Religious Studies

UT Students Explore Jewish History in Poland

UT Students Explore Jewish History in Poland

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Religious Studies students hold a checkered UT flag while visiting the Jewish Krakow synagogue during a study abroad trip to Poland.

The Frankel-Ricketts Global Scholars program made the trip possible for 16 undergraduate and graduate students.   

Over spring break, 16 students traveled from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for a life-changing experience of academic and personal growth through the inaugural Frankel-Ricketts Global Scholars in Poland program. 

They walked through the Jewish Quarter of Krakow and former Ghetto area, learned about Jewish life in Osweicim, and spent time at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum as they learned about Jewish life and culture before, during, and after World War II. 

“Being able to stand in the places l have studied for years was both academically enriching and deeply moving,” said Lily Arwood. “It transformed my understanding of history in a way that no classroom ever could. I now carry with me a new perspective, one shaped by firsthand experience.”

Students pictured walking through Auschwitz in Poland during their study abroad trip.
Students sit together while drinking Polish coffee.
Three students speak with each other at the Krakow Wawel Castle in Poland. An image of the Virgin Mary hangs in the background.

“To set foot in and witness the remains of one of the darkest events of our planet’s history came with an indescribable feeling that I will never forget,” said history major Cooper Kent, a US marine veteran. 

The trip included undergraduate and graduate students with a range of majors, including political science and anthropological archaeology. For some it was their first experience with practices of Judaism, and others descended from Polish Jews.

From left to right, Steve Frankel, Dean Hinde, and Dan Ricketts stand together. Steve and Dan hold their Philanthropy awards.
Left to right: Steve Frankel, Dean Hinde, and Dan Ricketts.

“Sharing a Shabbat dinner at the Jewish Community Center in Krakow at the end of the trip offered me a sense of comfort and reminded me of the resilience of the Jewish community,’ said Samuel Balter, who will be a UT Jewish Studies Fellow in 2026-2027. “After visiting some of the darkest places that have ever been built, being welcomed into a thriving Jewish community was incredibly powerful. Following a week of remembering what has been lost, this Shabbat served as a reminder of what has endured.”

The study abroad opportunity was funded through the Frankel-Ricketts Global Scholars Program, which supports travel scholarships, undergraduate scholarships, faculty awards for research on Israeli culture, and short-term teaching opportunities for visiting scholars. The UT College of Arts and Sciences honored Dan Ricketts (BS, Business Administration ’85; JD, Law ’92) and Steve Frankel for their transformative gift to the Department of Religious Studies by recognizing them as 2025 Philanthropists of the Year.

Their support greatly enhances the work of the Department of Religious Studies and reflects their deeply personal belief in the power of travel to combat prejudice and foster global understanding.