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March of the Educators Pre-Trip Photos
June, 2003
These photos were taken at one of our many pre-trip meetings in which we met to discuss both the trip and to become more knowledgable of both the Holocaust and its implications. |  | | |
Florida to Warsaw, Poland - Day 1
Travel to Warsaw and Warsaw Ghetto Area
Our group begins its first day of travels!! Part of the group left from Palm Beach International Airport, while those going to Prague left from Ft. Lauderdale 'International' Airport. After flying to Warsaw, we immediately started our tour of Warsaw. Our tour included the Warsaw Ghetto (memorial, Uschlagplatz Mila 18), the Jewish Memoral Cemetary. After checking into our hotel, we went to a Shabbat Dinner and to the Nozyk Synagogue -- the last standing synagogue in Warsaw....and the only one not to be destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. We leave tomorrow morning at 7AM .... we go all day and then travel to Crakow, Poland....pictures for this day may be delayed due to Internet availability. |  | | |
Days 2 - Lublin to Crakow, Poland
Majdanek Concentration Camp / City of Crakow
These pictures are from day 2 of our trip. We started our day by travelling to the Concentration Camp at Majdanek. Outside the camp, we wakled through a memorial comemorating those who died at the camp. You walk down inside the memoral and then up to the other side to commemorate the journey of the prisoners as they travelled through the horrific journey of the concentration camp. We were lucky to have with us Norman Frajman, a survivor from Majdanek. He walked with us through the camp. It was hard to believe the different sites we saw inside this camp. It is located just outside the city of Lublin. In fact, you can see the city while you are walking through the camp. We walked through several barracks -- which now contain different exhibits for visitors. Our journey was ended by visiting the creamatorium and then performing a memorial for those who suffered at Majdanek. After leaving the camp, we travelled to Crakow -- our five hour trip on the bus gave us time to reflect and discuss various issues and topics. |  | | |
Day 3 - Crakow Poland
City Tour of Crakow, The Jewish Ghetto, The Jewish Museum, The Remuh Synagogue
After arriving in Crakow last night, we had an chance to walk by foot from our hotel to Crakow City Square. It is vibrant with life! There were many young people walking around this beautiful site. We started the morning by attending services at St. Mary's Catherdral. This was a unique opportunity for all participants. We walked through the Jewish Ghetto and visited several synagogues and viewed the different styles of architecture and design. We visited the Jewish museum (after having time to visit several different restaurants for lunch). The museum housed several artifacts and items that were important for everyone to see. The end of our daytime journey was spent at the Remuh Synagoge -- a reform synagogue. It was ornate and beautiful from its restoration. We sang songs and discussed different forms of worship styles. In the evening, we travelled back to the city center and had dinner. We had the unique priviledge of eating dinner with Dr. Peter Troyavich, the author of the Holocaust curriculum for the Country of Poland.
TOMORROW WE ATTEND NORMAN'S BAR MITZVAH!!!! |  | | |
Days 1 - 3: Warsaw to Crakow (Randi's Pictures)
These pictures were taken by tour participant, Randi Schietz
Here are some supplental pictures of our trip. The combine the first three days of our trip. Some of these pictures may be repeats of pictures you have already seen. We though, though, they added value to our collection.
Not all the captions are completed...Due to our severe time retraints, we will put them in as soon as we can. |  | | |
Day 4 - Crakow - Bar Mitzvah / Auschwitz I / Auschwitz II - Birkenau
Today we started the morning by travelling to the Auschwitz Educucational Center. We went to the synagogue where we attended the Bar Mitzvah of Norman Frajman. Norman was unable to have his Bar Mitzvah at age 13 because he was in the concentration camp at Majdanek. He honored us by allowing Rabbi Shapiro to perform a Bar Mitzvah service. We then traveel to Auschwitz / Birkenau where we tourned both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau -- you can't believe the expansiveness of the site until you are actually there. It is very large in size -- pictures do not do it justice! Auschwitz I was mainly for political prisoners and the administration of the camp while Birkenau was made the main concentration camp area. Upon returning home after a long day, we traveled to Norman's reception for his Mar Mitzvah! We had live music and a wonderful dinner....we celebrated Norman's life and accomplishments 60 years after it should have taken place -- we will remember the tears of joy we shed forever!
NO PHOTOS Posted tomorrow night July 22. We are travelling via train to Berlin.
OUR EMERGENCY NUMBER HAS CHANGED TO: 606-969-334 Use it in emergencies only, please.
CONGRATULATIONS AND LONG LIFE TO OUR BAR MITZVAH, NORMAN!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!! YOU HAVE CHANGED US FOREVER. |  | | |
Day 5 - Crakow to Berlin
Crakow Jewish Ghetto, Salt Mines, Berlin via Train
We started the day by leaving early for a city tour of the Crakow City Ghetto. We went to the factory where Oscar Schindler maintained his factory and later helped Jews who were persecuted in the war. Later, we went to the Salt mines outside of Crakow. Many people lived in the mines that were established in the 1300's as a way to gain income for the Queen. During World War II, the Nazis used the mines to manufacture parts in their war effort. We travelled back to the city center to the Castle and Cathedral at Wawel Hill. This Castle was established by one of the last Kings of Poland as his palace before he moved the capital city to Warsaw. After our last dinner -- in a traditional peasant restaurant (and the giving of our gift to our MOTL guide, Sharon) we had the unique 'pleasure' of travelling from Crakow to Berlin (a 12 plus hour journey) via a (very very old) Russian-built train to Berlin, Germany. Passports Please! |  | | |
Day 6 - Arrival in Berlin
City Tour of Berlin (East and West) / Berlin Wall
Today, after arriving at the 'Zoo' station of Berlin, we were met at the station by Dov and Reiner (our tour leader and driver). We were driven immediately to breakfast and then taken on a city tour (after a 2 minute stop to drop off our luggage).
We toured historical sites thorughout the city. We viewed the (future) site of the Holocaust Memorial, the Nazi Party's Aviation Buildings, Synagogues, and the Berlin Wall -- including Checkpoint Charlie. Dr. Rose Gatens discussed the development and deployment of Nazi Power in both Germany and abroad at the Topography of Terror exhibit. Tomorrow we go to the Wansee Conference Center -- the historical site where Hitler's 'Final Solution' was developed. The unique part of this is that we will have a chance to meet with educators from Berlin to discuss how they teach their students about the Holocaust.
It's midnight and we're off to get some rest! Today/tonight is the hottest day in Berlin in 20 years! We are enjoying a 'typical European hotel'....the city is beautiful and we look forward to our experiences. |  | | |
Day 7: Berlin
Potsdam: Sanssousis Palace, Wannsee Conference Center, Meeting with German Educators
We started out the morning by travelling to the deportation site in Berlin. At this site, there is currently a memorial which commemorates all the Jews and others who were deported out of Berlin during the war. From there, we travelled to the Wannsee Conference Center. Wannsee, you may recall, was where Heydrich and other Nazi figures completed the 'Final Solution' of what to 'do with the Jews' in WWII. It is located on the southwestern part of Berlin. While at Wannsee, we met with two German educators who shared with us how the German state addresses Holocaust education in schools. We had a great opportunity for discussion and questions. From there, we travelled to the Palace at Sanssouci. This was constructed by Prussian King, Frederick the Great. It contains reproductions of world-famous settings (the ruins, the pyramids, Versailles, etc.). Upon leaving Sanssouci, we met at the villa in which Britain, Russia, and the US met to discuss what to do with Germany after the war...it was a long and exciting day. |  | | |
Day 8: Final Day in Berlin
Ravensbruk Women's Concentration Camp, Holocaust Memorial Museum
We woke up early again this morning to get a jump on the day. We travelled 1 1/2 hours to the Concentration Camp at Ravensbruk. It is particular important to note this camp becuase it was one of the few camps which was mainly set up for Women only -- although, a small number of youth and men were transferred to the camp near the end of the war. The main purpose of this camp, at the beginning, was to house women so that they could provide labor in what the German's called 'Women's jobs'. The women would be sent to factories built in the area (after it's establishment) to work. Many famous companies, such as Sieman's, were in this area. Sieman's, though, currently contributes to the camps exhibit. The camp was in Russian control after the war...and as the Education Director explained, they are 'examining the exhibit to make sure it tells the most complete and accurate story'. The barracks are currently gone -- they were dismantled after the war and used to provide housing to people after the war. The center hopes to restore 3/4 of these barracks in the future. You can walk into the concentration camp yard, crematorium, and other exhibits. Upon departure, we travelled to the SPECTACULAR Jewish History Museum in Berlin -- a museum that shows more than 2000 years of Jewry in Germany. After the museum, it was on the town to finish up what ever you wanted to see. At the end of the evening, we held a dinner and had 'sharing' time to discuss the week. We were blessed to have Yosi (from March of the Living) and the Education Coordinator (from the Wannsee Center) join us. Some of us travel on to Prague -- while others return home. BUT...WE ARE FOREVER TOGETHER IN THIS EXPERIENCE...WE WILL NOT FORGET!!!!! |  | | |
Prague (July 26-29) - Add On
Terezin Concentration Camp / Prague
After our final meal together in Berlin, a little more than half our group boarded a plane and headed back to the United States.
Some of us, though, were lucky to travel to Prague via train -- we went first class! It was there that we would meet Lisl (a survivor) and Hank (her husband)....along with her grandaughter and friend.
We would travel visit the Terezin Concentration Camp and several other sites within this wonderful city....including the Jewish Quarter. It's a beatiful, wonderful city. |  | | |
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