Apr 18, 2023

Pre-Mission to Poland Arrives in Israel

Prior to the start of the Israel 75 Miami Mega Mission, nearly 200 Miamians traveled to Poland to explore life before, during and after World War II and to bear witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust. The Pre-Mission began in Krakow with a tour of the Jewish Quarter, a visit to historic sites and synagogues, a chance to hear from Holocaust Survivors and the commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this emotional day of observance, participants visited Auschwitz to learn about the concentration camp and its history and then joined in the 35th March of the Living with 10,000 other participants from 50 countries. Holocaust Survivor David Schaecter (in the center of the photo above) traveled from Miami to be with the group and shared firsthand accounts of his time in the camps, urging the group to continue speaking speaking out about the Shoah. The Pre-Mission also included tours of the Birkenau and Majdanek death camps and visits to the Galicia Museum, historic Warsaw Cemetery and famous Yeshiva D’Chachmei Lublin. Participants joined in a moving closing ceremony there to reflect on this harrowing time in our history before leaving for Israel to celebrate its 75th anniversary.