Life-Changing Journey: Local Teens Talk about 2017 March of the Living to Poland and Israel

Several Massachusetts 17 year-olds participated in the 2017 March of the Living. At a recent post-event reception in Sharon for participant families, prospective participants, and supporters, three teens discussed what they saw during the unique two-week journey to Poland and Israel and how it dramatically changed their outlook and their lives. This year’s MOTL brought together 8,000 teens from around the world to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of fighting prejudice wherever they see it, and the historical significance of the State of Israel. Recruitment is underway for MOTL 2018 scheduled for April 8 – 22.

Participant Micha Salzberg said, “Nothing could have prepared me for what it would feel like to really stand in the cattle cars, walk through the gas chambers, and march with thousands of other Jewish teenagers like me in the place where so much of family was murdered.”

Participant Beatrice Fellman said, “March of the Living not only gave me a stronger connection to the Holocaust, but to Israel. To see where my great grandfather was murdered and to immerse myself further into the history of the atrocity that my grandmother survived is an experience I will take with me forever. I have a deeper understanding of the effect Israel has on many people who live in fear that we could one day be targeted again. I have such a huge appreciation for the knowledge that I gained on this trip.”

17 year-old Chelsea Haime said, “This made my first trip to Israel all the more powerful because I have seen the lowest point in Jewish history, and then the beauty of Israel. Among high points were celebrating Shabbat in Jerusalem and seeing the Wall, walking from Tel Aviv to Jaffa, shopping, and the beauty of Safed, as well as marking Yom HaShoah in Haifa. I want to thank you personally because this trip had a tremendous amount of meaning that I will never forget.”

MOTL New England is recruiting participants for 2018 and earlier this year launched its scholarship drive with a Beatles tribute concert. For registration info, contact Aaron Kischel: kischel7241@gmail.com .

To donate to the Friends of the MOTL Endowment Fund for Mass. teens, tax-deductible donations may be sent to: CJP – Kempner Family Foundation, c/o Combined Jewish Philanthropies, 126 High Street, Boston, Mass. 02110. To ensure proper credit, on the memo line, write ‘March of the Living.’ Donations of $1,000 will be matched dollar for dollar by the Kempner Family Foundation. For more information about donations and/or participation in Friends of MOTL, contact IrvKempner@gmail.com / (617) 285-8620, or visit https://motlnewengland.org/

By Stanley Hurwitz / stanhurwitz@gmail.com

(Captions to accompany attached photos - in order…)

Robert Haime and his daughter Chelsea who participated in the 2017 March of the Living (MOTL) chat with Mass. MOTL New England Chapter President Irv Kempner at recent reception in Sharon for participant families and scholarship donors.

Left to right are: Ruth Ades, MOTL supporter who has two granddaughters who are MOTL alumni; Aaron Kischel, group leader and New England March of the Living Director; Sara Ades Goodwin, Development Director; and Tamara and Michael Fellman whose daughter joined the 2017 MOTL.

Left to right: MOTL supporter Gary Markoff; N. E. Chapter President Irv Kempner; Zoe Nierman, hoping to participate in 2018, and her father Jon Nierman.

Shown are Susan and Stu Salzberg whose son Micha joined the 2017 MOTL.

Some 8,000 March of the Living participants from around the world unfurled an Israeli flag as they walked the tracks that carried Jews and other Nazi prisoners to their death at Auschwitz while in Poland and marked Holocaust Remembrance Day. The second part of MOTL includes celebration of Israel Independence Day in Israel.