The March of the Living (Hebrew: מצעד החיים, Mits'ad HaKhayim; Polish: Marsz Żywych) is an annual educational program which brings students from around the world to Poland, where they explore the remnants of the Holocaust. On Holocaust Memorial Day observed in the Jewish calendar (Yom HaShoah), thousands of participants march silently from Auschwitz to Birkenau.
The March of the Living was founded in 1988, under the leadership of Israeli Likud politician Abraham Hirchson, Shmuel Rosenman, and Israeli attorney Baruch Adler, a child of a Holocaust survivor who was hidden by one of the Righteous Among the Nations.[1][2][3] Since its inception, almost 300,000 participants – including world leaders, educators, Holocaust survivors and students – have taken part in the program.[4][5]
History
The program was established in 1988 and takes place annually for two weeks around April and May, immediately following Passover. The initial program involved approximately 1500 Jewish high school students and teachers, mostly from North America, France, and Israel. Since 1996, it has been held annually.[6][7][8] In 1988, the initial march gathered considerable media attention. Notable personalities such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Yitzhak Navon, Bibi Netanyahu, and some Polish dignitaries were among its attendees.[9][10]
The Israeli founders of the March of the Living were politician Avraham Hirschson educator Dr. Shmuel Rosenman, and attorney Baruch Adler. They were assisted in the early years by Jewish communal leaders and philanthropists from the United States (Alvin Schiff, Gene Greenzweig, Dr. David Machlis, and Joseph Wilf, the first North American Chair of the March of the Living), and Canada (Walter Hess, Shlomo Shimon, Rabbi Irwin Witty, and Eli Rubenstein).
Commemoration of World War II death marches
Writer and journalist Meir Uziel proposed the name "March of the Living" to contrast the death marches that were typical at the end of World War II.[10] When Nazi Germany withdrew its soldiers from forced-labour camps, inmates – most already starving and stricken by oppressive work – were forced to march hundreds of miles farther west, while those who lagged behind or fell were shot or left to freeze to death in the winter climate. The March of the Living, in contrast to the death marches, serves to illustrate the continued existence of the Jewish people despite Nazi attempts at their obliteration.
After spending a week in Poland visiting other sites of Nazi Germany's persecution, such as Majdanek, Treblinka, and the Warsaw Ghetto, and former sites of Jewish life and culture, various Synagogues, many of the participants in the March also travel on to Israel where they observe Yom HaZikaron and celebrate Israel's Independence Day.[11]
Exhibit
In mid January 2014 a new exhibit on the March of the Living opened at the United Nations, which housed the exhibit until the end of March 2014. Titled "When you Listen to a Witness, You Become a Witness", the exhibit includes photographs, documents and writings devoted to the 25-year history of the March of the Living.[12]
An interactive component of the exhibition allows visitors to fill out their own pledge of tolerance and compassion which may be taken on the March of the Living and planted alongside thousands of other plaques of tolerance and compassion on the very grounds of Auschwitz-Birkenau.[13]
The title of the exhibit is taken from the words of Judy Weissenberg Cohen in a speech given to students on the 1997 March of the Living describing the last time she saw her mother during the selection of Hungarian Jewry in Auschwitz-Birkenau in the spring of 1944.[9][14][15]
On 10 March 2014, a group of students from New York's Pine Bush High School[16] – part of a district where there have been press reports alleging widespread anti-Semitism – visited the UN Exhibit. They were addressed by Holocaust survivors Judy Weissenberg Cohen and Fanya Heller, as well as by Rick Carrier, a World War II Liberator.[17][18]
Aharon Tamir (left), deputy chairman of March of the Living, meeting with Polish president Andrzej Duda in 2019
In recent years the March of the Living (MOTL) has attempted to broaden its focus from only concentrating on the Holocaust, and include other program content in the Poland portion of the trip. These elements include: celebrating Jewish life before the war, establishing dialogue with Polish students, meeting with Polish Righteous among the Nations, and connecting with the contemporary Polish Jewish community.[21]
in 2018, marking 30 years since the first March, Israel's delegation to the United Nations headquarters held an event with participation from Holocaust Survivors and other ambassadors from around the world. The reports also note a second reason for the gathering, a new law passed in Poland, absolving them of responsibility for the Holocaust. During the event, an exhibition called "Testimony" was inaugurated. The exhibition features a collection of photographs showcasing Holocaust survivors as well as students who have taken part in the parade since 1988, creating an additional experience for its visitors. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon talked about witnessing attempts rewrite history, saying, "It is precisely from the UN headquarters that was established following the greatest tragedy known to mankind that we must oppose any move to change the face of history and rewrite it. Every day, and especially on this day, it is more important than ever to remember those who perished and perpetuate the truth." March of the Living's president and co-founder Phyllis Heideman said, "We should not see the Holocaust as a historical, distant event, but as a perpetual symbol of darkness and darkness." Co-founder and chairman Dr. Shmuel Rosenman, speaking about the March explained, "The youth go to Poland for a week and from there to Israel for a week. Even before they leave for the trip, 12 meetings are held in which they receive an overview of everything related to the Holocaust and Israel. Close to 40% of the youth, by the way, are not Jewish."[22][23]
As part of a global initiative to raise awareness about antisemitism, the march includes non-Jewish young people as well. They believe that the key to fighting this disease is through clear and defined efforts to combat it, and they hope to spark a meaningful conversation about the issue.[10]
Cultural impact
Canadian teens meet with their Polish counterparts in Warsaw on the March of the Living (2 photos)
In May 2023, The March of the Living's Chairman described the modern culture of the new participants saying, "This year, we brought a new group of young leaders: online influencers and bloggers were on the March. They helped us reach new audiences of young people. Millions of views on social media, thousands of comments, shares and "likes". Because in a world where books are not burned but rather cancelled online, we should all be united in speaking out against antisemitism and all forms of hatred."[24]
When speaking about this year's upcoming march [in 2024] Rosenman stated special attention will be paid to fighting antisemitism, with emphasis on the atrocities of 7 October. "Now we see the [parallel] between the Holocaust and what happened in October."[25]
In January 2024, the Israeli president Isaac Herzog hosted an event at his residence with March of the Living to commemorate the Kindertransport, which brought nearly 10,000 children from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland to the United Kingdom in 1938–1939 during the Nazi regime. The event brought survivors of the Holocaust together and those who were part of the Kindertransport.[26] Chairman Shmuel Rosenman commented "[We were] shocked by the stories of the survivors about what they experienced 85 years ago, and horrified by the abhorrent stories from Israel. We were reminded that the hatred of the Jews has no expiration date. It changes its form. But its motivation is the same – the annihilation of the Jewish people."[27]
It is worth noting that a group of 30 adults, young adults, and Holocaust survivors from Australia is set to participate in the March of the Living in 2024, representing the Australian delegation's 23rd year in attendance. Since 2001, when Australia first joined the March, around 2,000 Australians have taken part in this event. This number includes 1,200 students, 450 adults, 300 educators and survivors, and 50 young adults.[28]
Documentaries and Publicationst In 1988, the March of the Living program began with around 1500 Jewish high school students and teachers from North America, France, and Israel.[8] The very first documentary film on the program was made during this time, following the Florida March of the Living delegation. This was an Emmy Award-winning film with Suzanne Lasky Gerard directing, while Colleen Dewhurst and Jonathan Silverman provided the narration, and the soundtrack was by Vadim Dreyzin. The film was updated by director in 2023, and titled "The March of the Living: Then and Now."[29][30] In 1993, "For You Who Died I Must Live On...Reflections on the March of the Living" was published by Mosaic Press. The book was edited by Eli Rubenstein, and featured the experiences from participants on the March from its first four years. It was subtitled, "Contemporary Jewish Youth Confront the Holocaust." The book won the 1994 Canadian Jewish Book Award.[31]
Each of Us Has a Name (1999) was produced and directed by Fern Levitt follows the journey of Canadian Jewish teenagers and Holocaust survivors on the March of the Living as they visit former Nazi German death camps in Poland, as well as other historic sites in the country.[32](Global Television Network)
In 2009 two different documentaries featured March of the Living participants or students on similar experiences during their time on the trip. The documentary Defamation, by filmmaker Yoav Shamir, includes a group of Israeli students during their time at Poland sites, including the stop at Auschwitz.[33] Director Jessica Sanders made a documentary titled March of the Living, which focuses entirely on the program and participants.[34]
Witness: Passing the Torch of Holocaust Memory to New Generations is a book authored by Eli Rubenstein and published by Second Story Press in 2015. The book is inspired by a 2014 United Nations exhibit showcasing the reflections and images of Holocaust survivors and students who participated in the March of the Living since 1988. Witness has been published in Spanish, Polish, and Hebrew languages. In 2020, a special edition of the book was released to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII and the liberation of Europe from Nazi tyranny. This edition features liberation stories of Holocaust survivors, an afterword by Steven Spielberg, founder of the USC Shoah Foundation, and content from Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis related to the March of the Living and stories concerning the Righteous Among the Nations.
Late 2015 saw the release of Blind Love, a documentary film about six blind Israelis traveling to Poland with the help of their guide dogs on the March of the Living to learn about the Holocaust. The blind participants and their guide dogs marched from Auschwitz-Birkenau in memory of the victims of Nazi genocide and against prejudice, intolerance and hate.[35]
The film premiered during Holocaust Education Week in Toronto, with the co-sponsorship of the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. It was also broadcast on the CBC's Canadian speciality channelDocumentary in late 2015 and then again in 2017 on Holocaust Remembrance Day, as well as in Israel on its main station Channel 10 (Israel) on the same day. The film also was broadcast on PBS in the United States.[35][36][37]
"Voices of Liberation” (2015) includes Holocaust survivors sharing their moments of liberation, 70 years later. The documentary premiered in Auschwitz-Birkenau on 'Yom HaShoah' (Holocaust Memorial Day), 16 April 2015, at the conclusion of the March of the Living. The film was directed by award winning director Matthew Shoychet with music by Canadian composer Ryan Shore. Archival footage was provided by the Toronto Holocaust Museum, March of the Living and the USC Shoah Foundation.[38]
The film "Our Liberation: Stories of Holocaust Survivors" Road to Freedom" was premiered on i24NEWS by International March of the Living and the March on International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021.[39]
The movie depicts the emotional experiences of six Holocaust survivors as they return to the moment when Allied troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps, granting them the long-awaited freedom.[40]
Naomi Wise directed and produced the documentary. The film highlights the personal stories of Holocaust survivors who participated in the March of the Living. The survivors featured are Miriam Ziegler, Faigie Libman, Ernest Ehrmann, and Joe Mandel, as well as the late Robert Engel Z"L and Howard Kleinberg Z"L.[41][42]
"Witness: Passing the Torch of Holocaust Memory to New Generations", directed by Naomi Wise, premiered on i24 News on International Holocaust Survivors Day, on 24 June 2021. The event marked the first ever international Holocaust Survivor Day, honoring the resilience, courage and contributions of Holocaust Survivors.[43][44]
The film, shot on location on the March of the Living in Poland, draws on the most poignant moments captured between survivors and students since 1988. March of the Living Survivors featured in the film include Lillian Boraks-Nemetz, Judy Cohen, Max Eisen, Max Glauben, Bill Glied, Pinchas Gutter, Denise Hans, Anna Heilman, Mania Hudy, Max Iland, Howard Kleinberg, Nate Leipciger, Faigie Libman, Sol Nayman, Edward Mosberg, Irving Roth, Rena Schondorf, Albert Silwin, Stefania Sitbon, Sally Wasserman, Elie Wiesel, Helen Yurmas, Miriam Zacrojcyk, and Sidney Zoltak.[44][43]
"Saving the World Entire: Rescuers During the Holocaust" (2023), directed by Naomi Wise, premiered on i24 News on International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January 2023[45][46][47]
27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, is globally recognized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Saving the World Entire profiles the courage of four Righteous Among the Nations, who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Archival testimony – provided by USC Shoah Foundation and March of the Living – focuses on four Polish rescuers whose stories have been shared with March of the Living students. The Polish rescuers – all honoured at Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations – are Zygmunt Krynski, Sister Klara Jaroszynska, Czeslawa Zak, and Krystyna Puchalski-Maciejewskai. The Holocaust survivors they rescued who share their story in the film are Sidney Zoltak, Eva Kuper, Olga Kost & Felix Zandman.[48][47][45][46]
In 2024 coinciding with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, International March of the Living released two Holocaust documentaries related to the Kindertransport:
"Journey of Hope": Retracing the Kindertransport after 85 Years" is a documentary featuring three Kindertransport survivors, Walter Bingham (100) Paul Alexander (85) and George Shefi (92), retracing the journey they took to escape Germany as children 85 years ago after the Kristallnacht pogrom.[49][50][51]
The film premiered on 24 January 2024 at the Israeli President's Residence with the attendance of President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog and nine Kindertransport survivors, including Mirjam Beit Talmi Szpiro, who was both a Kindertransport survivor as well as a survivor of the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, at Kibbutz Zikim. The film was broadcast on i24News.[52]
In January 2024, International March of the Living released the film "If We Never See Each Other Again", a documentary based on interviews with Kindertransport survivors from the USC Shoah Foundation, marking 85 years since the start of the first Kindertransport. The film was aired on JBS.[53]
The International March of the Living has commissioned a number of shorter Holocaust documentaries:
The Choice is Ours: Courageous Acts of Medical Professionals During the Holocaust[54][55]
Full Circle – Ukrainian Family Saves Jewish Woman During Holocaust – 80 Years Later Kindness Repaid[56][57]
United We Stand: Black Soldiers Liberating Hitler's Camps and Jewish Activists in Civil Rights Movement[58]
For the first time since its inception in 1988, the March of the Living program to Poland and Israel was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, an online virtual program was implemented instead in 2020 and 2021 [72][73][74] The in-person March of the Living resumed in 2022, though some groups cancelled because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[75]
Public Response to SPHR “Revolutionary Youth Summer Program”
On 18 June 2024, the International March of the Living publicly denounced a summer youth program advertising a "revolutionary" education, organized by Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) at McGill University. [76]
The Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor at McGill University released a statement on 14 June addressing their concerns and "appealing to public safety authorities."[77]
The March of the Living quoted Holocaust survivor, educator, and Montreal resident, Angele Orosz, stating, "“What’s happening today at McGill is so frightening for me. I was born in Auschwitz-Birkenau. I came to Canada to escape antisemitism. It’s unbearable that my grandchildren have to go through what I escaped Hungary for.”
The March of the Livings official statement online was, "The International March of the Living condemns in the strongest possible terms the plans announced by Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) at McGill University for a summer youth program promising “revolutionary” education."[76]
Commenting on the McGill protests, Chairman Shmuel Rosenman and President Phyllis Greenberg Heideman, issued the following statement: "Education for young people should never encourage the use of violence. When actions by students on campus, promoted by social media companies, make Holocaust survivors fear setting foot on campus and fear for the future of their grandchildren – it is clear that both the university and social media organizations have lost their way. Now it is high time to find their way back."[78]
See also
Edward Mosberg, Holocaust survivor, one of the biggest supporters of the International March of the Living, often attending the march wearing his original concentration camp uniform.
^Rubenstein, Eli (2015). Witness: Passing the Torch of Holocaust Memory to New Generations. Liberation 75 Edition. Canada: Second Story Press. pp. 2–4. ISBN9781772601503.
^Rubenstein, Eli (1993). Rubenstein (ed.). For You Who Died I Must Live On...A Reflection on the March of the Living (1st ed.). Toronto: Mosaic Press. p. 1. ISBN0-88962-452-6.
Rubenstein, Eli (1993). For You Who Died I Must Live On: Reflections on the March of the Living. Oakville, Ontario: Mosaic Press. ISBN0889625107.
Shevelev, Raphael; Schomer, Karine (1997). Liberating the Ghosts: Photographs and Text from the March of the Living. Anacortes, Washington: Lenswork Publishing. ISBN1888803002.
Berlfein Burns, Jan, ed. (2014). March of the Living: Our Stories: A Collection from the Holocaust Survivors of the Los Angeles Delegation of BJE. Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. ISBN9780985835439. OCLC940568018.
Rubenstein, Eli (2015). Witness: Passing the Torch of Holocaust Memory to New Generations. Toronto, Ontario: Second Story Press. ISBN978-1927583661.
