From Nov. 1-9, 13 local Jewish educators went on a trip to Poland through the Forum for Dialogue, a Polish non-profit. Airfare was sponsored by generous donors from the Milwaukee Jewish community. The group represented 11 local organizations; it included teachers from every branch of Judaism, supplementary schools, day schools, and community institutions.
The Poland trip is difficult to summarize in a short article, but here are a few highlights:
• We met with over a dozen experts and scholars. We learned about Poland’s history and how it influenced Jewish/Polish relations. We saw examples of the work that is being done to preserve the memory of Jewish life in Poland. We explored the growing Jewish communal life there. Each speaker was of the highest quality and provoked intense and interesting discussions.
• We visited five high quality museums where we learned about the Warsaw Rising (not to be confused with the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising), Auschwitz, and the 1,000 year history of Jews in Poland.
• We spent a day in the small town of Krzepice, where we met with high school students participating in the Forum’s School for Dialogue program. These non-Jewish students spent an entire school year learning about the Jewish community that was in their town. They studied Jewish culture and traditions and they worked hard to prepare presentations for visitors. This program was transformative for the students.
One of the most incredible parts of the trip to Poland stemmed from the interactions of our Milwaukee Jewish educators. From the moment I was hired as Jewish education community planner, it has been my goal to help educators from across the community to work together, to support one another, and to form coalitions. We are one people – %u05E2%u05DD %u05D0%u05D7%u05D3 — and we are so much stronger as a community when we stand together. In planning this trip, I strived to bring a wide spectrum of people together. The relationships that developed, the support that the group showed to one another, the desire these educators have to continue to work together in Milwaukee, far exceeded my expectations. We saw in Poland that with Jews and non-Jews working together, attitudes can begin to change and relationships can flourish. Our group of 13 also experienced the value of coalition building for ourselves as Jewish educators in Milwaukee.
So I devote the rest of this article to sharing the words of a few members of our group. There is so much more to share. I hope that you will take the time to read the rest of our blog to get a better sense of the trip. It’s at MilwaukeeJewish.org/CJL. Trip participants will also be planning several classes throughout the community to share our experiences. Dates and times to follow.
From Rabbi Marcey Rosenbaum:
"One of the unexpected things I have experienced this trip, is a true sadness from the Polish people of the first/second generation after the war because of the loss and absence of the Jews. That there is a collective hole in the heart of Poland, a hole which the Jewish people once filled."
From Jennifer Saber:
“I generally walk around my world with a ‘glass half full’ attitude. But entering into this experience I grappled with how to turn very sour lemons into lemonade. As I reflect back on the trip, it would be easy to dwell on the hatred, violence and heartbreaking details. Standing in the gas chambers at Auschwitz bearing nail scratches on the walls. Or walking tours of Krakow and Warsaw, searching around for signs of Jewish residents long gone (like passing a doorway to find an empty, narrow gouge on the door frame).
“I want to share with you one of the highlights of the trip that were the ‘high’lights, moving away from these ‘low’lights.
“Our group visited Krzepice High School in the former shtetl of Krzepice for the Forum’s School of Dialogue Program. Through a series of workshops non-Jewish Polish teens learn about the rich Jewish Polish history of the past. I am in awe of these teens for their efforts to preserve the memory of the local Jewish community.”
From Aggie Goldenholz:
“I was terrified at the thought of going to Auschwitz but knew that it was the least I could do. I felt it was my obligation to learn as much I could and to bear witness by being present at the terrible and sacred places where my people as well as the Poles suffered terrible atrocities. Ultimately, I am glad that I, along with my colleagues walked the grounds of this memorial. Our presence spoke loudly that we Jews are still here. That we will not forget and we will work harder to make this world a place where people of all faiths and people of color and all children will be treated with respect and kindness.
One of the special gifts of this trip was Wojciech Smolen, our guide, who has been guiding for over 25 years. Wojciech explained that his father was a prisoner of war for over 4 years at Auschwitz. When released, he and other survivors decided to make this terrible place into a museum so that the world would see and know what really happened. Wojciech continued in his father’s footsteps by becoming a guide. Wojceich is not just a tour guide, he is doing holy work on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. He made a commitment to bring awareness to those who are willing to hear and learn. During this week, I learned that there are many more like him.”
From Susie Rosengarten:
"After candle lighting at the Krakow JCC we walked to the Isaac’s Synagogue in Kazimierz. It was so crowded: youth groups from Israel, Jews from Krakow, tourists from other countries, and us – 13 educators from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As I looked down from the balcony of the Chabad shul, 370 years old, and heard the singing and davening echo off of the walls, I cried tears of joy. We are here, celebrating Shabbat, in Poland, in a synagogue crowded with Jews. Yes – we are here….am yisrael chai (the people of Israel live)!"
From Laurie Herman:
"Having almost reached the end of this incredible week, I have to say that based on the exceptional Polish individuals with whom we have come into contact, we have all seen proof of this change (rejecting anti-Semitism) in Poland. We have witnessed many people who are making it a major mission of their lives to help repair relations between Jews and Poles, to teach young people in Poland about Jewish culture, and to restore former Jewish sites in Poland. All of these signs are very positive and have given us hope of great promise for future Jewish-Polish relations. We shall never forget – but a new generation, one that is trying to change through actions, not just words – deserves our notice, our thanks and our encouragement."
From Tzipi Altman-Shafer:
"I am grateful I had the opportunity to come on this trip. I left Auschwitz with a deep pain in my heart, but the key is that I left. I was able to walk out of that nightmare and I know that so many others did not. I will return to my family and my work in Milwaukee with a renewed sense of purpose, a fierce loyalty to the Jewish People, and an appreciation of every moment of every day of my life. This week in Poland has changed me. I am thankful to God for my life, my family, my friends, and my community."
The miracle of Chanukah brings light and chases away the dark. Just one small light transforms total darkness into light and hope. The people we met in Poland bring light into a world of darkness; they bring hope to a part of the world where it was almost extinguished. May your Chanukah be filled with light, miracles and hope.
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