Poland by David Young
This day was basically the only day when we didn’t focus on the Holocaust. It was a nice break and certainly a needed halt from studying and learning about the mass murder of Jews. We went to a very large salt mine near Krakow. The salt mine was active for around 1000 years which is […]
Reflection by Samantha Larkin
It wasn’t until I witnessed one of the greatest atrocities in world history with people I had just met a handful of days ago, that I realized the power of a supportive community. With everyone’s simultaneous heartaches, everyone also needed a shoulder to lean on. Whether that be to have a meaningful discussion, go on […]
Final Thoughts by Sarah Gates
Throughout the course of this trip, I have seen a quote numerous times at many of the WWII memorials and museums we have visited. George Santayana writes, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” When thinking about my role as an educator of the Holocaust it is my duty […]
Final Thoughts by Tracey Lowe
On our last night in Poland, I sit with gratitude in my heart. I’m grateful for the wonderfully opportunity to meet new people, explore a new country and learn about the holocaust in such an authentic way, no book could ever match. Meeting a survivor with such strength, Howard exudes the definition of resilience and […]
CWB Blog by Stefan Gates
How can people be so cruel? Holocaust survivor Howard Chandler said this to the CWB cohort on Wednesday evening. I may be paraphrasing a bit, but that is pretty close. He was telling the cohort his story and speaking about some of the horrible atrocities committed against him and other victims by the nazi’s, collaborators, and other perpetrators. In […]
Someone’s Child by-Christina McGuirk
My journey to CWB’s Personally Poland Seminar was not like many of the other educators here. CWB contacted me and wanted me to join them as a “Thank you” for speaking out publicly against book bans & both-siding the Holocaust (and losing my job as a result). Over the last few days, I have experienced […]
Reflections on Auschwitz by Samantha Larkin
It wasn’t until I witnessed one of the greatest atrocities in world history with people I had just met a handful of days ago, that I realized the power of a supportive community. With everyone’s simultaneous heartaches, everyone also needed a shoulder to lean on. Whether that be to have a meaningful discussion, go on […]
Keep Learning Forever By Quincy Glidea
In reflecting on the day today, I struggle to find words to describe the things that we witnessed and the feelings that I felt. We read the following quote at the ceremony, closing our time at Auschwitz. As we walked into Auschwitz 1 today, the names of victims echoed from the speakers above us- an […]
A Surreal Journey to Auschwitz: Reflecting on Humanity’s Darkest Chapter by Josh Sektnan
Visiting Auschwitz was a surreal and profoundly moving experience. As the largest Nazi German concentration camp and, since 1942, also a mass extermination center for Jews, Auschwitz stands as a haunting reminder of humanity’s capacity for evil. Between 1940 and 1945, the Nazis deported at least 1,300,000 people to Auschwitz, including: 1,100,000 Jews23,000 Roma/Gypsies15,000 Soviet […]