A group of Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS) members undertook a remarkable journey through Central and Eastern Europe, visiting some of the most significant sites of Jewish medieval, modern and contemporary history.

Led by KLS Council Member and historian Dr Alexander Heinz – together with Craig and Mary Simmons, Sara Alston, Robyn Harris, Hilary Cohen, Tom Rosenbaum and Clive Suckling – the group traced the rich and complex legacy of Jewish communities across the region.

Their itinerary took them through Erfurt, Prague, Kraków, Warsaw, Lublin and Vilnius, where they uncovered the diverse layers of Jewish life, resilience, and remembrance. They connected with fellow KLS members, including Barbara and Mark Richards in Prague, Rabbi Lev Taylor and Laurence Suckling in Kraków, and Monika Heryng in Warsaw, alongside local guides and rabbis who offered deeper insights into each location’s history.

A particularly moving moment was their attendance at an Erev Shabbat service at Ec Chayim Reform Synagogue in Prague, where Craig and Mary Simmons had the honour of lighting the Shabbat candles, symbolising unity and continuity of Jewish traditions across borders. The group also visited Rychnov nad Kněžnou, the town from which one of the KLS’s Czech Torah scrolls originated, reaffirming the synagogue’s connection to Jewish heritage.

Dr Heinz, who is also a Professional Tour Organiser, said: “This was an immensely special, joyful trip for us as a Jewish community and for me personally. From discovering unknown treasures of medieval German-Jewish history in Erfurt, to singing the Hatikvah by the River Vlatava together, to getting to know today’s Liberal communities in Prague and Warsaw, to visiting the village of one of our Czech scrolls and discovering the centres of Yiddish scholarship in Lublin and Vilnius: It’s been a privilege organising this trip for Kingston Liberal Synagogue.”