{"id":4272,"date":"2025-07-10T12:54:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T16:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/holocaust\/?page_id=4272"},"modified":"2026-03-22T12:50:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T16:50:08","slug":"study-abroad","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/holocaust\/study-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"
Spend ten days in one of Europe\u2019s most beautiful cities studying the region\u2019s history of genocide and its echoes in contemporary approaches to human rights and multicultural belonging.<\/p>\n
Our study-trip will include visits to sites of mass atrocity; reflections on the histories and cultures of minority groups before, during, and after the Second World War; meetings with non-governmental organizations working in the field of human rights and representing marginalized communities; discussions with locals; and an impressive array of expert-led tours and museum visits. We will also schedule an incredible cultural night.<\/p>\n
Most days will begin with a lecture from trip director Dr. Jacob Ari Labendz, who is an expert in Czech and Jewish history, or from fascinating local scholars. While this course will focus significantly upon the Holocaust and Jewish life, it will also delve with nuance and depth into the histories and contemporary conditions of Roma, the LGBTQ community, and refugees.<\/p>\n
Enrollment as closed! We’re going to Prague!!!<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n 10 – 13 Students<\/strong><\/p>\n Tuition: $1000 \u2014 Covered by CHGS<\/p>\n Program fee: $3,590<\/p>\n Flight & Incidentals: $1,750<\/p>\n TOTAL: $5,340<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 14 – 16 Students<\/strong><\/p>\n Tuition: $1000 \u2014 Covered by CHGS<\/p>\n Program fee: $2,950<\/p>\n Flight & Incidentals: $1,750<\/p>\n TOTAL: $4,700<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n What’s covered by tuition? What additional costs can participants expect<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Included:<\/strong><\/p>\n Not Included:<\/strong><\/p>\n Our trip will be based upon the program which we operated in 2025 (see below).<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We would like to thank an anonymous donor who contributed $10,000 towards our scholarships. Michael Katz contributed $6,000 towards our scholarship fund in honor of his aunt, Ellen K. Brumberg.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles Bridge and Prague Castle (Credit: Shiori Kono)<\/p><\/div>\n Monday, May 26<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrival and Check-in<\/p>\n Welcome Dinner<\/p>\n Tuesday, May 27<\/strong><\/p>\n CET (host institution) Orientation<\/p>\n Academic Orientation with Dr. Jacob Ari Labendz<\/p>\n Prague Walking Tour<\/p>\n Wednesday, May 28<\/strong><\/p>\n Labendz Lecture: Jewish History in Bohemia and Moravia<\/p>\n Guided Jewish Quarter Tour<\/p>\n Discussion with a representative of the Czech Union of Jewish Youth<\/p>\n Thursday, May 29<\/strong><\/p>\n Labendz Lecture: The Holocaust in Bohemia and Moravia<\/p>\n Excursion: Theresienstadt \/ Terez\u00edn (WWII Jewish Ghetto)<\/p>\n Friday, May 30<\/strong><\/p>\n Labendz Lecture: Romani History and the Samudaripen<\/p>\n Excursion: Lety (WWII Concentration Camp for Roma)<\/p>\n Dr. Salim Murad: History of Roma and Integration<\/p>\n Guest Lecture: Hip Hop Interventions with Romani Youth<\/p>\n Saturday, May 31<\/strong><\/p>\n Free Day (Travel Permitted)<\/p>\n Sunday, June 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Labendz Lecture: Czechoslovak Communism for Jews and Roma<\/p>\n So\u0148a Sp\u011bv\u00e1kov\u00e1 (Organization for Immigrant Aid), \u201cImpact of the Ukraine War and the Lives of Ukrainian Refugees in the Czech Republic\u201d<\/p>\n Museum of Communism<\/p>\n State Opera: Plat\u00e9e<\/em> by Jean-Philippe Rameau, 1745<\/p>\n Monday, June 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Labendz Lecture: Kol\u00edn\u2019s Jewish History and Memory<\/p>\n Excursion: Kol\u00edn (forty miles from Prague) \/ Welcome by the Mayor<\/p>\n Tuesday, June 3<\/strong><\/p>\n Hosted visit at Romea, Romani Advocacy Organization<\/p>\n Hosted visit at the Society for Queer Memory<\/p>\n Wednesday, June 4<\/strong><\/p>\n Labendz: Concluding Discussion<\/p>\n Free afternoon to explore and pack<\/p>\n Farewell Dinner at Brambory (Potatoes)<\/p>\n Thursday, June 5<\/strong><\/p>\n Transport to airport and Departure<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span> Day 1: Arrival<\/strong><\/p> “In the weeks leading up to this trip, I knew I was embarking on a unique and incredibly meaningful experience that would expand my world-view and knowledge of the Holocaust and human rights issues\u2026 So far, I have only ever received an American educational perspective on the Holocaust and human rights issues. Therefore, I can see if there are ways the Czech Republic explains the history of the Holocaust and human rights that America could adopt and vice versa.” – Jessica Olshefski<\/span><\/p>\n “Flying across the Atlantic Ocean earlier today was the longest flight I have ever been on by a wide margin, and also the flight on which I had placed the heaviest burden of expectation. In the months leading up to this day, I have obsessed about what the journey to Prague could create within my life, and what lessons, both historically and personally, could be unearthed\u2026 Perhaps on an even more subconscious level, I began to expect this trip to guide me towards increased clarity and confidence in regards to how I integrate my own passions, academic studies, and personal interests.” – Chris Flug<\/span><\/p>\n Apartment Living (Google Maps)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Breakfast cafe near home (Shiori Kono)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “When we finally arrived at the apartment, I was amazed at its size. You walk in and you’re greeted with an open space, where you can look out the windows. The kitchen features a dining table, and there are numerous bedrooms. The fact that we even had a whole room dedicated to the living room was amazing to me. When I finally got to my room, it was huge. It was bigger than any of them post-storms, and I settled in nicely, but I didn’t want to unpack too much because I knew it would be harder for me to pack it up again.” – Catherine Bardzell<\/span><\/p>\n Our accommodations were just a quick tram-ride away from the city center. Students loved<\/em> the ease of the tram network, which offers views of the entire city and insight into daily Czech culture.<\/p>\n Waiting for our first tram!<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span> Day 2: Orientation and Prague Tour<\/strong><\/p> We enjoyed an expert-led tour of Prague, following our orientation meetings.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n “In simple terms, Prague is gorgeous. The architecture and landscapes that you can see all over the city are beyond impressive. The castle is obviously a stand out, but I really liked the view from the park we visited, Kampa. John Lennon\u2019s wall was a cool little spot as well. I would have never thought that something like that would be a somewhat relevant tourist attraction in such a city, but alas, the legend of John Lennon reigns on in the Czech Republic… Since we got to Prague, I can\u2019t help but feel lucky for the opportunity I have to study here. And because I am so lucky, I want to take it seriously.” – Alex Samieske<\/span><\/p>\n Lennon’s Wall<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Ramapo Students with Prague Castle and Charles Bridge<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Prague’s Astronomical Clock<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Crossing Charles Bridge (Jamie Metz)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Tram stop for our classes (Rondocubism!) (LeighAnn Sevastian)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Fire-dancing, Letna Beer Garden (Noah Feldman)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n View from Letna Beer Garden (Chris Flug)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span> Day 3: Jewish Prague: Past and Present<\/strong><\/p> Welcomed into the famous “Kafka Hall” of the Jewish Town Hall in Prague “When we visited the Spanish synagogue, I was able to reflect on Jewish belonging in a new way: in architecture. The out-of-the-ordinary building style seemed to be the opposite of assimilation in integration. I thought about the need and desire to belong as opposed to the need and desire to stand out and retain culture. The Spanish synagogue\u2019s style reflected both sides of this.” – LeighAnn Sevastian<\/span><\/p>\n Kafka Room in the Jewish Town Hall (not open to tourists)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Guided tour of the Jewish Museum: Spanish Synagogue<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “My favorite building was the Spanish Synagogue. Unlike the Old-New Synagogue, its interior was richly decorated and stunning. I could not stop looking at the ceiling, where two Stars of David stood prominently in front of the altar. One resembled stained glass, with each point of the star painted in pink. The other was made of metal bars ending in spherical shapes, each sphere containing smaller star patterns.” – Shiori Kono<\/span><\/p>\n 13th century Old New Synagogue (Chris Flug)<\/p><\/div>\n “Lastly, our meeting with Elias highlighted how fluid and constantly changing the sense of belonging is. During his presentation, Elias noted the involvement of the Czech Union of Jewish Youth with the European Union of Jewish Students, as well as the significance of the Moishe House. This portion of the meeting truly emphasized how belonging among the Jewish community in the Czech Republic has evolved into a global scale. Of course they still face challenges of belonging in a national setting, but now a new form of belonging poses questions of how the Czech Jews will see themselves in a more globalized society. This also shows how belonging is not a stagnant thing, nor is it one dimensional. It changes over time and adapts to different cultural and political climates. At the same time, there are different levels to belonging as people\u2019s perceptions of themselves and their presence in the world change.” – Jessica Olshefski<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span> Day 4: Theresienstadt\/Terez\u00edn\u2014The Holocaust<\/strong><\/p> Guided in Theresienstadt\/Terez\u00edn by scholar and translator J\u00ed\u0159i Bla\u017eek<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Between 1941 and 1945, the Nazis and their Czech collaborators imprisoned over 140,000 Jews in the Theresienstadt Ghetto, primarily from the territory of contemporary Czech Republic. Some 33,000 prisoners died there from executions, torture, starvation, and illness. The Nazis deported 90,000 inmates to camps and ghettoes in the east, principally Auschwitz.<\/p>\n “Throughout our time in the Ghetto, I kept thinking to myself that the ground I was walking on was once walked on by people who had no freedom, no liberty, no food, and were full of fear.\u00a0 I had learned that these were the feelings they had, but I did not fully understand until I was walking around Terez\u00edn. I cannot fully put how I felt into words, the best way to describe it is by saying I felt weighed down. However, I felt almost relieved when we visited the small synagogue that had been hidden away because I knew that it was a place of worship and a place where this Jewish community was able to go and be close to those who share beliefs and are experiencing the same conditions.” – Larissa Beattie<\/span><\/p>\n “One of the strangest feelings I felt during my trip was walking through one of the beautiful parks in Terezin knowing that less than a century ago innocent people were being murdered for simply being Jewish on that very land. This got me to start thinking about what it must be like to live every day on this land that was once an evil place.” – Noah Feldman<\/span><\/p>\n Model of barracks that housed Jewish prisoners in Terez\u00edn<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Paying homage at the crematorium in Terez\u00edn<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “\u200b\u200bOnce we entered Terezin, I realized that all of the mental preparation I went through prior to today could not have helped with the shock of learning that Terezin was used for propaganda. I knew I would be entering a location where atrocities took place, but finding out that people were actually convinced by the lies told about this concentration camp made me feel such a deep sense of disbelief, anger, and sadness.” – Jessica Olshefski<\/span><\/p>\n Terez\u00edn Jewish Cemetery (Alex Samieske)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Postwar cemetery in Terez\u00edn<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Today, we had a lecture about the persecution of Jewish people during World War II. It was my first time hearing that even people who identified as Christians were discriminated against and sent to concentration camps during the Holocaust simply because they had Jewish ancestors. It was eye-opening to learn how the Nazi regime and much of the public blamed Jews for the economic depression after Germany\u2019s unconditional surrender after World War I.” – Shiori Kono<\/span><\/p>\n “Standing on the ground where events of the Holocaust were perpetrated, specifically in the crematorium outside Terez\u00edn, led me to reflect on the terrifying consequences of premature exposure to fictional narratives related to the Holocaust. Before we are properly informed, works of literature and visual media continuously reinforce that even the most macabre depths of human suffering will always be counterbalanced by the redemptive actions of a protagonist, within convenient and digestible periods of time.” – Chris Flug<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span> Day 5: Lety \u2014 Romani History, Persecution, and Contemporary Life<\/strong><\/p> The newly opened Lety Memorial<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Lety u P\u00edsku served as a concentration and transit camp for Bohemian Roma in 1942 and 1943. Czech administrators imprisoned more than 1,294 Roma in the camp, housed in overcrowded bunks. The administrators enriched themselves by diverting funds allocated for food, leading to major health crises in the camp. Scholars recorded 335 deaths among the prisoners. The Nazis murdered many more at Auschwitz.<\/p>\n The Czechoslovak government failed to erect a memorial at the site. Adding insult to injury in 1974, it built a large pig farm on the grounds of the former death camp. Only after the passing of a full fifty years\u2014despite protests\u2014did the Czech government remove the sties. A collection of Romani activists and scholars led the construction of the new memorial.<\/p>\n “There is certainly a lot more that needs to be done in terms of honoring and respecting Romani history, but I believe Lety can play a part in that journey. It was so clear that an enormous amount of care went into the construction of the museum and memorialization of the camp. Everyone there genuinely cared deeply about Lety and educating the public about its history. Additionally, the way the various areas of the site combined with the video exhibition explaining Lety\u2019s history all provided a holistic understanding of Romani persecution during the Holocaust. I was especially moved by the audio recordings that were played along the path we took while outside. By listening to peoples\u2019 stories from being at Lety while also looking at the site, I was able to deeply reflect on the history of Lety and its historical significance.” – Jessica Olshefski<\/span><\/p>\n Lety Concentration Camp<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mass graves at Lety<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Today was the most emotionally heavy because we were standing on the ground of literal mass murders of people who did nothing wrong and were killed solely because of their genetic background. The commemoration site and building were beautifully done. The walkway around where the camp sat and the silver bar of each victim’s name was so thought out, and it is an amazing way to remember this genocide and its horrors. In addition, I thought the extended walkways off of the main circle and educational center were done well and serve the purpose of educating visitors and remembering those who were lost… Lety was beautifully haunting. The land where the camp sat is open and full of wild grass and flowers. However, knowing the history of the land makes it haunting because it was once a place of destruction, horror, and suffering, and you can feel a heavy weight on your shoulders as you walk through the pathways. The winning of this land and the construction of this memorial were significant because they represented a victory. The memorial acts as a bridge between those who suffered and those who came after, offering a space to mourn and honor those who had been lost. The beauty of the land now contrasts with its violent history, which urges visitors to carry the lessons learned there and the responsibility to never forget it.” – Larissa Beattie<\/span><\/p>\n Lety<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Older memorial (Alex Samieske)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “The flowers also act as a foil to the pig farm that previously existed on the land of the Lety Roma Holocaust Memorial. The pig farm, like the path of the memorial, represents death and ugliness. The pigs are killed over the bodies of the Roma people who died during the Holocaust. While also considering the ugliness of the pig farm, the pig farm demoralizes the memory of the harassed Roma people of the Holocaust. Many people were terribly upset about this and fought for the pig farm to be taken down and the memorial to be built. Interestingly, one of the ways these activists attempted to redeem these forgotten Romani\u2019s was by attaching flowers to the fences of the pig farm. The use of flowers to call out the pig farm and decorate the memorial demonstrates how flowers use their beauty as acts of rebellion against death.” – Noah Feldman<\/span><\/p>\n “I am grateful that I had the opportunity to visit Lety and learn about this part of history. I hope to share what I experienced today with others, so that the memory of the Romani victims is preserved and their suffering is not forgotten.” – Shiori Kono<\/span><\/p>\n Preserved remains of the pig farm at Lety (Jamie Metz)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Larissa reads a poem<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u200b\u200b”Todays material about the genocide of the Roma people, in conjuncture with the visit to the concentration camp at Lety, expanding my understanding of how the atrocities of the Holocaust were far more complex than the most commonly told story of German facism and Jewish suffering\u2026 Later in the day, while listening to the passionate guest lecture by Salim Murad, I realized just how easy it is for the suffering of marginalized groups to be left behind in the popular telling of history. Most educational institutions only focus on the mass murder of the Jews during the Holocaust, while Mr. Murad and his colleagues are dedicating their lives to informing the public about the Roma genocide, and the continuing estrangement of Roma in the Czech Republic.” – Chris Flug<\/span><\/p>\n “When we arrived, my first reflection on the commemoration site itself was how remote it was. We were told that there is still no accessible, scheduled proper public transport to bring the general public to Lety. Therefore, students and others who could be educated and enriched by visiting the site most likely do not get the opportunity to go. I considered how this mirrored the isolation of an ethnic group subject to massacres\u2026 I recall seeing and also feeling the frustration of the survivors in the footage about the pig farm that was built on Lety and the way that, for a time, the government actually <\/span>expanded<\/span><\/i> it. I thought this part of the commemoration site was therefore enduring and relevant to its purpose.” – LeighAnn Sevastian<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span> Day 6: Free Day<\/strong><\/p> On their free day (and again on the last day), students explored new regions of the Czech Republic and parts of the city they had missed.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n “What surprised me the most was how small moments or wrong turns became opportunities to learn something new. A perfect example is when Carolyn and I were trying to find a coffee shop, took a left turn, and ended up walking through a Vietnamese market. I knew that the Vietnamese population in Prague was high, but it was so nice to see how they have integrated into the community and still are connected with their traditional food, clothing, and arts. It is always interesting to see how cultural influences from different communities blend into the everyday life of large cities like this.” – Larissa Beattie<\/span><\/p>\n “My free day was spent in Brno. It was really cool to take a train through the countryside of the Czech Republic, and though the city was not as nice as Prague, I was pleasantly surprised with it. The purpose of my visit was to see the Museum of Romani Culture, which was located just outside the center of the city.” – Alex Samieske<\/span><\/p>\n “In the context of today\u2019s trip to Brno, I am grateful that the efficiency of the Czech train network speedily brought me through many sights of awe-inspiring natural beauty promptly enough for me to bring my most wakeful state of the day to the streets of the city.” – Chris Flug<\/span><\/p>\n Museum of Romani Culture, Brno (Alex Samieske)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Art at the Romani Museum (Alex Samieske)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “On my free day, I went to the Prague Zoo. I had planned to go there since I first saw the scheduled free day months ago, so nothing would stop me. I love bears, especially polar bears, and the Prague Zoo is known for keeping them\u2026 We saw Japanese giant salamanders, an Amur tiger, an elephant shrew, an Indian gharial, and an emu with chicks. My second favorite habitat was for the Indian elephants. Viewers were allowed to get very close to them and I was completely in awe. The biggest one had green grass and leaves on its back as if it were a mountain.” – LeighAnn Sevastian<\/span><\/p>\n Visiting the polar bears in the Zoo (LeighAnn Sevastian)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Elephants in the Zoo with communist-era housing blocks in the distance (LeighAnn Sevastian)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “On my day off, I went on a three-pronged tour of the Bohemian-Swiss International Park. The park straddles the German border, resulting in one prong of the tour being in Germany. The first prong consisted of a hike to the Pravcicka Gate stone arch\u2026 The next part of the tour took us to the Kamenice Gorge. The tour brought me down the steep, wet steps of the ravine. We continued down the path and eventually made it to a dock where gondolas would take groups of people up and down a section of the river Kamenice at the bottom of the ravine. The boat ride was relaxing, and the German speaking rower would crack jokes and point out silly looking rocks along the cliffside that my tour guide would translate.” – Noah Feldman<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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\nOur Summer 2025 Summer Trip<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\nPhoto Album & Student Journals<\/h4>\n










\n<\/strong><\/span><\/em>(Most tourists cannot gain entry to this site.)<\/span><\/p>\n















