Russian Youth Trace the Footsteps of the Holocaust
One hundred and fifty students from the 10th and 11th grades at the FJC’s ‘Or Avner’ Jewish high schools in Russia participated for the first time in their lives in an emotional journey to the death camps and Jewish Ghettos in Poland.
“Tomorrow will never again be like yesterday” the participants testified, “My entire approach to Judaism changed, I now feel a proud Jew”.
The fascinating voyage following the milestones in the history of Polish Jewry up to its destruction during the terrible Holocaust, concluded yesterday. 150 students from the higher grades of the ‘Or Avner’ network of Jewish schools across Russia participated.
Special preparation classes were held to prepare the participants for the empowering experience that managed to create within the pupils a deep sense of Jewish pride and identity that will continue to accompany them for the rest of their lives, establishing their future identity as believing Jews.
The experimental pilot trip included visits to Jewish sites and Ghettos in Warsaw, Lodz and Krakow, a visit to the death camp in Auschwitz and an uplifting Shabbat in the famous ‘Izik’s Shul’ that was addressed by leading lecturers.
Following the voyage’s success, the network’s administration is considering the possibility of expanding the voyage in the future to include the rest of the students of the network from throughout the Former Soviet Union.
Shmuley
Yes. I also stood right there. It has been a few years since I took part in the March of the Living, as an adult.
My old Rebbe would not have approved of the level of anger I felt. Definitely something I discussed while studying Tanya. In any event, whatever we were taught in the public school system as I passed through it in the late fifties and early sixties certainly did not even come close to what REALLY happened over there. I am glad I went. Now I can speak the truth and have hundreds of photos to show to anyone interested. Sending the kids on The March of the Living is one of the most important lessons they could ever learn, in my opinion.
Shmuley
Oh, and I wanted to mention that it is a wonderful mitzvah they are doing in Russia for these kids. I hope they can keep it up.
Also, when looking at the photos of the crematoria, note how well the areas have been “cleaned-up”. How horrible a place it must have been when it was in use.
And yes, it does make one proud to be Jewish. While in Poland I was never to be seen without my tzitzis and kippah. I found it interesting how the attitude of the Polish people changed the instant they realized we were Jewish. Our reception was cold as ice at best. They really do carry a lot of guilt. We held our heads high!