The more liberal Jewish movements apparently click with modern-day Eastern European Jews, many of whom have known nothing but secularism in their lives. As part of his personal outreach, Michaelson travels from his London home to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to connect with small Jewish Reform communities. In Vilnius, Lithuania, for example, a synagogue that was converted into a store following World War II has been reborn as a Reform synagogue. Fifty to 60 gather for Friday night services. There are 54 such communities throughout Europe, including in cities such as Barcelona, Milan and Lyon.
Travelers visit their ancestors' birthplaces, graves and the homes.
His personal pilgrimage took him to the home of his late great-grandmother in Tabariskes, a small village outside Vilnius. There are the same little wooden houses. There is electricity but no water going to the homes. People brought buckets to the communal well. It was like something out of an opera.