FREE EVENT

Read and Travel: 

A Unique Trip to Poland

Tuesday, April 29

USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET

UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm

The talk will last approximately 90 minutes

Join us to learn about the special trip which will be based on Ira Wesley Kitmacher's book: "Monsters and Miracles: Horror, Heroes, and the Holocaust" (2022). In this unique talk, you will have the opportunity to meet Ira, who will share about his book, in the form of a Qesher Book Club. In the second half of the event, you will meet Daniel Gurevich, leader of Jerulita and this one-of-a-kind trip to Poland, based on this novel.

First Part

Qesher Book Club:"Monsters and Miracles: Horror, Heroes, and the Holocaust"

Al Kitmacher and Pearl Harris were heroes. In WWII, Al led his Jewish family to temporary safety, and through miracles he survived the Warsaw Ghetto and Nazi death camps. Pearl, with her military service, helped fellow Jews who were suffering at the hands of the Nazis.
The author's family, who were lost to the Holocaust, are given a voice by recreating their lives in Nazi Europe of the 1930s and 1940s.
Few methods of examining the roots of antisemitism are more revealing than the study of folklore and stereotypes. This is critical to understanding why the Holocaust happened, and why we are witnessing a resurgence of antisemitism today. The author explores folktales using a cinematic construct of the Holocaust as one part horror story, and the other part hero and superhero story. Longstanding beliefs in monsters, angels, and the supernatural are discussed.

About Ira

Ira Wesley Kitmacher is a historian and published author of books on European (Monsters and Miracles: Horror, Heroes and the Holocaust) and American (Spirits Along the Columbia River, Haunted Graveyard of the Pacific, Haunted Puget Sound, and Pacific Northwest Legends and Lore) history and folklore, as well as a book (Solomon's Steps) on Biblical approaches to resolving conflict. Ira is an experienced and acclaimed guide, conducting tours based on his books.

Second Part

Tour Poland based on
"Monsters and Miracles"

Join us for an enlightening presentation on a unique, privately guided tour through Poland. This journey will explore Jewish heritage, Holocaust history, local folklore, as well as general touristic sights. Discover stories of resilience and heroism as we visit Warsaw, Kraków, Lublin and Łódź among other places. This talk will provide an overview of the tour's itinerary, emphasizing the profound historical and cultural insights gained from visiting these landmarks. The trip will last 9 days and 8 nights between September 12 and September 20, 2025.

Find out more about the tour by clicking here. 

About Daniel

Daniel Gurevich was born in Vilnius and made Aliya to Israel before returning to Lithuania and becoming an expert in the travel industry. Today he runs his own travel agency with tours conducted in Hebrew, English, Russian, and Lithuanian, focusing on Jewish heritage, religion, history, and culture