Israelitas: From secret Jews to Modern Community 
Melton Tour in Mexico City — September 8-12, 2024

(Itinerary subject to change)

Day 1 – Sunday, September 8 - Welcome to Mexico City  

• Meet in the lobby at 4:30 PM for a warm welcome and group gathering.  
• Welcome dinner at Alfredo di Roma. 
• Meeting with representatives from the Comité Central de la Comunidad Judía de México, the Mexican affiliate of the World Jewish Congress. Gain insights into the vibrant and diverse Jewish community in Mexico through an informative overview. Explore the rich history, cultural contributions, and contemporary challenges faced by this dynamic community. Additionally, delve into discussions about initiatives, collaborations, and the broader global context of Jewish affairs. This opportunity provides a valuable platform to foster understanding, collaboration, and solidarity within the global Jewish diaspora. 

Overnight: Presidente InterContinental, Polanco 

Day 2 – Monday, September 9 - Where Past Meets Present 

• OPTIONAL MORNING ACTIVITY: Sunrise hot air balloon ride over the pyramids. 
• Enjoy breakfast and a quick learning session before departing to Teotihuacán. 
• Explore Teotihuacan Pyramids guided by a pre-Hispanic art expert where we will learn about the iconic remnants of an ancient Mesoamerican civilization built in the pre-Columbian Americas. Teotihuacan is anthropologically significant for its complex, multi-family residential compounds, the Avenue of the Dead, the Pyramid of the Sun, and the Pyramid of the Moon.  
• Lunch at Sanborns Azulejos, an historic restaurant and retail space famous for its colorful ceramic tiles. Built in the 16th century, it retains its Spanish colonial charm offering visitors a unique dining and shopping experience on Modero Street.  
• Stroll through the Zócalo – Observe the beautiful and imposing Metropolitan Cathedral that dominates the vast expanse of Mexico City’s central square, one of Mexico’s most treasured architectural masterpieces and Latin America’s largest and oldest cathedral, The National Palace, housing the offices of the Mexican President; the Federal Treasury; the National Archives; and the Templo Mayor, thought to be on the exact spot where the Aztecs saw their symbolic eagle perching on a cactus with a snake in its beak, the symbol of Mexico today.  
• Visit two of Mexico City’s oldest and most historically significant synagogues and learn about the communities they serve: Monte Sinai Synagogue was built in 1918 by Jews arriving from the Middle East, while the Sinagoga Justo Sierra was formed in 1941 for Orthodox Jews coming from Poland, Russia, Hungary, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Austria.    
• Return to the hotel and enjoy dinner and evening at leisure. 

Overnight: Presidente InterContinental, Polanco 

Day 3 - September, August 10 - Mexico City through a Jewish Lens  

• Breakfast at the hotel. 
• Study session with Dr Daniel. Fainstein, Dean of Jewish Studies at the famed Hebraic University. The Hebraic University in Mexico City is a prominent institution dedicated to the study and promotion of Jewish culture, history, and education. Founded in 1977, it offers a range of academic programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as courses in Hebrew language, Jewish studies, and related fields. The university plays a significant role in fostering a strong Jewish community in Mexico City and serves as a hub for intellectual and cultural exchange. 
• Visit the Shar Hashamaim Sephardic Synagogue, originally established as “The Fraternity” in 1924 by Ladino-speaking Sephardic Jews from Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans, to meet with Rabbi Moises Chicurel who will reveal the many secrets of the magnificent sanctuary. 
• Explore the Maguen David Community Center, a multifunctional hub serving Mexico City's Jewish community. It includes a school, synagogue, and cultural center, offering educational, religious, and cultural services. The center plays a key role in preserving Jewish heritage, fostering community cohesion, and promoting cultural exchange. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at Maguen David.  
• Visit the famed National Museum of Anthropology, filled with significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts from Mexico's pre-Columbian heritage. Here is where you will find the Stone of the Sun (the Aztec calendar stone) and the Aztec Xochipilli Statue. The building contains exhibition halls surrounding a courtyard featuring a huge pond and a vast square concrete umbrella supported by a single slender pillar.  
• Return to the hotel and enjoy dinner and evening at leisure. 

Overnight: Presidente InterContinental, Polanco 

Day 4 - Wednesday, September 11

• Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. 
• Boat ride through Xochimilco trajineras. These colorful, flat-bottomed boats navigate the ancient canals of Xochimilco, allowing visitors to enjoy scenic views of floating gardens, vibrant markets, and traditional mariachi music. 
• Enjoy lunch at your leisure in Coyoacan's main square and explore the arts and crafts market. Coyoacan, a historic neighborhood in Mexico City, is famous for its vibrant culture and colonial architecture. Discover Mexican cuisine at local restaurants and immerse yourself in the area's rich atmosphere.  
• Frida Kahlo's Blue House, once her home and now a museum, celebrates the life and art of the iconic Mexican artist and her husband, Diego Rivera 
• Explore the CDIJUM, or the Jewish Documentation and Research Center in Mexico, with a warm welcome from its director, Tessy Schlosser. This institution holds invaluable archives dedicated to preserving Jewish heritage. 
• Return to the Hotel for a final reflection session. 
• Indulge in a farewell dinner at Hacienda de los Morales, originally a 17th-century mulberry farm turned premier dining destination. Experience a sophisticated ambiance fused with Mexican classics and experimental dishes influenced by Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. Live music, from string quintets to mariachi bands, enhances the dining and bar areas, enriching the overall experience. 

Overnight: Presidente InterContinental, Polanco 

Day 5 - Thursday, September 12 – The Local Jewish Community  

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Check out and bring luggage to the bus. 
• Visit Centro Deportivo Israelita (CDI), Mexico City’s largest JCC. Embark on a visit to the Centro Deportivo Israelita (CDI), which stands as Mexico City's largest Jewish Community Center (JCC). The CDI serves as a vibrant hub for various recreational, cultural, and social activities, catering to the diverse needs and interests of the Jewish community and beyond. With state-of-the-art sports facilities, including swimming pools, tennis courts, and fitness centers, the CDI promotes health and wellness among its members. Additionally, it hosts cultural events, educational programs, and community gatherings, fostering a sense of unity and belonging. As a beacon of Jewish identity and values, the CDI plays a significant role in enriching the lives of individuals and families within Mexico City's diverse landscape from infancy to elderhood. 
• Drive to Benito Juárez International Airport for departing flights home. 

The September 2024 Melton tour to Mexico will be led by Sara Aroeste, PhD, a scholar and educator, art critic and curator, who has explored the world of the Jewish community of Mexico City for many years. Melton travel is open to adults of all ages.  

While Melton oversees the educational aspects of our tours, it's important to note that we are not a travel agency. For the logistics of this trip, our travel partners Viajes Orven in Mexico City will be responsible.

Please note that Melton is not liable for any financial loss due to reasons beyond our control, such as health-related cancellations. We highly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation and health-related issues, including COVID, within a few weeks of paying your nonrefundable deposit.

Thank you for your interest in travelling with Melton. We eagerly await the opportunity to learn and explore together with you.

The Melton Travel Team

Registration will open soon. To be notified when it does, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hotel

• Presidente InterContinental Mexico City,Campos Eliseos 218, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico 11560 Tel: +52-555-327-7700

Need to Know

• Group rates are per person based on double occupancy and a minimum of 15 fully paying participants. Should the number of participants drop below the minimum listed above, we may adjust the cost of the trip to reflect the additional expense of operating the program.
• Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides, drivers, and the tour guide/educator are included.
• A non-refundable deposit of $750 per person is due upon registration. If the trip is cancelled, the registration fee will be refunded. Final balance will be due July 8, 2024
• There will be no refunds for unused services. All cancellations must be submitted in writing.
• Hotel Accommodations: The tour price includes all hotel accommodations, in hotel rooms with private bathrooms. Our standard is to provide the best available hotels while considering value. Although the level of the accommodation may differ slightly from hotel to hotel, we are committed to your comfort.
• Meals are included as indicated in the itinerary. Participants can order kosher meals at prices set by our local agents.
• A Melton educator will be with the group throughout the tour.
• All gratuities are included.
• Baggage: The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operator shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at time of incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to the insurance company. About airline baggage allowance, different carriers have different regulations for business and coach, please check with your individual carrier with regard to permitted number of pieces, weights and dimensions. The tour operator is not responsible for fees levied by any air carrier for the transport of personal belongings of any kind.
• Porterage at hotels. Please note that room service is not included.

Not Included:

• International flights and personal insurance 
• Personal expenses, including meals or drinks not mentioned in the itinerary, unless specified.

We will be pleased to assist you with additional travel plans, through our partners at Viajes Orven, in Mexico City: Paola Gutierrez, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Melton is not responsible for cancellation of this program for reasons beyond its control. Your comprehensive travel insurance should cover both "cancellation for any reason" and "COVID-related cancellation". This latter policy is being offered by a number of insurance companies. We refer you to a list published by Forbes magazine, showing those companies that offer this new policy.

Please note that such policies may require registration for the policy within 14-21 days of your registration for the trip.

Gil Travel recommends RoamRight Travel Insurance.

For more information on the available plans or to enroll, visit  RoamRight Travel Insurance  or contact RoamRight at 1-866-891-6614 and reference Gil Travel.

Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within 21 days from the time you make your initial trip deposit, the entire non-refundable amount of the trip must be insured, and you must be medically able to travel at the time the premium is paid. However, the travel protection plan itself can be purchased any time prior to departure.

Additional Information

• Airline Security Measures: Your name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket, or you may be denied boarding. It must also be exactly as it appears on your passport. Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the date of your return home.
• If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S., you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.
• Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration website at tsa.gov to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items.

For more information about this tour, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

T: 1–646–921–0747, Ext. 4