“In Poland we mourned for the millions who perished in the Holocaust, and here we are celebrating the existence of the State of Israel and the fiftieth anniversary of the unification of Jerusalem,” said 17-year-old James Brenner of South Africa. “The Jewish community has grown and strengthened since those days, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

President of the March of the Living Phyllis Greenberg Heideman explained that the program was designed to instill the memory of the Holocaust in members of the younger generation and strengthen their connection to Israel. “We have marched from Poland to Israel, from sorrow to joy, from clouded skies into sunlight,” she told the youngsters. “Each one of you is the future of the Jewish nation and the hope of both the State of Israel and the whole world. Remember those steps you took in Poland, and understand why we all stand here together in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish People. This is the biggest Zionist celebration in the city, so thank you for having brought the spirit of the Jewish People to Jerusalem,” she said.

During their week in Israel hundreds of these youngsters took part in a green bike ride along KKL-JNF trails. They pedaled through central Israel’s Ben Shemen Forest and Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, and alongside Lake Hula in the north of the country. Along the way they stopped off at instruction points where they learned about KKL-JNF’s activities for the benefit of the Jewish People and the State of Israel over the course of the past 115 years.

“After they saw the horrors of the Holocaust in Poland, their excursion through KKL-JNF forests in Israel was a symbol of the revival and rebirth of the Jewish People and the State of Israel,” said Hani Desa, Director of the KKL-JNF Education Division’s Overseas Department.

“We believe that the meaningful experiences undergone by these young people leave a stamp upon their character and increase their sense of identification with Israel. We have imbued the coming generations with hope and an awareness of national rebirth.”

The March of the Living, which took place for the 29th year, is held annually at Auschwitz on Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day. Participants march from the extermination camp at Auschwitz 1 to Auschwitz-Birkenau, and then afterwards, on Independence Day, the delegations arrive in Israel.

The Jerusalem event opened in Safra Square, home of the capital’s City Hall, with dance performances, singing and drumming circles. After the show was over, the thousands of young people began their march towards the Western Wall. As they walked along, Israeli Air Force planes participating in the festive Independence Day flyover zoomed over their heads from time to time – an impressive reminder of the power of the State of Israel.

An equally strong expression of the power of the Jewish people was the unity displayed by these youngsters who had gathered in Jerusalem from all corners of the world: although they spoke a variety of different languages they were united in their love for Israel.

Among those taking part were around five hundred young people from all over Israel, who were participating in groups organized by the KKL-JNF Education and Youth Division’s Overseas Department. They included immigrants from Russia and Ukraine, Israelis of Ethiopian origin, a youth delegation from Turkey and youngsters from educational institutions throughout Israel.

“Seeing young people from different parts of the world gathered here in Jerusalem is a very powerful and exciting experience,” said Dovi Paritsky, a representative of KKL-JNF Education Division’s Instruction Department. “We’re celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the city’s reunification, and this encounter between young Jews from Israel and abroad strengthens their connection to the Jewish People and the State of Israel,” he said.

Eighteen-year-old Dima Weisman immigrated to Israel from Ukraine just eight months ago, and he now lives at the Nitzana Youth Village in southern Israel. “I learned about Independence Day in Ukraine, but of course when you’re actually here it feels completely different,” he explained. “It’s hard to adjust to the abrupt transition from the pain of Remembrance Day to the great joy of Independence Day.”

Valerie Varty (28) from Colombia had arrived in the country through the Destination Israel program. “It’s an amazing experience to walk about the Old City together with thousands of young Jewish people from all over the world, all of us united in our love for Israel and celebrating the sixty-ninth anniversary of the founding of the state,” she said.

“It was terrible to see what happened to the Jews in Poland,” said sixteen-year-old Ariel Lipshits from South Africa. “Now that we’re in Israel we’ve got the chance to see the Jewish People as a united community and to celebrate Israel’s birthday together.”

These various groups were joined by non-Jewish youngsters who had likewise come to learn about the history of the Jewish People. Among them was Ramiro Garcia (16), from Argentina, who had come at the urging of a friend who, after taking part in the event last year, told him that he absolutely must do the same. “The trip to Poland was a terribly sad experience, but here in Israel we can feel the strength and the rejoicing,” he said. “It’s very important to know what happened in the Holocaust, to visit the spot where those horrors took place and remember the victims, so as to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself. The Jewish People has experienced dreadful things, but you managed to rise again and build an amazing country here.”

When they reached the Western Wall at the end of their march they were overcome with emotion as they stood before the towering stones, and some prayed quietly while the famous singer and cantor Dudu Fisher performed excerpts from the liturgy and songs related to Jerusalem.

The exciting day concluded with a festive event in Latrun to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification and give the youngsters an opportunity to review their experiences in both Poland and Israel. Representatives of the delegations took the podium in turn to share their reflections, and two hundred dancers, singers and musicians participated in a variety of stirring performances.

March of the Living Chairman Dr. Shmuel Rosenman emphasized the link between the Holocaust and the renewal that followed it and stressed the importance of preserving the memory of the Holocaust among members of the younger generation.

Barbara Goldstein, representing KKL-JNF’s Board of Directors, told those present: “You are the future generation of the Jewish People, and it is your obligation to continue to preserve the connection with Israel.”

Seventeen-year-old Ethan Weinberger, Simon Grammer, Rachel Levin and Ben Starkman were all members of a delegation that had come from Toronto in Canada.“Israel is the homeland for our people, and it ensures that what happened in the Holocaust will not happen again,” said Simon.
“Now that I’ve made the journey to Poland I’m even prouder to be Jewish and I’m full of admiration for Israel,” added Rachel.
“I found deep meaning in this visit and I’ve realized how important Israel is for the Jewish People,” said Ethan.
“Celebrating Independence Day was a wonderful experience,” declared Ben in conclusion.