“All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.”
- Baruch Spinoza
The core curriculum consists of two courses, a seminar with Jon Jucovy on “Jews and the Making of the Modern World” and a tutorial with Aaron Tugendhaft on “Foundational Questions of Modern Philosophy.” These courses are supplemented by excursions, an art-making program led by Michelle Palatnik, and a final video project overseen by Daniela Woldenberg.
The following is a tentative daily schedule. Time for reading, sport, and relaxation are not always noted. Details are subject to change.
Sunday, July 6
Group flight leaves from a NYC airport (details TBD). Students may also arrange independent travel to Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands.
New York City
Monday, July 7
Land at Schiphol Airport and head to Leiden, where we will settle into our accommodations at the Hotel de Doelen on the Rapenburg. After lunch, we’ll pick up our bikes and play the Schnipseljagd, a treasure hunt through Leiden. Welcome dinner and party at the program basecamp at Rapenburg 6.
Leiden
Tuesday, July 8
Morning seminar with Dr. Jucovy on the Inquisition and the formation of the Amsterdam Jewish community. Afternoon visit to the Museum de Lakenhal to learn about Leiden’s role in the international cloth trade and the first studio art session with artist-in-residence Michelle Palatnik. BBQ dinner at Rapenburg 6 and an evening lecture.
Leiden
Wednesday, July 9
Morning tutorial with Dr. Tugendhaft on Descartes’ “Discourse on Method.” After lunch we head to The Hague to visit the spectacular Mauritshuis Museum, where we will get to see masterpieces like Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” as well as take a special tour highlighting science, slavery, commerce, and religious toleration in the Dutch colony in Brazil. Dinner at Chabad with members of The Hague’s Jewish community before heading back to Leiden.
Leiden - The Hague
Thursday, July 10
Wake up early for our big day in Antwerp, Belgium. In the morning we will visit the fascinating Plantin-Moretus Printing Museum where Jewish scholars joined with Christian printers to produce the stately Plantin Polyglot Bible (1568-1573). After lunch at one of Antwerp’s many kosher restaurants, we’ll take a tour of Jewish Antwerp with Dr. Theo Dunkelgrün, professor of Jewish history at the University of Antwerp, followed by dinner with the local community before taking a late train back to Leiden.
Antwerp
Friday, July 11
Morning seminar with Dr. Jucovy focusing on the birth of modern science. After lunch, we’ll visit the Boerhaave Science Museum where students will get to climb a seventeenth-century anatomy theater and try seeing through an early microscope. Art making or sports in the afternoon before preparing for Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner at the historic Leiden Synagogue with members of the Leiden Jewish community.
Leiden
Saturday, July 12
Shacharit at the Leiden Synagogue followed by lunch at Rapenburg 6. Lazy afternoon for reading and boardgames, then Seudah shlishit and Havdalah.
Leiden
Sunday, July 13 (17th of Tammuz)
Morning tutorial with Dr. Tugendhaft on Spinoza’s “Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect.” Afternoon visit to the Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, and art-making session. In the evening, try to escape from Rembrandt’s atelier at Escaperoom Leiden.
Leiden
Monday, July 14
Morning seminar with Dr. Jucovy on religious diversity and the politics of toleration in the Dutch Republic. We’ll then bike to the beach with a picnic lunch. On the way back, we’ll stop in Rijnsburg to visit the Spinozahuis. Communally cooked dinner and a lecture at Rapenburg 6.
Leiden - Rijnsburg - Katwijk aan Zee
Tuesday, July 15
Morning tutorial on Spinoza’s “Ethics” with Dr. Tugendhaft. After lunch we’ll visit Leiden University Special Collections to see highlights of their world-renowned collection of Hebrew manuscripts and early printed books. Afternoon art making and pick-up soccer game with Jewish students from Maccabi Netherlands. Dinner at Rapenburg 6 followed by jazz at De Twee Spieghels.
Leiden
Wednesday, July 16
Morning visit to the 800-year-old Leiden Market followed by a seminar with Dr. Jucovy on Jewish trade networks and the birth of modern economics. After lunch, we’ll head to Ouderkerk to visit the Beth Haim cemetery. Dinner and discussion about Jewish life in contemporary Holland with members of the Jewish community in Amstelveen.
Leiden - Ouderkerk - Amstelveen
Thursday, July 17
Continue studying Spinoza’s “Ethics” with Dr. Tugendhaft during the morning tutorial. Afternoon visit to sites in Leiden connected to the Pilgrims before they set out on the Mayflower for Plymouth Rock. Free time for reading, shopping, sports and art making. Communally cooked dinner at Rapenburg 6 and time to work on video projects with Daniela Woldenberg.
Leiden
Friday, July 18
Morning train to Amsterdam and check-in at the Park Centraal Hotel. We’ll then meet with Rachel Boertjens, curator of the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana, who will share some of the library’s Jewish treasures with us. After lunch at a local kosher restaurant, we’ll head to the spectacular galleries of the Rijksmuseum. Kabbalat Shabbat at the magnificent Art Deco Rav Aharon Schuster Synagogue followed by dinner at Chabad Amsterdam.
Amsterdam
Saturday, July 19
Shacharit at the historic Portuguese Synagogue followed by lunch with the local community and a tour of the synagogue. Rest back at the hotel before taking a walking tour of Jewish Amsterdam. Late afternoon boardgames, Seudah shlishit, and Havdalah at the hotel.
Amsterdam
Sunday, July 20
Today we’ll visit more of Amsterdam, including the Jewish Museum and the world’s oldest stock exchange. We’ll have lunch at a kosher restaurant and save some time for browsing at a labyrinthine used bookstore before heading back to Leiden for dinner at Rapenburg 6 and movie night.
Amsterdam - Leiden
Monday, July 21
Morning seminar with Dr. Jucovy on the curious case of Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel. Afternoon tutorial on Spinoza’s “Theological-Political Treatise” with Dr. Tugendhaft, followed by free time and an art making session. After dinner at Rapenburg 6, we will be joined by members of Holland Baroque for a private concert and discussion of Baroque Jewish music.
Leiden
Tuesday, July 22
In the morning tutorial, we continue our study of Spinoza’s “Theological-Political Treatise.” After lunch, we’ll head out to Rotterdam where we will take a break from the seventeenth century with a modern architecture tour by Dr. Amy Thomas, professor of architectural history at TU Delft. On our way back to Leiden, we’ll stop for a picnic dinner and ramble around Delft, Vermeer’s perfectly preserved hometown.
Leiden - Rotterdam - Delft
Wednesday, July 23
The final morning seminar with Dr. Jucovy will explore the messianic fervor and disappointment that surrounded the figure of Shabbatai Zevi and the lasting impact that it had on Jewish history. After lunch, we head to Haarlem for our final outing, visiting the Teylers Library and Frans Hals Museum. Back in Leiden, we’ll have some free time for final shopping before we take dinner on board with a canal cruise.
Leiden - Haarlem
Thursday, July 24
In the morning students will share their final video projects. We’ll then have lunch at Rapenburg 6 and prepare to leave. Afternoon train to Schiphol Airport and group flight back to New York City.
Leiden - New York City