The October 7 Delegation will include Holocaust survivors and their families, freed hostages released from Hamas captivity, bereaved families, and residents of the Gaza Envelope communities

The Menomadin Foundation will lead a special delegation of October 7 survivors and bereaved families to the 37th global March of the Living, marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz and the end of World War II. The delegation, part of the international Holocaust remembrance event for the second year in a row, includes freed hostages, bereaved families, and residents of Gaza border communities—united under the message: “Never Again is Now.”

The March will be led by President of Israel Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, together with Polish President Andrzej Duda and 80 Holocaust survivors from Israel and around the world, joined by the Israeli high-tech companies.

At the central ceremony in Birkenau, freed hostage Agam Berger will perform with Daniel Weiss, a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri whose parents were murdered on October 7. Berger will play a 130-year-old violin that survived the Holocaust and was brought to Israel.

The October 7 Delegation is an initiative of the Menomadin Foundation, led by its founder and president Haim Taib, in collaboration with the World Zionist Organization, chaired by Yaakov Hagoel, and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. The group includes survivors of Hamas captivity, bereaved and hostage families, and residents of communities directly impacted by the October 7 attacks.

Sharon Sharabi, who will march together with his brother, released hostage Eli Sharabi, stated: “It is a great privilege to participate in the March of the Living in Auschwitz this year, and despite the immense emotional and physical difficulty, it will be an important mission to cry out to the entire world the cry of our brothers who remain in Hamas tunnels and to demand that the world uphold its promise of ‘Never Again.’ The lives of Jews are not to be forsaken.”

Haim Taib, founder and president of the Menomadin Foundation: “I’m proud to lead, for the second consecutive year, the delegation of October 7 survivors and heroes to the March of the Living. This year, we will march alongside people who were abducted to Gaza and experienced atrocities not seen in 80 years. NEVER AGAIN IS NOW – this is a message that must echo in every home around the globe. We cannot remain indifferent when we see the parallel lines between the horrors the Jewish people experienced in the Holocaust, the October 7 pogrom, and the terrible days of captivity.”

Tzili Wenkert, grandmother of Omer Wenkert, who returned from captivity: “I won twice – once against the Nazis and once against Hamas. I will march in the March of the Living as living proof that the Jewish people survive despite all attempts to destroy us.”

Michael Kuperstein, grandfather of Bar Kuperstein, who is held hostage in Gaza: “I’ve lived a very difficult life and survived such hard times. I hear what those who returned are saying about the hostages, and it’s like a second Holocaust. Bar is only 23, just at the beginning of his life, with so much ahead of him. I’m 84, fighting today so that all my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will have better lives. I want all the hostages to return home so we can get our lives back.”

Daniel Weiss, who will perform alongside Agam Berger, said: “Standing on the stage at Birkenau is a profound and moving mission for me. Sharing this moment with Agam Berger, as she plays a violin that survived the Holocaust, is a powerful reminder of music’s ability to connect generations, to heal, and to preserve the stories that must never be forgotten.”

Yaakov Hagoel, Chairman of the World Zionist Organization: “As we mark eighty years since the liberation of Auschwitz, we face the memory of the Holocaust not only as a historical legacy but as a moral call to action in the present and a foundation for shaping the future. The delegation of returnees, IDF wounded, and heads of authorities joining the March of the Living on behalf of the World Zionist Organization reflects the strength of the Zionist spirit – the one that rose from the ashes and builds life, society, and state. The presence of the President of the State of Israel and the President of Poland at this event underscores the shared responsibility to preserve memory, fight antisemitism, and educate future generations on the lessons of the past. This is not just a commitment to the memory of the victims – it is a commitment to life. The World Zionist Organization will continue to strengthen Jewish identity and the connection with communities around the world.”

Dr. Shmuel Rosenman, Chairman of the International March of the Living: “The horrific events of October 7 and the rise of antisemitism worldwide remind us how important it is to preserve our Jewish and Israeli identity, remember history, and work for a better world free of hatred and antisemitism. We will continue to educate about the Holocaust and to combat antisemitism on all fronts.”