Sunday, May 30, 2010
It's About the Little Things
While yesterday's theme was focused on being a community, today was about individual choices that can make an impact that last well into the future. We have been fortunate enough to meet some extraordinary individuals who have inspired us to change our perspective on the world.
We've talked a lot in recent days about the little things. Through many of our experiences we have begun to notice how great an impact even the smallest word or action can have on the "big picture". On the way to Warsaw this morning, we visited the site of a post war anti-semitic occurrence that claimed the lives of more than 42 city residents. While the facts are disputed even today, the event was essentially a result of the smallest of lies. The result only re-iterates the fact that one word and one action can fuel deadly and destructive hatred. We discussed this issue again and again, that a single derogatory comment, while it may not be issued at a single person or group with any malicious intent, is supporting a greater agenda of hate and misunderstanding. It's about the small things, like what words we choose. This week we have been challenged to examine ourselves and our prejudices on a deeper level, acknowledging that it is these small actions that ultimately support or reject a culture of hate.
On the other hand, the smallest of actions can make a world of positive change. We had the privilege and honor of meeting a woman whose family has been deemed "Righteous Among the Nations" for their actions supporting Jews during the war, even when it put their life on the line. The honor was awarded to Chezlowa Yad's parents. She was a 16 year old girl in Poland during the time of the Holocaust. Instead of turning her head and ignoring the human atrocities taking place in her community, her family opened their home to 14 Jews and gave them shelter and protection for over 3 years. She remarked to us today that her actions were never thought of as extraordinary, instead it was simply the right thing to do as a human being. All 14 people survived and lived on to have healthy families which span three generations now.
We can learn a lesson from both of these examples. As individuals, we have a bigger impact than it may always seem. It is about the small things.
With love from Warsaw, Poland... Caitlin and Anna
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Marching in Community
Hello from Poland! This is Sarah Canavan, an HWS participant. I just
returned from dinner with the group at a delicious local restaurant in
Cracow-- we ate perogies!
Today was a bit of an emotional break from the stress of yesterday. We
spent the morning on a walking tour of Cracow visiting synogogues and
other relevant sites, had some free time in a main square in "Old
Town," and visited the park at the site of the former camp, Plachov
(which is the camp depicted in Schindler's List). Because I can't
leave out such an important aspect of the day, most of us Marchers
witnessed the world's biggest pillow fight this afternoon in "Old
Town." HUNDREDS of teenagers poured into the square with pillows and
had a huge fight. I don't know what it was all about, but it was quite
a sight. We finished the evening with a closing of Shabbat dinner and
ceremony.
Tonight, I mostly want to tell you about our group. It's fascinating
to me how quickly a group of strangers can become a family. Yesterday
was a trying day both within the group and within ourselves, which is
why we debrief each night. After walking through barracks and gas
chambers and torture cells and a room full of shoes, there were more
emotions than I could possibly convey. Personally, I experienced
overwhelming sadness, anger, fear, disgust, irritation, hope, love,
and a whole lot of others that I don't have a name for. A lot for one
day, right? As you can probably imagine, with fifty people all going
through these and other feelings at their own pace and in their own
way, it was a day to really test our relationship as a community. The fact that just two hours ago sixty people held hands and sang and laughed and
danced together in a middle of a square in downtown Cracow is a
testament to how wonderful my March family is. Last night's debriefing
session was an unbelievable show of solidarity, confidence,
compassion, and understanding and it has extended to full-group
discussions, one-on-one conversations in hotel rooms, shared thoughts
on the bus and a whole lot of connection between sixty random people
with a common desire to learn about the past in order to make the
world a better place. I can now honestly say that I have had a
conversation (even if just a short one) with every single person on
this trip, and I think most people can say the same. On a trip like
this, it's absolutely necessary to set aside discomfort and
differences while at the same time, remember them. Lynne offered us a
brilliant piece of wisdom this afternoon when she told us that if we want to understand each other it is essential to do two things: to forget the differences and to not ever ever forget the differences.
Yesterday I walked through one of the most terrifying places I have
ever been but being around these people made all the difference even
though I have only known them for three days. At the end of our
"March," and our day in Auschwitz-Birkenau we all joined hands and
sang songs and prayers for the people who died on the very ground
where we stood, for people who are suffering from injustice today, and
for people we love. We followed the ceremony with a beautiful Shabbat
dinner, and I am pleased to report that every table was a mix of
leaders, HWS Marchers and Nazareth Marchers. We have meshed more
beautifully than I could have imagined, and I know that the people
I've met on this trip will never leave me. I will always remember the
love and support I've felt coursing through the March community these
past days.
And as much as I love our leaders, they have scheduled a 6AM wake-up
call, so I'm calling it a night. Thank you for your support :)
Sarah
returned from dinner with the group at a delicious local restaurant in
Cracow-- we ate perogies!
Today was a bit of an emotional break from the stress of yesterday. We
spent the morning on a walking tour of Cracow visiting synogogues and
other relevant sites, had some free time in a main square in "Old
Town," and visited the park at the site of the former camp, Plachov
(which is the camp depicted in Schindler's List). Because I can't
leave out such an important aspect of the day, most of us Marchers
witnessed the world's biggest pillow fight this afternoon in "Old
Town." HUNDREDS of teenagers poured into the square with pillows and
had a huge fight. I don't know what it was all about, but it was quite
a sight. We finished the evening with a closing of Shabbat dinner and
ceremony.
Tonight, I mostly want to tell you about our group. It's fascinating
to me how quickly a group of strangers can become a family. Yesterday
was a trying day both within the group and within ourselves, which is
why we debrief each night. After walking through barracks and gas
chambers and torture cells and a room full of shoes, there were more
emotions than I could possibly convey. Personally, I experienced
overwhelming sadness, anger, fear, disgust, irritation, hope, love,
and a whole lot of others that I don't have a name for. A lot for one
day, right? As you can probably imagine, with fifty people all going
through these and other feelings at their own pace and in their own
way, it was a day to really test our relationship as a community. The fact that just two hours ago sixty people held hands and sang and laughed and
danced together in a middle of a square in downtown Cracow is a
testament to how wonderful my March family is. Last night's debriefing
session was an unbelievable show of solidarity, confidence,
compassion, and understanding and it has extended to full-group
discussions, one-on-one conversations in hotel rooms, shared thoughts
on the bus and a whole lot of connection between sixty random people
with a common desire to learn about the past in order to make the
world a better place. I can now honestly say that I have had a
conversation (even if just a short one) with every single person on
this trip, and I think most people can say the same. On a trip like
this, it's absolutely necessary to set aside discomfort and
differences while at the same time, remember them. Lynne offered us a
brilliant piece of wisdom this afternoon when she told us that if we want to understand each other it is essential to do two things: to forget the differences and to not ever ever forget the differences.
Yesterday I walked through one of the most terrifying places I have
ever been but being around these people made all the difference even
though I have only known them for three days. At the end of our
"March," and our day in Auschwitz-Birkenau we all joined hands and
sang songs and prayers for the people who died on the very ground
where we stood, for people who are suffering from injustice today, and
for people we love. We followed the ceremony with a beautiful Shabbat
dinner, and I am pleased to report that every table was a mix of
leaders, HWS Marchers and Nazareth Marchers. We have meshed more
beautifully than I could have imagined, and I know that the people
I've met on this trip will never leave me. I will always remember the
love and support I've felt coursing through the March community these
past days.
And as much as I love our leaders, they have scheduled a 6AM wake-up
call, so I'm calling it a night. Thank you for your support :)
Sarah
Friday, May 28, 2010
Auschwitz
Hi, friends! First off, parents, I’m fine, no worries! :-) And all the other family and friends out there - we are all doing well, just a bit emotionally drained and a bit confused.
This is Andrea Rocchio from William Smith (HWS). I’m going into my senior year and I’m a double major in Geoscience and Performance Writing and a minor in Environmental Studies. Below are my reflections on our memorable day in Auschwitz.
Heavy… the word doesn’t even begin to describe what we experienced today at Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II (Birkenau). We heard the heart-wrenching stories from our amazing survivors Henry and Sally. Henry spoke about life 14-year-old in the camps from day-to-day and as one of the 89 Birkenau Boys and the mystery surrounding why some were chosen to live and others shot cold. Later in the day, Sally explained her life as a child in hiding, once a “ghetto rat” who turned into the little Polish girl saved by an amazing Polish family.
We walked through the haunting museum of Auschwitz I observing the rows of person belongings taken from the prisoners, the brick living quarters, the remnants of a wall dividing women and men, the crematorium that mercilessly consumed faces and lives in flames. We cautiously stepped in Birkenau viewing the barracks, the trains, the monuments, the buildings destroyed, the vastness…
More importantly,
We
Marched.
We marched for one person, for a group of people, even for John Lennon. That march was the reason why we came across the world to a new land and we all did it in the spirit of peace.
The grass of the camps and the day fit for vacations juxtaposed itself upon the harshness and cruelty that breathed the past. In this stark contrast there should not be lasting anger, but the hope of a new tomorrow. May every wildflower that spouts from the grounds in the camps represent the 11 million plus lives lost.
We shall overcome.
-A. M. Rocchio
This is Andrea Rocchio from William Smith (HWS). I’m going into my senior year and I’m a double major in Geoscience and Performance Writing and a minor in Environmental Studies. Below are my reflections on our memorable day in Auschwitz.
Heavy… the word doesn’t even begin to describe what we experienced today at Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II (Birkenau). We heard the heart-wrenching stories from our amazing survivors Henry and Sally. Henry spoke about life 14-year-old in the camps from day-to-day and as one of the 89 Birkenau Boys and the mystery surrounding why some were chosen to live and others shot cold. Later in the day, Sally explained her life as a child in hiding, once a “ghetto rat” who turned into the little Polish girl saved by an amazing Polish family.
We walked through the haunting museum of Auschwitz I observing the rows of person belongings taken from the prisoners, the brick living quarters, the remnants of a wall dividing women and men, the crematorium that mercilessly consumed faces and lives in flames. We cautiously stepped in Birkenau viewing the barracks, the trains, the monuments, the buildings destroyed, the vastness…
More importantly,
We
Marched.
We marched for one person, for a group of people, even for John Lennon. That march was the reason why we came across the world to a new land and we all did it in the spirit of peace.
The grass of the camps and the day fit for vacations juxtaposed itself upon the harshness and cruelty that breathed the past. In this stark contrast there should not be lasting anger, but the hope of a new tomorrow. May every wildflower that spouts from the grounds in the camps represent the 11 million plus lives lost.
We shall overcome.
-A. M. Rocchio
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Reflection from Wannsee
My name is David Sanchez, the following excerpt was taken from some reflective writing I wrote after our first day in Wannsee, Germany where we visited a group of villas where many Jews once lived and thrived culturally. An important piece of the Holocaust also took place in this town at the Wannsee Mansion, where members of the Nazi party and other German government officials reviewed and accepted the goals outlined in the Final Solution as well as the specifics of how this policy would be implemented.
Sharon, our Israeli guide, speaks on the importance of euphemistic language that was used during the conference (and throughout Nazi history) held here in 1964. Vague vocabulary such as “relocation” and “natural selection” was used to help facilitate the dehumanization and rationalization process of Nazi soldiers (perpetrators), and accepting citizens (bystanders) that led up to the plans eradicate the entire European Jewish population (victims). As we walk around the interior of the home, the evidence of this type of language becomes more visible as we examine original Nazi documents with English translations shown alongside. Before going into the estate Sharon had suggested to not get too hung up on reading all the information posted, instead to try to analyze the location for what it is, for what it was. I take this into account as I look around, skimming through the overwhelming amount of exhibits. One displays in particular catches my eye as I look down at the bottom of the single piece of paper. I see a total of all the numbers listed above with corresponding names of cities. It reads 11,000,000. Although we had briefly discussed the details of the meeting, the meaning of this number is immediately clear to me. It represents the total of all the Jews that were planned to be wiped out. I walked around and took some pictures of other documents and the architecture of the house. All else seemed somewhat irrelevant in light of the master plan. I didn’t see many others on the team doing much talking, only observing, as everyone seemed to be in somewhat of an awe or daze; attempting to soak in all the different sights and feelings. After speaking with other members of the team we conclude the contrasting feelings of how a place so beautiful simultaneously holds an inseparable bond to evil. This irony is reinforced as I look outside into the backyard landscaped with colorful flowers trees and statues. As I exit outside I hear crows calling loudly in the garden area and I look up to see shadowy figures circling the cloudy sky. I feel that the presence of these birds is no coincidence and interpret their color and movement as a symbol of the planning of murders that occurred here only 60 years ago. I walk around the lush yard feeling like it’s a scene out of fantasy movie. The entire location seems so surreal. My group meets up on some steps out looking the lake and we discuss certain perspectives Holocaust scholars use to explain history. We then talk about members who partook in the conference. Our guide ends with a short excerpt that describes the facilitators’ (Himmler) and other officials’ attitudes and behavior during and after the meeting. The Nazis drank fine liquor, relaxed and enjoyed each others’ company soon after the plans for genocide had been laid out. The number 11,000,000 stays in my head for the rest of the day.
Sharon, our Israeli guide, speaks on the importance of euphemistic language that was used during the conference (and throughout Nazi history) held here in 1964. Vague vocabulary such as “relocation” and “natural selection” was used to help facilitate the dehumanization and rationalization process of Nazi soldiers (perpetrators), and accepting citizens (bystanders) that led up to the plans eradicate the entire European Jewish population (victims). As we walk around the interior of the home, the evidence of this type of language becomes more visible as we examine original Nazi documents with English translations shown alongside. Before going into the estate Sharon had suggested to not get too hung up on reading all the information posted, instead to try to analyze the location for what it is, for what it was. I take this into account as I look around, skimming through the overwhelming amount of exhibits. One displays in particular catches my eye as I look down at the bottom of the single piece of paper. I see a total of all the numbers listed above with corresponding names of cities. It reads 11,000,000. Although we had briefly discussed the details of the meeting, the meaning of this number is immediately clear to me. It represents the total of all the Jews that were planned to be wiped out. I walked around and took some pictures of other documents and the architecture of the house. All else seemed somewhat irrelevant in light of the master plan. I didn’t see many others on the team doing much talking, only observing, as everyone seemed to be in somewhat of an awe or daze; attempting to soak in all the different sights and feelings. After speaking with other members of the team we conclude the contrasting feelings of how a place so beautiful simultaneously holds an inseparable bond to evil. This irony is reinforced as I look outside into the backyard landscaped with colorful flowers trees and statues. As I exit outside I hear crows calling loudly in the garden area and I look up to see shadowy figures circling the cloudy sky. I feel that the presence of these birds is no coincidence and interpret their color and movement as a symbol of the planning of murders that occurred here only 60 years ago. I walk around the lush yard feeling like it’s a scene out of fantasy movie. The entire location seems so surreal. My group meets up on some steps out looking the lake and we discuss certain perspectives Holocaust scholars use to explain history. We then talk about members who partook in the conference. Our guide ends with a short excerpt that describes the facilitators’ (Himmler) and other officials’ attitudes and behavior during and after the meeting. The Nazis drank fine liquor, relaxed and enjoyed each others’ company soon after the plans for genocide had been laid out. The number 11,000,000 stays in my head for the rest of the day.
Student Reflection from Berlin
Hello Everyone. This is Sarah Teetsel with the first description of our activities from Berlin. After arriving in Berlin Berlin , to the Wahnsee River
Afterwards, we traveled back into the city to bear witness to the Grunewald Memorial and the Bayerische Platz Memorial. After dinner Anya, a German citizen and former March participant from HWS, shared some of her thoughts on remembrance, and we reflected on everything that had happened in our small groups. As we might have guessed, even the first day gave us much to think about, especially after our long journey to get here. For me, one way to process what we have experienced thus far was to write a poem, uniting the themes and ideas from the whole day. Colored words are reference to specific sites, but the sites are not in chronological order as we experience them throughout the day. This offers one perspective of our first day on The March. Thank you for being with us as we continue this life-changing journey.
THE FIRST DAY
I take a walk in the woods.
Green is all around me.
I hear the soft rustle
Of my footsteps.
The shadows of the trees
Loom all around,
Silently marching
With those that have come before.
Slowly, the grass fades
Into stones.
The ground becomes imprisoned,
Lashed by wood and metal.
It continues on for what seems like forever,
So I begin to count,
To see if I can reach an end to the madness.
I look closer at the bright,
Brilliant, bronze and iron.
Upon closer inspection,
I see only the rust,
Surely stemming
From the tears of
Beings who came before.
Soon I come to a house,
Gilded with jewels and finery,
Scented with perfume,
Yet none of it can mask
The odor of deceit,
Beguiling as it may be,
There is something rotten
With the uniformity,
The anonymity.
No mount of wealth
Can hide the scars
That are left behind
From the procedure,
The clinical atmosphere
Produced harm
Instead of giving life.
I look for a sign,
Something to tell me
Where the hell I am.
But there is nothing,
Those voices are silent.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Greetings from BERLIN!!!
Guten Tag dear family and friends: it's your foreign friend Meghan Robinson here! We have landed in on a beautiful sunny and breezy day in Berlin, Germany, without much difficulty at all. As we descended into the bustling city filled with high rise apartments, parks and monuments, places of work and government, we weren't only greeted by the sunshine, but our Israeli and Polish guides, who graciously took us under their wing (and we liked them right away b/c they fed us!) sharing their knowledge and great insight with us. We are beyond grateful to have had such a safe journey across the Atlantic and although tired, are eagerly awaiting (coupled with many other emotions) the experience that lies ahead of us. Thanks for all of your love and support. We are carrying it in our hearts!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Departure Day
Dear Family and Friends,
We feel an overwhelming amount of support - and excitement - as we make our final preparations for our journey. In a few moments the local community will lead us through a send-off ceremony and then we will be on our way!
The next 36 hours will be packed with travel (overnight flight from Toronto) and our first full day in Berlin. We will not have computer access for the first day and a half, so don't worry about us in the meantime! We promise to send reflections as soon as we can.
Many thanks and blessings to the countless people who are supporting us through this life-changing adventure. We are deeply grateful.
Peace to all,
~Lynne Boucher
We feel an overwhelming amount of support - and excitement - as we make our final preparations for our journey. In a few moments the local community will lead us through a send-off ceremony and then we will be on our way!
The next 36 hours will be packed with travel (overnight flight from Toronto) and our first full day in Berlin. We will not have computer access for the first day and a half, so don't worry about us in the meantime! We promise to send reflections as soon as we can.
Many thanks and blessings to the countless people who are supporting us through this life-changing adventure. We are deeply grateful.
Peace to all,
~Lynne Boucher
Monday, May 24, 2010
Welcome
Welcome to the Bearing Witness to Hope 2010 blog... Please check back to read as participants on this extraordinary trip chronicle their travels... In the meantime, if you would like to check out the blog that was kept on the last trip in 2008, feel free to visit: http://marchofremembranceandhope2008.blogspot.com/ . Also, you can view the Bearing Witness to Hope website at: http://www.naz.edu/dept/cfs/morah/ .
Finally, for all of you family and friends of our travel participants, please know how much your comments to the blog mean to our travelers! Take time to read the blog and please take time to comment or to share your thoughts...
This post written by: Jennie Schaff (one of the March leaders from the 2008 trip)
Finally, for all of you family and friends of our travel participants, please know how much your comments to the blog mean to our travelers! Take time to read the blog and please take time to comment or to share your thoughts...
This post written by: Jennie Schaff (one of the March leaders from the 2008 trip)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
