JCC Maccabi Israel

March of the Living

FROM POLAND TO ISRAELApril 12–27, 2015

JCC Association

of North America

We need to go because it is the right thing to do.

We need to go as teenagers because it is the right time.

We need to go to the camps because it is part of our Jewish identities.

3 April 2015

SINCE 1988 the March of the Living program has brought Jewish teens from all over the world to Poland on Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. They march from Auschwitz to Birkenau, the largest concentration camp complex built during World War II, and then travel to Israel to observe Yom HaZikaron, Israel Memorial Day, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day.

JCC Maccabi Israel RƪHUV�March of the Living programs to JCC members and participants in a spirit of communal, non-denominational inclusion. We create a diverse, accepting environment that LQWHJUDWHV�WKH�YDOXHV�\RX�ƬQG�DW�KRPH�

You will learn about Jewish history in Europe before the Holocaust, meet a survivor and hear the stories ƬUVWKDQG��H[SORUH�RQH�RI�PDQNLQGoV�GDUNHVW�KRXUV��celebrate the birth of the state of Israel and connect to your history while traveling in Poland and Israel in a supportive peer group. You will be given tools and taught skills to help you in your future journey through life. And JCC Maccabi Israel will support you in becoming a voice in the world that can say forcefully, “never again”!

-&&�0DFFDEL�,VUDHO�_�0DUFK�RI�WKH�/LYLQJ�LV�RƪHUHG�WR� 11th and 12th grade teens from across the US.

Explore:

L’dor v’dor (from generation to generation): Understanding our past in order to build our future

Kehillah (community): The importance of strengthening our Jewish community and making connections

Mifgashim (connections): Creating meaningful dialogue between North American, Israeli and Polish teenagers

Manhigut (leadership): Learning values and gaining skills that will help our teens become future leaders in our communities

Ruach (spirit): Judaism and spirituality – a pluralistic approach toward our culture

Gvanim (diversity): Explore the diversity and complexity of Israeli society and its people

JCC Maccabi Israel | March of the Living 4

JCC Maccabi Israel | March of the Living is a once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in what is truly a life-changing experience. The GD\�ZKHQ�ZH�FDQ�QR�ORQJHU�KHDU�WKH�VWRULHV�ƬUVWKDQG�IURP�+RORFDXVW�survivors is growing near, and it is our responsibility to listen to their words so that we can pass on their teachings.

Experience in a safe and supportive environment what no book or movie can teach you. Led by educational experts, you will share this experience with others, building a sense of camaraderie and purpose as you progress on your journey.

Your exploration of the Holocaust moves from darkness to light, as you celebrate Israel, the crowning achievement of the Jewish people. Discover how these two seminal events shaped Jewish and world history in the 20th century.

Why should you participate?

Courtesy of Yossi Zeliger

Courtesy of MOL

5 April 2015

Day 1 | DEPART FOR POLAND• Preparation seminar and get-to-know-each-other

in New York area• Depart New York for Poland

Day 2 | WELCOME TO POLAND• Land in Warsaw (itinerary based on time of arrival)• 9LVLW�.RU]FDN�2USKDQDJH�DQG�ƬUVW�JURXS�DFWLYLW\• Lunch• See the Nozyk synagogue• Tour the Museum of History of the Polish Jews• Check in to hotel• Dinner and group orientationOvernight: Warsaw

Day 3 | SMALL JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN POLAND• Early breakfast• Drive to Tykocin, once a thriving Jewish Shtetl• Continue to Lopochova Forest, visit the site where

the Jews of Tykocin were murdered by the Germans• Visit the Treblinka death camp• Drive to Warsaw• Group processing sessionOvernight: Warsaw

Day 4 | LUBLIN & MAJDANEK• Early breakfast and check out of hotel• Drive to Lublin and visit the town• Visit Yeshivat Chochmei Lublin and Jewish text study• Continue to the Majdanek death camp• Drive to Krakow and check into hotel• Group processing sessionOvernight: Krakow

Day 5 | MARCH OF THE LIVING• Breakfast • Shacharit service at the old Synagogue at Oswwicim• Walking tour of Birkenau (time permitting)• Return to Auschwitz and join the thousands of

participants for the March of the Living and ceremony at Birkenau

• Short walking tour of Aushcwitz museum and return to Krakow

• Late dinner at hotel and group processing sessionOvernight: Krakow

Day 6 | WELCOME TO THE THRIVING JEWISH COMMUNITY IN KRAKOW

• Breakfast at hotel• Walking tour of Kazimierz (Jewish Quarter) and visit

to the Galicia Museum, Remuh Synagogue, Jewish Cemetery and more

• Visit the Plaszow labor camp made famous by the movie Schindler’s List.

• Kabbalat Shabbat at a pluralistic community shul • Shabbat meal at hotel• 2QHJ�6KDEEDW�s�VWDƪ�OHGOvernight: Krakow

Day 7 | SHABBAT IN KRAKOW• Late wake-up and optional breakfast• Meeting with young Polish Jews at the Krakow JCC• Lunch at Krakow JCC• Meet with Righteous among the nations (if possible)• Walking tour of old Krakow and the Wawel Castle• 6HXGDK�6KOLVKLW�s�VWDƪ�OHG�SURJUDPPLQJ• Free evening in the old town squareOvernight: Krakow

Day 8 | WARSAW AND THE RESISTANCE,WLQHUDU\�EDVHG�RQ�ƮLJKWV• Early breakfast and check out of hotel• Drive to Warsaw• Visit the Warsaw JCC and hear the story of today’s

Jewish community in Poland• Dialogue program with local Polish Teens at Polish

high school• Walking tour of the trail of Heroism starting at the

Umschlagplatz• &HUHPRQ\�DW�5DSRSRUW�6TXDUH�DQG�ƬQDO�SURFHVVLQJ�

session• Dinner at local restaurant• Drive to airport• Flight to Tel Aviv

Day 9 | WELCOME TO ISRAEL,WLQHUDU\�EDVHG�RQ�ƮLJKWV• Land in Israel • :DONLQJ�WRXU�RI�-DƪD�DQG�ZHOFRPH�WR�,VUDHO�FHUHPRQ\• Check into hotel and freshen up• Restaurant dinner and free time in Tel Aviv• Group led processing session at hotel Overnight: Tel Aviv

Sample itinerary

JCC Maccabi Israel | March of the Living 6

DAY 10 | CONNECTING OUR HISTORY & MODERN DAY ISRAEL

• Breakfast at hotel• Visit the Palmach Museum - Follow the stories of nine

\RXQJ�ƬJKWHUV�DQG�WKURXJK�WKHLU�SHUVRQDO�H[SHULHQFHV�learn of the struggle for independence and the realization of the dream.

• Continue to Independence hall where David Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of Eretz Yisrael

• Pizur lunch and free time in the Nachalat Binyamin• 6WDƪ�OHG�VWUHHW�VXUYH\�RQ�5RWKFKLOG�$YH��OHDUQ�ZKDW�LW�

means to them to live in Israel in 2015• Continue to Rabin Square to learn about how Israel’s

democracy faced a huge challenge in 1995• Dinner at hotel• Evening program at hotel: Neil Lazarus political updateOvernight: Tel Aviv

DAY 11 | REMEMBRANCE• Breakfast at hotel and check out• Drive to Jerusalem• Visit Yad Vashem and learn how and why it is important

to never forget• Continue to Har Herzel for walking tour of the national

cemetery• Encounter (Mifgash) with Israeli teens • Check in to hotel• �6WDƪ�OHG�DFWLYLW\�OHDGLQJ�WR�WKH�LQVWDQW�FKDQJH�IURP�

mourning to joy – witness Israel transition into Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day) and celebrate with the thousands of Israelis in Jerusalem

Overnight – Jerusalem

DAY 12 | YOM HA’ATZMAUT• Activities with MOTL • Group led processing session at hotel Overnight – Jerusalem

DAY 13 | PAST & PRESENT: BOI KALLAH• Very early Breakfast• Drive to Masada• Leadership seminar on Masada – what does it mean to

be a Jewish Hero?• Float in the Dead sea – enjoy it’s healing water • Return to Jerusalem and visit the busy Machne Yehuda

market, joining the people of Jerusalem as they prepare for Shabbat

• Return to hotel & prepare for Shabbat.• Welcome Shabbat all together at the Kotel• Walk back to hotel• Shabbat Dinner• Oneg ShabbatOvernight – Jerusalem

DAY 14 | SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM• Late wake up• Optional breakfast• Walking tour of Knesset and Supreme Court – leadership

seminar on democracy in Israel• Free time at hotel \ pool \ family and friends can visit• 6HXGDK�6KOLVKLW�s�VWDƪ�OHG�SURJUDPPLQJ• Havdallah• Kotel tunnels and free time on Ben Yehuda StreetOvernight: Jerusalem

DAY 15 | LAST DAY IN ISRAEL• Workshop: Israel advocacy with StandWithUs• Program summary and evaluations• Lunch• 6WDƪ�OHG�ZRUNVKRS��:KDW�QH[W"�:KDW�GR�,�WDNH�IURP�WKLV�

experience?• Social action project• Tree planting at Neot Kedumim – leave something of

you in Israel• Festive farewell dinner• Closing ceremony and packing• 5HWXUQ�ƮLJKW�WR�WKH�8�6��

Lehitra’ot – see you again!

7 April 2015

FAQ1. How do I register?Follow this link www.jccmaccabiisrael.org/mol and complete the easy online registration.

2. How old do I need to be?-0,�02/�LV�RƪHUHG�WR�KLJK�VFKRRO���th and 12th grade teens.

3. Does everyone get accepted?No they don’t – traveling to Poland can be an emotional experience so we want to make sure for your sake and the sake of the group you are up to it. An essay and interview process are part of the application and acceptance process.

4. Who can apply?High school teenagers currently in 11th or 12th grade living in the U.S.

5. Do I have to belong to a JCC to apply?1R�\RX�GRQoW��:H�ZRUN�ZLWK�-&&oV�WR�RƪHU�WKLV�SURJUDP� to their members; however, it is open to others as well.

6. What if I don’t know anyone going on this program?7KDW�LV�DEVROXWHO\�ƬQH��-0,�02/�LV�D�non-denominational program that RƪHUV�D�VWURQJ�VRFLDO�HPSKDVLV�DQG�SURIHVVLRQDO�VWDƪ�ZKR�ZLOO�PDNH�you feel at home in no time. By the end of the program you will have made new friendships that will last a lifetime.

7. Is this trip safe?Yes it is. JMI follows strict security guidelines and will provide security accompanying the group in Poland at all times and in Israel based on Ministry of Education stipulations and regulations. All transportation will be in private buses and all programs and sites will be supervised and authorized in advanced. Even free time is controlled ZLWKLQ�VHW�SDUDPHWHUV�DQG�SDWUROOLQJ�VWDƪ�

8.What if I get hurt or sick?Israel and Poland both have modern medical systems, should a participant get hurt or feel sick we will arrange for him/her to see a physician and get all the necessary WUHDWPHQW��+H�VKH�ZLOO�EH�HVFRUWHG�E\�D�VWDƪ�PHPEHU� at all times.

Medical services and insurance coverage for illness/ injury while on a JCC Maccabi Israel trip is provided throughout the program and is included in the cost of the program. Coverage does not include dental treatment, eye glasses or drug abuse.

9. How much spending money should I bring?You will want to have money for gifts, extra snacks, and miscellaneous items. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency visitors may bring into Israel. From our experience, participants spend an average of $100/week for gifts, extra snacks and drinks etc.

10. Can I visit my family and friends while in Israel?You may have one free home hospitality weekend or designated free evening with family or friends. During this weekend or evening, you will be permitted to leave the group to visit friends and/or relatives. We require parental consent and approval by indicating on the registration form the name(s), addresses, and phone numbers of those whom you are planning to visit. If you do not plan to leave for the weekend or evening, then you will remain with WKH�UHVW�RI�WKH�JURXS�DQG�VWDƪ�DW�WKH�KRWHO�KRVWHO�WKDW�LV�booked for that weekend and/or with an Israeli host family (pre-approved by the program).

11. Can I communicate with people at home?You and your parents will receive a list of useful telephone numbers. There will never be a problem reaching the group in the event of an emergency. As for regular calls, although all of our accommodations have telephones and

faxes, participants may not be accessible at all times. We know you need to keep in touch with your family back home. Each individual will decide on a certain procedure for maintaining contact with their families.

12. Can I bring my cell phone?While cell phones are extremely popular and allow a level of comfort and ease of communicating with home, they are also very distracting when the group is traveling. If you

would like to rent a cell phone, please understand that cell phones will not be allowed during program time and participants may use their cell phone during non-program times only. If you are interested in renting a cell phone, please be in touch with Talk n Save for preferred group rates. Information is on our website and in your online registration area.

13. How do I prepare for the trip?Your JCC or community may choose to hold a pre-trip seminar. We are happy to assist you in the planning of this seminar and provide you with any materials you may need.

14. What if I have family roots in Poland?If you know, or think you might have family roots in Poland, we encourage you to do some research and discover some information that may enhance your trip and make it more meaningful.

Stephen P. Seiden Chair

Allan Finkelstein President & CEO

Leah Garber Vice-President, JCC Israel Center

Ido Medan-David Program Director, JCC Maccabi Israel

520 Eighth Avenue | New York, NY 10018 tel: 212-532-4949 | fax: 212-481-4174 | www.jcca.org

JCC Israel CenterSolomon & Mary Litt Building12 Moshe Hess Street | Jerusalem, 94185, Israeltel: 011-972-2-625-1265 | fax: 011-972-2-624-7767

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

—George Santayana

JCC Association

of North America