTIL Oct 16, 2025: USD 3095 per person in a double room***    

                                                                                                

Single supplement (Double room for Single Occupancy): USD 635

              Price is based on minimum participants

 

Price for airfare from Israel (Tel Aviv-Tbilisi-Tel Aviv): USD 355

                          (Based on airfares and airport taxes in effect at time of publication and subject to change)

                          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.

 

Deposit:  Euro 950 with registration, of which Euro 500 is non-refundable.

     Remainder of payment is to be paid by March 15, 2026.   Please register promptly as our trips fill quickly.                                                     

Cancellation fees:                                                                                            

                   Feb 1-Mar 14, 2026…….........................30%                                              

                   Mar 15-Apr 30, 2026 ……………..…....50%                                              

                   May 1 - Departure..………….…….........100%       

     

•   Lectures by Prof. Shalom Sabar and Jacob Shoshan               

•   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 and vans

•   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

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