On every vacation, my family and I explore the Jewish history of the country we’re visiting through tours, museums, and cooking. From learning about the Spanish Inquisition in Iberia to visiting synagogues abandoned since the Holocaust in Romania, these experiences have become our most meaningful family tradition and my favorite part of our travels.

In Argentina, I visited the Buenos Aires Holocaust Museum, where I learned not only about the Holocaust but also about the Nazis who fled Germany to escape prosecution by seeking refuge in Argentina. Across the world, in Austria, I toured the Jewish Quarter of Vienna and stood in the same places where speeches about the Third Reich were delivered, deepening my understanding of how Nazi power spread across Europe. In Morocco, I was able to see small synagogues, only big enough to hold a Minyan, in contrast to the grand Mosques spread across the country.

My favorite trip we’ve taken to learn about Jewish culture and history was our family trip to Romania, where my grandfather grew up. I learned about his upbringing during the rise of Nazi power and how it affected him and his family as a Jew. Seeing how he grew up as a Jew and thinking of my life in a city where I’ve rarely been singled out for my religion was extremely eye-opening and such an amazing experience.  

While we spend time learning about history, we also observe the present. Since October 7th, I’ve noticed heightened security around Jewish museums and cultural centers around the world, an upsetting reminder of the rise in antisemitism. I’ve even encountered antisemitic protests connected to the ongoing Israel-Palestine war all over the world, not just in New York and throughout America. These experiences have made me realize that Jewish history isn’t confined to the past, but continues to shape the world we live in today and will shape our future.

If you are ever away, I strongly encourage you to look into Jewish culture because you can learn SO much from just a conversation with a local or from spending an hour in a museum. Even if you aren’t traveling, learning about Jewish history in your hometown is also so interesting. I was able to visit both the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and the Anne Frank House exhibit in New York City, and both gave me a meaningful and interesting experience. I can even say I learned more from the exhibit in the city than I would have from traveling all the way to the Netherlands. I have also spent many days in downtown Manhattan, where Jewish enclaves existed in the 17th and 18th centuries after migrating from Europe.