By: Leah Campbell
In May 2024 I had the incredible opportunity of going on the International March of the Living alongside an amazing group of fellow Canadian university students. As a great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, this was a trip that I had been longing to go on for quite some time. I had heard of its profound impact from many alumni, but was deprived of the opportunity to attend during my high school years due to Covid-19. After the horrors of October 7th, and the alarming rise in antisemitism that followed, I felt that it was increasingly important that I attend this year, and rightfully so, as it made the already evocative and powerful experience that much more impactful.
We first spent a week in Poland, where we attempted to conceptualize the loss of the over 6 million Jewish lives that were taken during the Holocaust. In order to do so, we began by learning about the enriched Jewish life that had existed prior to the war, from our incredibly knowledgeable and engaging tour-guide, Miriam, who was able to convey experiences and emotions like no other. Following our learning of these once-thriving Jewish communities, and after listening to as many testimonies and stories as Miriam could share with us, we were taken to witness the sites where these communities, Shtetls, families, men, women, and children met their demise. Lopuchowo Forest, Treblinka, and the most bone-chilling, Majdanek, where the entire concentration/extermination camp still stands virtually intact. There are no words that could possibly describe the experience of walking through each of these places, and the feelings, thoughts, and emotions that they evoke. At each of these sites we also heard first hand testimonies from the Holocaust survivors travelling with us, who we were able to build strong connections with throughout the trip, and engage in deeply meaningful conversations that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. On Yom HaShoah, we joined together with 6,000 others from across the world to participate in the March of the Living, marching from Auschwitz I to Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
When we first arrived at Auschwitz, I was immediately met with a gut-wrenching feeling like I’ve never had before. However, in the midst of the concentration camp’s darkness, the flood of everyone draped with blue and white Israeli flags, brought such light and life, reminding me of the pride, joy, and dignity I feel to be part of the Jewish people. It was undoubtedly one of the hardest experiences of my life to bear witness to these atrocious acts and hear the testimonies of individuals whose footsteps once walked in the same places as mine stood. Each time we were reminded that we are the ones who got to walk out, and we continue to stand up, honour, and keep our heads held high for all of the Holocaust victims who did not get to do the same.
We are constantly reminded of, and make the promise of never again, but found it difficult to do so as we made our way to Israel, where we continued to bear witness, this time to the largest scale massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. In the past, groups have been brought to Israel after Poland to show that despite the Holocaust’s attempt to wipe the Jewish nation off the planet, we now have our established homeland where we are able to live safely and freely. As fortunate as I was to be in the promised land, it was absolutely devastating to see our Israeli brothers and sisters in pain, and the crushing impact that the war has had on our nation. It meant so much to be able to help in any way we could, by paying our respect on Mount Herzl, volunteering for Leket, protesting to demand the release of the hostages, visiting Hostage Square to hear experiences of those with loved ones still in captivity, and honouring those who were brutally murdered on October 7th in Sderot and at the NOVA festival. To add yet another layer, this took place over the transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’aztmaut, providing much more depth to our emotions at this time as we stood in solidarity with all of those hurting across the country. I have no doubt that I will carry the memories and experiences of this once in a lifetime trip with me always.
I am very grateful for the financial support that I received from the Friedman Scholarship Fund, organized through Edmonton Talmud Torah Society, that helped relieve some of the costs of the program. I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone who is considering applying to go on the March of the Living to do so, and to take advantage of this scholarship opportunity.
For more information on Friedman Scholarship eligibility and application requirements, please email nataliesoroka@talmudtorahsociety.com or call Natalie at the Society office 780-481-3377.