Boutique Jewish Tours to Italy
Two Etz Chaim congregants met as volunteers and parlayed their love of travel into escorting others to Tuscany and Umbria.
It’s not every day that two people meet at a synagogue and decide to form a travel agency.
In 2017, Delores Lazerson and Suzanne Rivchun met at Congregation Etz Chaim where they volunteered and served on various social and educational committees. While conducting a Jewish-Italian cooking program at Etz Chaim, focusing on the influence of Jewish food on the cuisine of Italy, a light bulb went on when Rivchun and Lazerson were surprised to learn that so many of the participants wanted to travel to Italy with them.
They had already planned a three-week trip to Tuscany and Umbria, visiting multiple villages and towns where Jewish communities had thrived for millennia.
Rivchun said, “While we were on our Jewish quest learning about Jewish Italian history, we met with many locals and visited towns and synagogues throughout the regions. We were inspired by what we learned and wanted to share this with those who had expressed an interest in coming to Italy with us. This was our motivation to start DnS Boutique Travels, LLC.”
Both Lazerson and Rivchun grew up in New York and moved to Atlanta to pursue careers. Lazerson lived in Marietta for 40 years and recently semi-retired to Sarasota, Fla. Rivchun also semi-retired and has lived in Marietta for 45 years where she pursued a teaching career and then earned a doctorate in chiropractic medicine.
Lazerson’s lust for travel was instilled by her parents. Each year, they would pick a city on which to focus and spend several days exploring points of interest, visiting museums, and experiencing the local cuisine. Rivchun discovered her passion for travel after spending several months traversing throughout Mexico on her own post-college. She then made it her mission to follow her passion and continue traveling.
DnS opts to schedule tours during the cool spring and fall months. Lazerson said, “During the spring, the hills are green and covered with poppy fields, fragrant and fresh vegetables are in abundance. During the fall, the same hills are golden, and they are bountiful with olives, saffron and grapes. Both seasons provide our travelers with wonderful produce that is used during their cooking lessons with local chefs. Our classes are conducted in close proximity to olive groves and vineyards and on family farms. Following the lessons, our guests enjoy the foods they just prepared,” adding that meals are always accompanied by varieties of local wines.
When conducting Jewish heritage tours, guests are escorted to several hilltop towns and villages scattered throughout the Tuscan and Umbrian regions. Many are “tufa” towns built by the ancient Etruscans, and later used by the Jews who were able to hide in these tunnels during difficult times.
Rivchun elaborated, “There is a very rich history of Jews in Italy that many Americans are not aware of and it’s one of our goals to expose our guests to these beautiful communities, many of which no longer support active Jewish life.”
DnS Boutique tours include farmhouse accommodations, private group ground transportation, all meals, activities and centralized pick-up and drop-off in Florence.
Rivchun concluded, “We conduct our small group tours how we like to travel…immersed in the culture, food, and wine of the region.”
DnS Boutique Travels Top Travel Tips
• Confirm that your passport is up to date and good for six months after your return to the U.S.
• Bring comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes for uneven surfaces.
• Purchase electrical adapters specific to Italy.
• Plan on layering your clothing to easily adapt to weather changes throughout the day. The countryside can be cool in the mornings and late afternoon.
• No need to take more than one checked bag and one carry-on piece of luggage.
• Pack two days of clothing and your medications in your carry-on and utilize packing cubes to save space in your luggage.
For more information, contact dnsboutiquetravels@gmail.com.
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