Alumni Spotlight: Marlene Goldstein (’16, ’18, ’19), HMTC Adults, USA

Marlene Goldstein (HMTC Adults ‘16, ‘18, ’19), AuthorDuring this holy period of the Yamim Noraim, leading up to Yom Kippur, this week, we are proud to feature Marlene Goldstein (’16, ’18, ’19), alumna from the The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC) Adults group, whose experience on the March of the Living inspired her to write a memoir detailing her father’s story as a Holocaust survivor. As the one-year anniversary of his death approaches on Yom Kippur, Marlene encourages all to listen and re-tell survivors’ stories, before it is too late. I was already well into my 50’s when, on a whim, I answered a Facebook pop-up and spoke with Andrea Bolender, leader of the MOTL Long Island HMTC group. I didn’t know at the time how life changing that moment would become. Auschwitz tracks… stones at Treblinka… mound of ashes at Majdanek… all remnants of a vibrant people whose blood flows through my veins. I recall sitting in the hotel steam room after a day that included standing inside the gas chamber at Majdanek. I tried to imagine the horror and anguish of my Jewish brethren as they entered this awful chamber, naked and terrified, never to see the light of day again. Now in the steam room my eyes traced the pipes along the wall and ceiling, pipes that ended at the floor where they emitted the aromatherapy vapor I was breathing in. A shocking parallel, and I wept for my fallen brethren. Back home in New Jersey, I was driven to interview my Polish father, and the book that resulted took two years to complete. I was to repeat The March twice more with Andrea, each trip compelling me to urge others to seek out and capture eyewitness accounts.My MOTL experience with the HMTC group was the driving force that led to the memoir in my hands, the story of my father’s incredible survival against impossible odds. When he passed away peacefully last Yom Kippur, I realized how close I’d come to having his story lost forever, along with the 6 million other lost stories. Going on the March of the Living rescued my dad’s Shoah legacy from oblivion. There are still survivors out there who are willing – even needing – to tell their story. Every Shoah survivor is an eyewitness to mankind’s darkest hour. But time grows short. It is my hope that every person who reads this will seek out a remaining eyewitness story and capture it before time runs out altogether.

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Alumni Spotlight: Eli Jonah Karls (’17), Montreal, Canada

Eli Jonah Karls (Montreal ’17), Global Change MakerThis week we are proud to feature Eli Jonah Karls (’17), alumnus from March of the Living Montreal, whose experience on the March of the Living served as the catalyst for his entire life’s purpose, and has transformed him into a social media influencer, impacting thousands of lives across the globe. My life has taken a series of unexpected twists and turns.While I did grow up as an active member of the Jewish community in Montreal, I ended up attending an ex-catholic public school for high school. These opposing experiences had a profound impact on my life and future, but attending the March of the Living was the ultimate catalyst in forming who I am today. I always knew I was destined to be a change maker. I wanted to change the world but I had no idea how. While in Grade 10, I heard about the March of the Living program from my cousin. I knew that I had to attend, no matter what. I was going to make it happen, no matter the challenges that stood in my way. Being a part of the March while in Grade 11, and visiting Poland and Israel for the first time, was an earth-shattering life-changing experience. It caused me to connect with myself, my greater surroundings, and humanity, on a deeper level than ever before. One day, I found myself on the top floor balcony of the hotel I stayed at in Jerusalem. I made a promise to myself, on that spot, that I would return in less than a year and re-discover my life. At that moment, I never felt more at peace with myself. I was on cloud 9. Three months later, and after many obstacles, I returned to study at a Yeshiva in Jerusalem and day by day, I began to discover myself. I decided to extend my 6-month trip to one year, and that turned out to be two years – and it was the best decision of my life. My experience in Israel was so life-changing that I wanted to influence others to come. I decided then and there, that if I couldn’t bring people to Israel to experience the amazing way it can change life, I was going to bring that experience to the people back home.Upon returning from my life changing journey in Israel, I started planning for the launch of The Daily Wiz, a social media series of inspiring, impactful and relevant wisdom, which has now reached over 100,000 views since its birth. I’ve also been given the opportunity to co-create a mental health challenge with a close friend, and NHL prospect of Detroit Redwings, Joe Veleno, reaching over 100,000 people & been featured on the NHL.COM, the SUBURBAN.COM, and multiple other reputable media publications. We launched the CELLY FORWARD CHALLENGE, a social media initiative promoting mental health among youth during the COVID-19 crisis. CELLYFORWARD CHALLENGE provides a platform for athletes, artists and influencers to advocate for mental health. This Mental Health Challenge has garnered support and participation from numerous celebrities and athletes which include U.S. & Canada Open Champion Bianca Andreescu, Montreal Canadians forward Nick Suzuki, 3x Juno Awards musician Karl Wolf, third overall pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft Kirby Dach, social media sensations On The Bench and Pavel Barber, Israel Olympian and pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, Alex Katz. My life’s purpose is to make wisdom relevant and spread it across the globe. My philosophy is simple, “water breaks through a rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” With patience, persistence, and with a burning purpose to break through barriers, anything is possible.Thank you to the March of the Living for inspiring me to become who I am today.

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Fireside Chat with Rabbi Israel Meir Lau

Click here or on the video player below to watch the recording of International March of the Living’s inaugural Fireside Chat featuring renowned Holocaust Survivor Rav Israel Meir Lau, Former Chief Rabbi of Israel and Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo.  Rabbi Lau has participated in every March of the Living since its inception in 1988. Each year, he delivers a powerful and moving address to the audience in Birkenau, which has captivated the hearts of tens of thousands.Rabbi Lau will be interviewed by Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chairman for the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and March of the Living Alumnus. Join our mailing list and be the first to hear about our upcoming programs!This form is currently closed for submissions.

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Alumni Spotlight: Maayan Shapurkar (’17), India

Maayan Shapurkar (India ’17), Jewish Young Adult Engagement ProfessionalThis week we are proud to feature Maayan Shapurkar (’17), an alumna who traveled with a delegation from India with March of the Living UK, whose experience on the March of the Living has inspired her to elevate Holocaust awareness and commemoration amongst the Jewish community in India. Life has been kind to Jews in India. For more than 2000 years my ancestors have lived amongst peaceful and friendly neighbours and enjoyed the fruit of a secular and tolerant nation. Although I felt a connection to the Jews who were lost in the Shoah when I studied about it in school, I was only able to deeply understand the monstrosity of the Nazis, the scale of the killing and the power of hatred, when I had the opportunity to go on the March of the Living in 2017. This was made possible solely due to the endless support we received from Mr. Scott Saunders and the UK delegation that welcomed us with open arms.  I have a vivid memory of us singing the Havdalah prayer in the dim candle lights. There, I thought about how the land we were standing on had once heard the painful cries of so many Jews and how today, it hears the voices of strength and hope of the thousands of Jews who come to Poland firmly affirming “Never Again.” This experience transformed me into a witness and gave me a feeling of responsibility to share my experiences with the members of my community back home. My role as a JDC professional (Programme Manager for Young Adult Engagement) offered the perfect platform for this. Holocaust Awareness has since become a vital part of my programming. I, with the support of my team, organized various Holocaust education sessions at our Mumbai JCC and synagogues, as well as hosted International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Yom HaShoah events, using them as a medium to share our personal experiences and tell stories of survivors. I make it a point to include a Holocaust awareness session at our local JYP (Jewish Youth Pioneers) camps and the annual Limmud India, engaging participants in discussions about topics ranging from anti-Semitism and racial discrimination to Jewish resistance and the Righteous among the Nations. Not only does Mr. Scott Saunders make a personal visit to our community each year but he remains dedicated to his mission of Holocaust education by making sure our Indian community members have the opportunity to learn and see for themselves. With a group of Indians participating in the March as part of the UK delegation each year, I have a growing team of alumni and together, we continue our effort in sensitizing our people, telling them about our past and preparing them for the future.

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Alumni Spotlight: Josh Ahdoot (’09), Los Angeles, USA

Josh Ahdoot (BJE Los Angeles ’09), EntrepreneurThis week we are proud to feature Josh Ahdoot (’09), alumnus from BJE Los Angeles, who, inspired by his March of the Living experience, strives to create safe spaces for inter-community dialogue. Gas chambers, mass grave sites, bloody dolls and a toddler’s abandoned shoe are just some of the many things that changed my perspective on life forever. It’s been over ten years since I had the privilege of going on the March of The Living, but the memories engraved in my mind make it seem as if it was just yesterday. I will never forget the survivors I met and the concentration camps I visited. I would never have thought that such a cruel part and place in Jewish history would be the place that made me most proud to be a Jew. With each passing day on the trip, my appreciation for my Jewish heritage began to grow at an exponential rate. The more I learned and saw, the more I vowed to forever fulfil my duty as a Jew and NEVER FORGET. I promised myself that I’d always stand up for the Jewish People whenever I had the chance and do whatever was in my power to create change. As a proud Jew and Zionist, I’ve always looked for ways to take what I learned from my March of the Living experience and apply it towards helping my religion and the State of Israel. When a recent controversy over an anti-Semitic social media post made by the football wide receiver, DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles, and a follow-up remark by former NBA Basketball player Stephen Jackson became public, I decided that I could not stand idly by. Since I know that every race and religion have their own form of struggle, I wanted to do something to provide an opportunity for dialogue between the Jewish community and the Black community to discover what unites us rather than divides us.   I contacted my childhood Rabbi, David Wolpe of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, and Stephen Jackson, the former NBA basketball player, and put together an Instagram Live conversation between them, so that we could all listen and learn. Rabbi Wolpe and Stephen Jackson had an honest and candid discussion that has hopefully opened the doors to further tolerance, mutual respect and understanding.I am proud to share that over 10,000 people to date have watched this video and become more educated and, hopefully, more tolerant, because of it.

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Alumni Spotlight: Brian Frojmowicz (’18), Argentina

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA LEER EN ESPAÑOL Brian Frojmowicz, Argentina ’18 (Martin Buber School), Student Activist This week we are proud to feature Brian Frojmowicz (’18), alumnus from Marcha de la Vida Argentina, Martin Buber School. Inspired by his experience on March of the Living, in which he was followed by public television documenting his journey, Brian went back to make a difference in his community. I participated on the March of the Living in 2018 with the Martin Buber School as part of Marcha de la Vida Argentina. My Bobe and Zeide saved up money for many years so that I could have this experience. My March experience was unique in that during my journey, I was followed by public television, who were producing a documentary about the trip. The trip was incredible. The March experience reaffirmed my identity as a Jew and strengthened my belief in the importance of having the State of Israel as a safeguard for the Jewish people. The documentary came out several months after returning from Poland and is currently used mainly in non-Jewish schools to teach about the Shoah and the importance of Never Again. I have had the opportunity to speak several times in the Jewish community about my experience. Since participating on the March, I have devoted time to in-depth study on the Shoah, the historical and philosophical texts on Nazism and the “Auschwitz” phenomenon. After coming home I wanted to help bring the experience to even more people throughout Buenos Aires. I became a volunteer guide at the Holocaust Museum upon my return from the program. I am a member of the Students for Liberty, a youth organization whose main purpose is to provide education about liberty and democracy, and promote empowerment amongst youth. Most recently, last year, along with other alumni, we organized a parallel March in Buenos Aires, coinciding with the March in Auschwitz on Yom Hashoah. Hundreds of people and diplomatic representatives attended all pledging to never forget the victims of Nazi tyranny. Participating on the March has influenced me to spread its lessons, and the importance of Never Again, as much as I can in my home community. TRADUCCIÓN EN ESPAÑOL Brian Frojmowicz, Argentina ’18 (Escuela Martin Buber), activista estudiantilEsta semana estamos orgullosos de presentar a Brian Frojmowicz ('18), ex alumno de la Marcha de la Vida Argentina, Escuela Martin Buber. Inspirado por su experiencia en Marcha de la Vida, en la que fue seguido por la televisión pública que documenta su viaje, Brian regresó para marcar la diferencia en su comunidad. Participé en la Marcha por la Vida 2018 junto a la Escuela Martín Buber. Mi Bobe y Zeide ahorraron dinero por muchos años para que yo pudiera vivir esta experiencia. Fue una vivencia única. Durante el viaje, me acompañó la Televisión Pública Argentina, que estaba produciendo un documental sobre Marcha.  El viaje fue increíble. Definitvamente reafirmó mi identidad como judío y fortaleció mi convicción sobre la importancia de tener al Estado de Israel como salvaguarda para el pueblo judío. El documental fue estrenado algunos meses más tarde de mi regreso de Polonia y es usado en la actualidad principalmente en escuelas no judías, para enseñar sobre la Shoah y la importancia del “Nunca Más”. Tuve la oportunidad de hablar muchas veces en la comunidad judía sobre mi experiencia. Desde que participé en Marcha, he dedicado tiempo al estudio profundo sobre la Shoah, el contexto histórico y filosófico del surgimiento del nazismo y el fenómeno “Auschwitz”.  Yo quería ayudar a difundir la experiencia del viaje a cada vez más personas por todo Buenos Aires. Un tiempo después de volver del viaje tuvé la posibilidad de ser guia voluntario en el Museo del Holocausto. Soy miembro de Students for Liberty, una organización juvenil cuyo principal objetivo es promover los valores de la democracia y la libertad, empoderando a la juventud. Recientemente, el año pasado, junto a otros ex-marchistas organizamos una marcha paralela en Buenos Aires que coincidía con la que se estaba realizando en Polonia en Yom Hashoah. Cientos de personas y representantes diplomáticos estuvieron presentes con el compromiso de no olvidar a las víctimas de la tiranía nazi.  Participar en la marcha me influenció para difundir sus enseñanzas y la importancia del “Nunca Más” en toda mi comunidad local.

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RESISTANCE: Conversation with Jesse Eisenberg + Jonathan Jakubowicz

The International March of the Living kicked off our new webinar series on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 with a conversation about the film Resistance with its star Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) and director and screenwriter Jonathan Jakubowicz (Hands of Stone, Secuestro Express). The program was moderated by Dana Arschin, 2X Emmy Award-Winning reporter for Fox 5 News in NY, and March of the Living 2018 alumna. The film is based on the true story of legendary mime Marcel Marceau, who put his fledgling career as an artist on hold to spirit Jewish refugee children out of Nazi-occupied France, even as his own father was murdered at Auschwitz.For both Jonathan and Jesse, the story of Marceau is not an aberration, but familiar. Their lineage is filled with both survivors and victims of the Holocaust. Jonathan feels lucky to have been able to make a movie like this and recognizes that the difference was often a Marceau: not a larger-than-life figure, but one of those civilian heroes who uses what they have to save a stranger. Jesse Eisenberg wants people to know that “Every survivor’s story requires some kind of miracle, and some selfless person putting their life on the line.” “The importance of recognizing the courage of those who risk their lives to save the lives of others is an important message to impart to the next generation. Marcel Marceau is a role model for all and we at the March of the Living are proud to share his story through the brilliant performance in Resistance by the incomparable Jesse Eisenberg,” said Phyllis Greenberg Heideman, President.The program was moderated by Dana Arschin, 2X Emmy Award-Winning reporter for Fox 5 News NY, and March of the Living alumna. “I am incredibly honored and humbled for the unique opportunity to interview Jesse and Jonathan. The three of us already share a special bond as descendants of Holocaust survivors. I am eager to learn their stories and am hoping to convince them to join me on the March one year!”This International March of the Living webinar was held in partnership with IFC Films and Mean Streets Management.We want to thank each of our distribution partners including our March of the Living regions around the world. During this time of social distancing, Resistance is available for viewing on multiple online platforms RENT THE FILM

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Alumni Spotlight: Gábor Gordon (’03-‘20), Hungary

CLICK HERE TO READ IN HUNGARIAN Gábor Gordon (MOTL ’03-‘20), Founder, March of the Living HungaryThis week we are proud to feature Gábor Gordon (MOTL ’03-‘20), who was so inspired by his March experience that he founded the March of the Living organization in Hungary, Az Élet Menete. I am a born and raised Hungarian. I first attended the March of the Living in Poland in 2003. The program of The March of the Living become part of my life. The stories I heard from my grandparents and elderly relatives living in Israel consumed me from an early age, and I desperately tried to understand how such atrocities could happen to PEOPLE.  Inspired by that experience, and after understanding the core message of the March of the Living, myself and some friends decided then and there that everybody from Hungary should join, regardless of their religious affiliations. One year later, we formed our foundation and devised the program of the Budapest March of the Living. Modeling a similar event as the March of the Living in Poland, we march together calling for tolerance, co-existence and a cry against fascism in Budapest. The Budapest March of the Living is the largest event of its kind in all of Hungary. Every year tens of thousands of people take part, irrespective of their political commitment or religious denomination. We can proudly say that the March has become the largest antifascist and tolerance event in Hungary, as of today. Well known public players, artists, sportsmen, intellectuals and representatives of many different political parties all take part. We are quite proud of our progress and will continue to do everything we can to ensure that our educational program continues for many years to come, attracting more and more young people from the new generations. I believe you must talk about the Holocaust and about the mistakes and sins that led to it, because that is the only way to prevent it from happening again. Am Israel Haj! HUNGARIAN TRANSLATION Gordon Gábor (MOTL ’03-‘20), alapító, az Élet Menete MagyarországEzen a héten büszkék vagyunk Gordon Gábor (MOTL '03 -’20) bemutatására, akit márciusi tapasztalata inspirált, hogy megalapította az Élő Magyarország / Az Élet Menete. Magyarországon születtem és nevelkedtem. Az Élet Menetén 2003-ban vettem részt először Lengyelországban. Az Élet Menete programja életem részévé vált. A nagyszüleimtől és Izraelben élő rokonaimtól hallott történetek kiskoromtól kezdve emésztettek és kétségbeesetten próbáltam megérteni, hogyan történhettek ilyen szörnyűségek EMBEREKKEL. E tapasztalat lelkesített, s miután megértettem az Élet Menete lényegét, két barátommal együtt akkor és ott elhatároztuk, hogy Magyarországon a lehető legtöbb embernek csatlakoznia kellene a programhoz, tekintet nélkül vallási hovatartozására. Egy évvel később létrehoztuk az alapítványt és kialakítottuk a Budapesti Élet Menete programját is. Azóta a lengyelországi Élet Menetéhez hasonló eseményen, együtt vonulunk fel Budapest utcáin, hirdetve a toleranciát, az együttélést és a fasizmus elleni harcot. A Budapesti Élet Menete a legnagyobb ilyen jellegű esemény lett Magyarországon. Minden évben több tízezer ember vesz részt rajta függetlenül politikai nézeteitől vagy vallási hovatartozásától. Büszkén állíthatjuk, hogy a Menet mára a legnagyobb toleranciát hirdető antifasiszta eseménnyé vált Magyarországon. Ismert közéleti személyiségek, művészek, sportolók, értelmiségiek és sok különböző politikai part képviselői vesznek részt rajta. Hiszem, hogy beszélni kell a Holokausztról, a hibákról és bűnökről, amelyek odavezettek, mert csak így érhetjük el, hogy soha ne történhetjen meg ismét. Am Israel Haj!

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Alumni Spotlight: Dana Arschin Kraslow (’18), New York, USA

Dana Arschin Kraslow (MOTL ’18), Reporter, Fox 5 News New York, USAThis week we are proud to feature Dana Arschin, ’18 alumna from the Sinai Temple Young Adult group. Inspired by her experience on the March of the Living, Dana, a reporter for Fox 5 News in New York, went on to document and produce three short films about her experience. She won an Emmy for her outstanding reporting. Come hear Dana interview Resistance star Jesse Eisenberg and director Jonathan Jakobowitz during our first live webinar event! For more information, click HERE. As the granddaughter of an Auschwitz survivor, I always felt it was my duty to keep my Poppy’s story alive and honor the memories of my ancestors who perished in the Holocaust. It was life-changing for me to walk in my Poppy’s footsteps as a March of the Living participant. For the first time, I came face-to-face with the horrors he endured for 2+ years in Auschwitz-Birkenau. That experience awakened me— giving me a new sense of responsibility to share Holocaust-related stories. My journey to Poland fueled my desire to document and produce three shorts films that later aired on Fox 5 in the New York/Tri-state area.  The first film, ‘The Forgotten Camps,’ focuses on some of the most notorious Nazi death camps that operated throughout Poland during WWII. The second film, ‘A Community Reborn,’ highlights the rebirth of Jewish life happening right now in Krakow, Poland. The third film, ‘March of the Living,’ follows thousands of MOTL participants as they walk from Auschwitz I to Auschwitz II (Birkenau) on Holocaust Remembrance Day. I am incredibly honored and humbled to have won an Emmy award for ‘The Forgotten Camps‘ and an Emmy nomination for ‘March of the Living.’ This recognition proves that there’s still an audience that wants to hear these stories and hopefully join our efforts in passing them along to future generations. Come hear Dana interview Resistance star Jesse Eisenberg and director Jonathan Jakobowitz during our first live webinar event! For more information, click HERE. REGISTER NOW

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Alumni Spotlight: Julia Sussman (’13 & ’17), Australia

Julia Sussman, Australia Youth ’13, Staff ’17, Founder, Youth HEARThis week we are proud to feature Julia Sussman (’13, Staff ’17), alumna from March of the Living Australia. Inspired by her experience on the March of the Living Julia went on to found and direct Youth HEAR (Holocaust Education and Remembrance), an organization dedicated to mitigating hate in society by connecting young Australians with the memory of the Holocaust. March of The Living taught me how to forgive while still fighting to never forget.When I was 16, in 2013, I was a participant on the March of The Living. I stood as a witness to the lives lost and vowed to honour the survivors. I was forced to sit with the darkness, accept the worst parts of history and channel my energy into actively learning how to wholeheartedly say never again.  These two weeks left me with so much drive and instilled a sense of power within me. The power of knowing that I was able to positively influence not only my own life, but the lives of those around me. This was the driving force that lead me to go on the student trip again in 2017, although this time I was there to open the eyes, minds and hearts of students who stood in my shoes just three years later.In the years since, I have gone on to be the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Youth HEAR (Holocaust Education And Remembrance), an organisation dedicated to mitigating hate in society by connecting young Australians with the memory of the Holocaust.  I, as does Youth HEAR, fundamentally believe it is pivotal to remember and commemorate the sorrows, loss and dehumanisation of the Holocaust while paying tribute and memorialising the deaths, terrors and trauma. March of The Living took it one step further, the program exposed me to the resilience and light that shone throughout the surviving community, even in the wake of one of the darkest points in human history. Youth HEAR endeavours to emphasise the resilience, rebirth and courage so many had, enabling us to be here today. By continuing to understand and learn about the complexity of this time period we can shed light on the agency we have in our own lives and become up-standers in society. In this way, we strive to learn the lessons of the past in the hope that we will truly be able to say ‘never again’.

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