From Poland to Jerusalem in time for Israel’s 70th

March of the Living offers a two-week once-in-a-lifetime experience for 10th to 12th graders. Starting the journey in Poland, the teens will arrive in Jerusalem in time for Israel’s 70th birthday celebration.

An annual educational program, March of the Living brings thousands of teens together to study the history of the Holocaust and to examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance and hate. Since the first March was held in 1988, more than 261,000 participants from 52 states and countries have followed the same 3-kilometer path from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Holocaust Remembrance (Yom HaShoah) as a tribute to all victims of the Holocaust.

Teens then fly to Israel where they have an opportunity to visit museums and see the important sights. The trip coincides with Israel’s Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron) and culminates with Israel’s Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) when all the delegations join for another march to the Old City in Jerusalem.

The goal of March of the Living is to help inspire teens to fight indifference, racism and injustice by walking in the footsteps of those who witnessed the Holocaust. The hope is that the program will help strengthen Jewish identity as well as connections to Israel.

Since 1990, dozens of Rhode Island teens have participated every other year. The upcoming trip runs from April 8-22, 2018.

“This trip changed my life,” said Lexi Kutenplon. “It made me fall in love again with Judaism. It made me really proud of my culture and who I am as a person.” She participated in the trip in 2014.

Interested students can learn more about the trip by contacting  Jana Brenman, jbrenman@jewishallianceri.org.