Tamid of Hebrew College Adult Learning History, Art, and Jewish Heritage: Tamid’s Educational Journey Through Italy

Building on successful travel-learning experiences abroad in Spain and Central Europe, Tamid of Hebrew College invites adult learners to journey to Italy this November 8-18. Led by longtime Tamid faculty Rabbi Lenny Gordon alongside Dr. Jeffrey Woolf, a scholar of Jewish Law and Italian Jewish History, “Between Rome and Jerusalem: An Inspiration Tour of Ancient and Contemporary Italy and Its Jewish History” offers a rare opportunity to experience Italy’s artistic splendor, historic landscapes, and vibrant Jewish heritage through a Jewish lens of learning, community, and personal reflection. From Venice to Florence, Tuscany to Rome, participants will discover how Italy’s past and present illuminate enduring Jewish questions of culture, faith, and identity.

Of all the stories of the Jewish diaspora, the Jewish community of Italy has a continuous history stretching back more than 2,000 years.

“Of all the stories of the Jewish diaspora, the Jewish community of Italy has a continuous history stretching back more than 2,000 years,” says Rabbi Gordon, who has led Tamid’s previous trips abroad. “That story includes unique religious traditions, and exceptional art and architecture mirroring the grandeur of the Italian renaissance.” Rabbi Gordon and the Tamid team have partnered with tour company Keshet Educational Journeys to craft an expansive ten-day experience that explores the richness of Italian Jewish culture over time, contextualized in the broader landscape of Italian history. “Tamid’s educational travel experiences allow participants to immerse themselves in the history and stories of the Jewish communities we visit,” says Tamid Director Kim Bodemer. “There is something profound and transformative about standing in these ancient places while interacting with the current Jewish community and considering what the future holds.”

The trip begins in Venice (above), where travelers will explore the city’s iconic canals, bridges, and piazzas alongside the story of one of Europe’s most significant Jewish communities. Visits to the historic Venetian Ghetto, synagogues, and Jewish Museum will bring Jewish history alive. Travelers will explore the artisan districts of Murano and Burano, beautiful islands famed for glassmaking, lacework, and colorful neighborhoods. In Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, participants will encounter masterpieces at the Uffizi and Accademia, stand before Michelangelo’s David, and engage with local Jewish leaders about the contemporary challenges and future possibilities of Jewish life in Italy.

Travelers will then continue through Tuscany’s enchanting landscapes, from Pisa and Siena to the mountaintop village of Pitigliano, once known as “Little Jerusalem” for its thriving Jewish community. There, participants will explore a synagogue, mikveh, and historic matzah bakery before continuing to Rome in time to welcome Shabbat with the local Jewish community. Celebrating Shabbat in Rome offers a unique opportunity for rest, connection, and spiritual reflection in one of the world’s most historic Jewish centers.

The final days of the trip focus on Rome’s layered history, from the grandeur of the Colosseum and Vatican City to the enduring symbolism of the Arch of Titus. Travelers will also journey to Pompeii, where archaeological remains offer insight into Roman life during the era following the destruction of the Second Temple. Throughout the tour, participants will engage timeless questions about civilization, resilience, and Jewish continuity.

Tamid travel is more than a trip. We build an arc of experience with pre-trip learning through courses, cultural events and social gatherings.

For enthusiastic participants, the journey can begin before the travel: “Tamid travel is more than a trip. We build an arc of experience with pre-trip learning through courses, cultural events and social gatherings,” says Kim. This pre-travel learning provides scaffolding and context to deepen the experience on the trip itself. In advance of Italy, learners will take advantage of Boston’s own cultural offerings in order to learn about Catholicism and the long legacy of Italian art (and its intersections with Jewish culture) with opportunities to visit the Museum of Fine Art and the Catholic Cathedral in Boston.

Keep an eye out for pre-trip information sessions, which will address logistics, provide a detailed itinerary, and answer travelers’ questions. We hope you will join Tamid to experience the continuous history and ongoing legacy of Jewish Italy.

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