Poland Personally – July 5 – Adam Marquart
Starachowice And Kielce Today we went with Howard to his hometown of Starachowice. Of the few survivors still alive from Starachowice, Howard is the only one who comes back to visit anymore. This was where he last saw his mother, younger brother, and sister. They were in the main square of Wierzbnik, once […]
Poland Personally – July 5 – Teresa Albert-Siebieda
Today we went to Howard’s hometown, their local civic center, and the place where the pogrom took place. I did not expect everything to move me the way it had. When we were at the civic center and in the discussion center, the local students had made it known that the Jewish culture that had […]
Poland Personally – July 5 – Hedy Chandler
Today we will be going to my dad’s home town and meet with the Mayor and other dignitaries. We are with a group of about 80. It is necessary for my dad and emotional and tiring for the two of us. It is now 5 a.m. and I am ready for the day. We started in Warsaw, […]
Poland Personally – July 4th – Isaac Smith
Shoes. Everything leads back to the shoes in our minds today as we walked through Majdanek. To walk through each room and think that someone stayed, rested or bathed in this place, gives a new realization to the situation. Since the first step into the new destination, there was such a different atmosphere. It did […]
Poland Personally – July 4 – Adam Marquart
Majdanek When the bus first pulled into Majdanek, I only saw Barbwire fences. Then, as either the bus or my head turned, I saw the dark buildings in the distance. I saw the giant stone monument. The sight of the dark wooden buildings and watch tower at a distance unnerved me. From a distance, […]
Poland Personally – July 4 – Daniel Shaner
Majdanak Concentration Camp. I’ve read dozens of books and seen hundreds of images of gas chambers and crematoria. I knew they existed, but, until today, I knew like I knew Jupiter existed – no experience, just certainty. I’ve now stood under those shower heads, saw the room full of Zyclon B canisters, looked through the […]
Poland Personally – July 2nd Sandra Rosen
While sipping coffee at the Chopin Airport and awaiting the arrival of the rest of our group from the States (via Toronto), Jonty Blackman briefly described pre-WWII Poland, where Jews comprised 10% of the population of the entire country and 33% of the population of Warsaw. They enjoyed and contributed to the rich academic and […]
Poland Personally – July 2nd – Adam Marquart
2: Arrival. We made it. It’s nice being with everyone in Poland. Mostly everything from the airport reached its owners without alarm. Our bus and bus driver are nice, and everything has gone smoothly thus far. Our first stop in Warsaw was the old Jewish cemetery in which Jews from the last two-hundred […]
Poland Personally – July 1 – Erin Hupal
Warsaw Exploration We departed the Novotel around 9:15am this morning and headed for the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, where our guide Matan worked. Along the way he pointed out several landmarks, and I was pleased to recognize many buildings and parks we walked by yesterday afternoon on our stroll together. More people have arrived […]