The idea of visiting Berlin conjures up very strong emotions. For those who themselves came from there or are descended from German families it could be a mixture of nostalgia and horror. For others, there is a wish to see where such a devastating recent history of our people took place. For others, the motivation might be the desire to confront Jewish history in what was a major centre in European history or perhaps the wish to understand how the current Jewish community lives.

There are also those who wish to explore the German scene and meet with gentiles whose families helped to rescue Jews, or meet young Germans who work to cleanse their collective conscience and involve themselves with Jewish organizations worldwide.

To visit Germany with a group of other Jews makes, so we believe, the experience richer, deeper and in many cases more bearable. We can share our emotional responses and our thoughts with other members of the group because of our common roots and collective memory.

There are amazing museums to be explored, Synagogues and cemeteries, great modern architecture, Wannsee, the Reichstag (with its wonderful new dome by Norman Foster), the Brandenburg gate, the Peter Eisenmann Holocaust memorial. In fact, Berlin itself is one huge memorial to our people and there is something to be seen on almost every street.

We are very fortunate to have both Dr Stephen Rosenberg and Evelyn Friedlander with us, in the planning stages. They will be coming with the group and each will contribute their areas of expertise to enrich our visit and provide an unforgettable experience.

Our aim is to present you with a unique visit to Berlin that cannot be obtained by traveling alone; seeing, visiting, meeting local people....and sharing these experiences with one another.

We plan to stay in a modest but very comfortable and clean hotel. It does not have kosher breakfast facilities but I am sure that one can find something acceptable to eat. This hotel is in East Berlin on the Oranienburgerstrasse, about 50 meters from the Synagogue. West Berlin is very accessible, as are many of the places we intend to visit.

Close by are several Israeli-style restaurants. Nearby is the Häckesche Höfe, one of the 'trendiest' areas in the city.

The state museums are grouped in clusters -- on the Museumsinsel, at the Kulturforum, in and around Schloss Charlottenberg and in the southwestern suburb of Dahlem. There are also a large number of attractions either at Potsdamer Platz or within walking distance, including the Kulturforum to the southwest. To the north lie the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) and the Reichstag, sporting Lord Foster's new glass dome. The Brandenburg Gate is situated on Berlin's main east--west axis. To the west lies the Siegessäule (Victory Column), which provides a view over the surrounding Tiergarten and the Western city centre, to the southwest of the column.
West Berlin's centre has less to offer and is better for shopping and nightlife than for sightseeing. Nevertheless visitors should take a look at the broken shard of a church, the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche, which serves as a brutal reminder of World War II. The nearby Zoo and Aquarium also provide a happy distraction.
The densest array of sights lies to the east of the Brandenburg Gate, on either side of Unter den Linden, lined with many 18th- and 19th-century buildings. At its end are the artistic and architectural treasures of the Museumsinsel, where the city's main cathedral, the Berliner Dom, can be found. Further on is the Communist-era Fernsehturm (television tower), on Alexanderplatz, which marked the centre of East Berlin.