May 4, 2025
Gavi:
My favorite part of Prague was seeing my family’s name. Throughout my life, I had heard about relatives who were killed in the Holocaust, but I never felt a personal connection to them—until this trip. All I wanted was to see the name Sam Jacobovitz, and when we visited the Holocaust memorial in Prague and I found it, I didn’t know how to feel. I was excited to finally make that connection, but also deeply sad. It was a powerful and emotional moment I’ll never forget.
Charles:
When I Googled what Prague was known for, the architecture was the first thing that came up. I had a general idea of what it might look like, but the reality was far beyond my expectations. The first two things I noticed when I stepped foot in Prague were the bugs and the buildings. The most meaningful moment for me came during Havdalah on Saturday. One of the teachers said something that really stuck with me: that what we were doing—standing together in the streets of Prague, celebrating our Jewish identity—could not have been done 80 years ago.
Hailie:
Shabbat in Prague was a lot of fun. We went to services and had a meal at the Chabad, which was a really cool experience. While in Prague, we got to explore a lot. We saw beautiful buildings and visited some stores. The city itself was incredibly pretty, with so many amazing sights to see. What stood out most to me was seeing all the Jewish places—especially knowing that, not too long ago, Jews weren’t even allowed in Prague. It made the experience even more meaningful.
Sammy:
From my time in Prague, I learned that the city is very old but incredibly well preserved. Many of the buildings still have structures and features from medieval times—like the timekeeping system in the Clementinum Library, which I found fascinating.
One of the most fun experiences was the mountain coaster. I got to make Morah Priscilla go fast, which was hilarious! It was also a great way to connect with students from the other schools and share some laughs.
Maya:
The best part of Prague for me was walking around and seeing all the different types of architecture. It was so unique and really different from anything I’ve seen in America. I also loved trying the chimney cakes—they were delicious! The shopping was a lot of fun too. I found some really cool things and got to explore the city while doing it, which made the experience even better.
Lucy:
My favorite part of Prague was probably the bobsleighs. It was so much fun! My favorite moment was riding up the conveyor belt and holding onto each other—it made the whole experience even better.
Benny:
In Prague, I really felt like the city was alive and full of energy, especially with all the fun we had touring and exploring. I really enjoyed the shopping time—it was great to have the chance to buy things that you can only find in Prague. I feel like the experiences just kept getting better and more meaningful. Visiting the synagogues for both services and tours was especially powerful—they were all very unique and interesting.
Seraphina:
One of the most interesting things about Prague is its historical buildings. The synagogues, some of which are hundreds of years old, still hold the memories and atmosphere of the people who once prayed and learned there. Another highlight was going down a mini mountain—it was such a fun experience, and getting to see all the surrounding nature made it even more special.