Last April 2010 I participated in the March of the Living, an extraordinary event where young people, all seniors in high school from around the world gather in Poland to visit concentration camps, see for themselves where the horrible atrocities of World War II and the Nazis were committed. They are also accompanied by and learn from some of the few remaining survivors about what they witnessed and endured. I went with the Los Angeles contingent, a group of about 160 teenagers and seven survivors, including myself.

There were five busses in our group and with each tour we survivors would ride in different busses. While on route to our destinations, we gave our eye witness testimony. By doing so all of the teenagers had a chance to hear most of the survivors and we survivors had a better chance to personally get acquainted with most of the teens.

It was on one of those bus rides that I had the privilege of sharing the front seat with this lovely, inquisitive young lady. She was full of questions and seeking answers. Her name is Shadi Farahi. After Shadi returned home to Reno, Nevada she told her parents all about me. A few days later I received a telephone call from Parinaz Farahi, Shadi’s mother, asking if I would be their guest and tell my story at Shadi’s high school. I told her that it would be an honor and privilege for me and the Zachor Holocaust Remembrance Foundation to come to Reno.

Parinaz made all the necessary arrangements with the Sage Ridge High School and Tuesday, January 11th was set as our date. On Monday the 10th, early in the morning I took a flight to Reno. Upon arrival Parinaz picked me up. We toured the city and went to a beautiful hotel for a delicious lunch.

That evening at dinner I met more of the Farahi family. Additionally, they had invited some of their friends and relatives for dessert and to hear my eye witness testimony, which lasted well past 11:00 p.m. By that time we were all tired and turned in for the evening. We had a very busy day awaiting us the following morning.

The next morning we were up bright and early. We arrived at Sage Ridge High School at approximately 7:30 a.m. and I was met and interviewed by Mariana Jacob from Channel 8, a local news program. Then we met Jamie Otis, the assistant head of the school and Tonya Robison, who had coordinated every aspect of my presentation. There were approximately 100 students at the assembly plus many of their parents also attended. My hope, as it always is, is that everyone present benefited from my talk, which lasted well into the lunch hour. All in all it was a very productive day; a day which I hope will have a lasting memory to the many teenagers and adults who heard my eye witness testimony.

My message is that the Nazis did not start by killing. It all started with hate. To make sure that a Holocaust never happens again, we must practice tolerance and respect for each other. I talk about importance of family and taking nothing for granted because someday you may no longer have that which is most precious to you. I tell them that we must be grateful for our parents and siblings and to not take them for granted. Finally I reminded them to be thankful for each day they are blessed with. They are all gifts from God.

Travelling to Reno was a great experience for me. It would not have been possible were it not for my gracious hosts, the Farahi family. I can’t thank them enough for all their kindness and attention. Of course none of this would have happened had it not been for my newest friend, Shadi.

ZACHOR (remember). We must never forget.

Zachor Foundation to participate in Global Day of Jewish Learning
Jews to unite in first worldwide trans-denominational Talmud study event

Zachor Holocaust Rememberance Foundation is excited to co-sponsor the Global Day of Jewish Learning, the first worldwide, trans-denominational event devoted to Jewish learning. Jews all around the world will come together in their communities on November 7, 2010, to celebrate their shared heritage through events and programs during which they will collectively study, explore, and debate a single set of texts

In Las Vegas, the event will be held from 10:30am-1:00pm at The Adelson Educational Campus in Summerlin—9700 West Hillpointe Road. Local rabbis and educators will be offering a variety of free classes on Judaism, with options available for young children to adults. Go to www.JewishLasVegas.com and register now before space runs out! Classes include:

• For children ages 0-6: Families will read "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat", and do a fun recycling project. Led by Amanda Harris, PJ Library Las Vegas.
• For children ages 7-12: Children will learn about the mitzvah of "bal tashchit", their responsibility to the earth. Led by Rabbi Dani Locker, Las Vegas Kollel.
• The following classes are for teenagers and adults:
• Leadership in Judaism, led by Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, Valley Outreach Synagogue.
• Love in Judaism, led by Rabbi Yitzchak Wyne, Young Israel Aish Synagogue.
• G-d in Judaism, led by Rabbi Malcolm Cohen, Temple Sinai.

"Imagine the entire Jewish people assembling at Mount Sinai--in the 21st century. On November 7, 2010 that dream becomes a reality. On this day, the entire Jewish world will come together for the Global Day of Jewish Learning," said Las Vegas Global Day Coordinator, Rabbi Yonatan Yussman. President and CEO of the Jewish Federation Elliot Karp said, "This event belongs to all Jews, no matter what their background. From the most secular 'cultural' Jews to the most observant Jews, all are welcome at this uniquely unifying event."

The Global Day of Jewish Learning also celebrates the culmination of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's 45-year quest to translate the Talmud and unlock its wisdom. The November 7 date was selected to coincide with Rabbi Steinsaltz's completion of the final volume of his translation and commentary on the Talmud, which will be broadcast live at the Las Vegas event.

This event is locally co-sponsored by Adat Ami, Alpha Epsilon Pi - Nu Sigma, American Technion Society, BBYO, Bet Knesset Bamidbar, Chabad of Southern Nevada, Congregation Ner Tamid, Desert Torah Academy, The Adelson Educational Campus, Friendship Club of Sun City, Hasassah Southern Nevada Chapter, Hillel at UNLV, Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada, Jewish Family Service Agency, Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, Jewish War Veterans of Nevada, Las Vegas Jewish Center for Education, Media & the Arts, Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival, Merrill Gardens at Green Valley Ranch, Midbar Kodesh Temple, Na'Amat USA, PJ Library, The Solomon Schechter Day School of Las Vegas, Temple Beth Sholom, Temple Sinai, Touro University Nevada, Valley Outreach Synagogue, Young Israel Aish Las Vegas, Zachor Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, Temple Bet Emet, and Jewish Enrichment World Services.

For more information, contact Global Day Coordinator Yonatan Yussman at Yonatan.Yussman@adelsoncampus.org

 

Recently, I had the great privilege of participating in the March of the Living, "an educational program that brings Jewish teens from all over the world to Poland on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) to march from, the largest concentration camp complex built during World War II, and then to Israel to observe Yom HaZikaron, (Israel Memorial Day), and Yom Ha'Atzmaut, (Israel Independence Day)." This year almost 10,000 teens from around the world participated in the event. I went with the Los Angeles contingent, a group of about 160 teens and seven survivors of the Holocaust including myself.

For our group the trip also included visits to the Warsaw Ghetto area, Treblinka, Jewish area of Krakow, Lublin, Majdanek and Zbilagovska Gora Forest where 800 children were brutally clubbed to death.

Majdanek Dome Of Ashes

The event was one of the most important and meaningful events that I have ever participated in. There is also no question that this was a life altering event for the students who participated, one that can never be forgotten.

After I returned home, I sent a letter to all the members of our group. I wanted to share it with you in the hope that it might give you some idea of what I participated in.

If you or someone you know might benefit from a trip like this, I hope you will tell them about my experience. It was certainly something that I will never forget.

Thank you is not enough. I feel truly blessed and privileged to have made this trip with all of you. The entire "March of the Living" experience is so moving, profound and important, that it is deeply etched into our hearts and memories and will always be remembered…"Zachor."

To the hosts and organizers:
All of you, each and every member of the staff did a perfect job of organizing and coordinating every aspect of this trip. The travel, meals, sites and activities were not only perfectly timed, they created a most impactful trip for all the participants. I would have to write a book to describe how much each has added to this journey. However, I must single out a few of our staff members.

Monice Newman, you are remarkable. Clearly you are a great administrator. More importantly, you have a wonderful heart, treated all of us as family and added a level of emotion to everything we did that touched us all. Much of the meaning and purpose of this trip was enhanced because of you and who you are. Thank you for making this trip so special for all of us.
Watch YouTube clip

Ronnie Mink, you are a true historian. Your stories were brought to life by your knowledge and understanding of these horrible events. We have not only learned from you, but will remember it because of you. You are a great teacher and were a great friend to me on this journey.

Victor Kuptel, our tour guide. The fact that you were able to organize a side trip for all of us to go to Bochnia, taking five busloads of tourists to visit my parents gravesite with a police escort, was Extraordinary.

I know that the students will long remember this visit. I want you to know that I will always be grateful to you for having arranged it.

To the students and my fellow survivors:
Remembering the past is the greatest method we have of preventing history from repeating itself. We have taught, shared and shown you all that we can. It is now up to you.

We share our experiences with the hopes that they will be remembered and handed down from generation to generation. Together we laughed, cried, ate, danced, and witnessed (or re-witnessed) those places where much of the world's greatest atrocities took place. The places where once again the world has tried to eliminate the Jewish people and failed.

You are privileged to have been able to make this trip with our group of survivors and with that privilege comes a responsibility. You are the last generation to be able to make this trip with survivors. It is now up to you to tell your children that you went to these camps with a survivor, this is what they told you and this is what you learned. I cannot stress enough the importance of remembering…"zachor".

I hope you have also learned about the importance of family and to take nothing for granted because someday you may no longer have that which is most precious to you. Gratitude is the opposite of taking things for granted. Be grateful for your parents and siblings. Be grateful for each day that you are blessed with. They are all gifts from Hashem.

To my children, grandchildren and much of our extended family, I am known as "Papa Ben". I am sure that our other survivors are also known as papa, bubbie, safta and saba, and that all of us would be honored to be called that name by any of you. Through this trip and process we have bonded in a way that few others will ever know. We are all now a part of a bigger family.

You are member of an eternal people, a link between generations. The hopes and dreams of our silenced ancestors live on in you. Accept that responsibility with pride. Always be proud that you are a Jew.

To the parents
Please know that by allowing your children to participate in the "March of the Living", you have given them a life altering experience. You have connected them to our people and past generations in a way that will last throughout their lifetimes. This may be one of the greatest gifts you could bestow upon them. I for one, am extremely grateful to you for having done that.

A Final Thank You
Without all of you students this trip would have little to no meaning. The fact is that you have made this trip one of my life's fondest memories. "Dayenu". It would have been enough. But you went even further and surprised me with a gift that I never anticipated and that moved me to tears. Your generous donations to the Zachor Holocaust Remembrance Foundation is a true mitzvah. Because of you thousands of others will receive this tangible memento of what they learn about the Holocaust.

This heartfelt gesture makes  me even prouder to know you and to be considered as "your papa".

I really do love each and every one of you.

Ben Lesser (a.k.a. "Papa Ben")