RFTL UPDATE
The RFTL team has been hard at work preparing for a meaningful Ride For The Living experience and, in light of the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, are mindful that many would-be-riders will not be able to travel to Krakow this July to participate. For those who can’t make it this year, we’re thrilled to announce that Ride For The Living 2020 is also going VIRTUAL!
In addition to the normal 60-mile bike ride out of the darkness of Auschwitz to the light of Krakow’s thriving Jewish community, we’ve begun crafting a remote virtual Ride For The Living experience so that you can still participate in this meaningful event from the comfort and safety of your own community.
Bike, run, or walk your way to 60 miles with your normal RFTL team over the course of a month, week, weekend, or day and keep in touch with other participants to share your progress and goals as we work together to raise money for JCC Krakow and its members! Despite many of us being separated this year, we’re committed to working together to keep the Ride For The Living family healthy and engaged. We would love for you to join us as part of the Virtual RFTL, remain a part of the Ride experience, and continue supporting the rebirth of Jewish life in Krakow.
If you’re interested in learning more and participating in this unique 2020 experience, join our interest list.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What are the dates for Ride For The Living 2020?
The full 4-day schedule of activities will take place from July 2-5, with the bike ride itself taking place prior to Shabbat on Friday, July 3.
How many days does Ride For The Living take?
The bike ride itself is a one-day ride that begins at approximately 9:00am and ends at approximately 6:00pm. On the day of the bike ride, we leave Krakow by bus at around 6:15am to drive to Birkenau for the opening ceremony and bike fitting. The entire Ride For The Living schedule of events is four days long, from Thursday through Sunday, and includes the bike ride, opening and closing ceremonies, tours of Auschwitz-Birkenau and Krakow, Shabbat dinner, and more. When registering, you may select either the entire 4-day program or just the Friday bike ride and Shabbat dinner.
How do I register?
Click here for registration details.
Is the registration fee refundable?
Yes, we will issue registration fee refunds until March 15th, 2020.
What is registration deadline?
The Ride For The Living 2020 registration deadline is June 1st, 2020.
When should I arrive in Krakow?
Programming for the four-day Ride For The Living starts at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, and ends around 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 5.
What is the Jewish Culture Festival?
The Jewish Culture Festival is nine-day celebration of all things Jewish, from art to food to music and everything in between. Approximately 30,000 people—Jewish and non-Jewish, Polish and non-Polish—attend every year, making it the largest festival of its kind in the world. While the Jewish Culture Festival is a separate organization from JCC Krakow, the JCC plans and partners on almost 100 events throughout the week. To find out more about the Festival, visit: http://www.jewishfestival.pl/en/
Please note that the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow has been postponed to 2021. The Ride For The Living schedule has been adjusted accordingly.
Can children participate?
Yes! Ride For The Living is suitable for families and in years past, we have had three generations of one family ride together. To participate as an individual, you must be at least 18 years old. Underage participants can be part of the event only if they are accompanied by parents or legal guardians. Underage participants must be at least 7 years old to participate. Our youngest rider thus far was 8, and our oldest rider was 90!
Is the event suitable for me if I observe kashrut and/or Shabbat?
The one-day bike ride falls on a Friday, and we begin early in the morning to ensure we arrive back in Krakow in advance of Shabbat and in time to celebrate with a Shabbat dinner for the whole community. There are also Friday and Saturday services available in Krakow within walking distance of the RFTL hotel. All meals have a vegetarian option and are kosher friendly, and we can provide strictly kosher meals for participants who request them in advance on the registration form.