Never Again...yet, again.

The Holocaust may be the main focus or train of thought when one hears the word "genocide". It is not, however, the only genocide.

The March of Remembrance and Hope focuses on this era in history as we can see anti-semitism prevalent in modern society, still, and because the Holocaust touched so many different groups; gays, lesbians, Jews, soldiers, handicapped, Roma, everyday civilians, different races, religions, etc.

Inside the exhibit at Majdanek Extermination Camp,
outside Lublin, Poland.

What is Genocide? 
"The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group" (MRH Notebook, 2011).
"Raphael Lemkin, a Jewish refugee who fled Poland to the United States, introduced the term genocide in 1944 to describe what was happening in Nazi-occupied Europe. In 1948, the United Nations adopted the UN Genocide Convention, which defined genocide as certain acts undertaken with the intent to destroy, in whole or in substantial part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, as such. In agreeing to the Genocide Convention, nations promised to "undertake to prevent" genocide. (Committee on Conscience).

Major 20th century Genocides:
*information taken from the MRH Notebook, 2011
- 1915-17: Ottoman Turkey vs Armenians. 1-1.5 million murdered
- 1929-53: Soviet Union vs Anti-Communists/Anti-Stallanists. 20 million murdered.
- 1933-45: Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe vs Jews, Gypsies, Gays, Poles, etc, etc. 13 million murdered.
- 1949-52, 57-60, 66-76: China vs Anti-Communists, Rural Populations, Pro-reformers. 20 million murdered.
- 1960-81: Guatemala vs Maya Indians. 100,000 murdered.
- 1971-79: Uganda vs Christians, Political Revials. 300,000 murdered.
- 1975-79: Cambodia vs Educated Persons. 1 million murdered.
- 1994: Rwanda (Hutus) vs Tutsis. 800,000 - 1 million murdered.
- TODAY: Sudan (Muslim Arab militias) vs Black African (non-Arab Muslims) from Darfur. 200,000 murdered


As well as the following Genocides:
1. Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge.
A communist group in 1975, led by Pol Pot. The group wanted to overhaul society and create a peasant / agriculture society. They used consolidated power: you were imprisoned / shot if educated, of a different religion, etc. 1.2 - 1.7 million murdered.

2. Srebrenica, former Yugoslavia.
7,800 Bosniak men / boys were murdered in 1991-95 by the Serbians. Srebrenica was meant to be a haven for refugees, guarded by the UN. The Serbs made the UN flee, rounded up and deported the Bosniak men / boys, and shot them.

Wall of photos of the Prisoners of War
at Auschwitz.

3. Rwanda, the Hutus vs the Tutsis.
In 100 days in 1994, 800,000 people were killed. Jean-Paul Akayesu was the first person to stand trial for genocide, and was charged for 9 counts of genocide and crimes against humanity. He was organizing this genocide.

4. Darfur, the Janjaweed group.
Fighting for independence from the Sudanese government, and this is ongoing, today, although the height was between 2003-2005. In these few years, 200,000 were murdered, 2.5 million were driven away, there have been many rapes, etc. In 2004, the UN failed to call this a genocide.


How Can I Help?


STAND: Students Taking Action Now: Darfur


Genocide Intervention Network

Committee on Conscience

Darfur Action Group

"'Never Again' is the rallying cry for all who believe that mankind must speak out against genocide" - Jon Corzine.

An evening of Education and Inspiration

Last evening, 26 June, I was wishing I was in Kitchener, Ontario, where there was an event planned by MRH participants, with the help of directors, for the public.

The event, held at the Rockway Mennonite Collegiate and titled An evening of Education and Inspiration seems to have been a success, from what I've heard. The event brought together participants in the Toronto / Waterloo area, facilitators, and Faigie, one of the survivors that travels with MRH

This article, in the Kitchener Record, shares what the evening was like for the public.

Although I'm sad I missed this opportunity to share my story and experiences, I look forward to future events, our Toronto Retreat weekend, and the education that follows this fantastic program and experience.

As TheRecord quoted Jeffrey, national program manager for the Canadian Centre for Diversity, "the real experience comes from not giving up."

And last night, the fantastic group of students that presented did not.

Educating the Educated

Part of the original Warsaw Ghetto wall.

On Tuesday evening, 21 May, I had the opportunity to speak at the University of New Brunswick to Professor Todd's class on the history of the Holocaust and other genocides. A friend, Hilary, who is in this class mentioned me when Dr. Todd referenced the March of Remembrance and Hope several classes ago, and things sparked from there.

I was thrilled to have this opportunity, albeit very nervous.

I think the actual talk went pretty well; the class was already educated on the topic, and probably knew more than me. I did, however, have a hard time getting my emotions across. Several times, as I felt my voice start to waiver and my hands begin to shake, I wrapped up my story, and moved on, showed photos, or stopped for questions.

I look forward to the August retreat weekend which will allow me to better prepare myself for future speeches and hopefully put a huge step forward for the photo exhibit, which is currently still in the idea and planning stage.

Facilitators, survivors and educators.
Photo taken by fellow participant Tamara.

I am, however, very glad I managed to speak at UNB, and hope that there will be several more Atlantic Canadian / New Brunswick participants on the trip.

Finally, I have my photos up on Facebook, and the albums are public so you should all be able to visit them. There are two different albums, which you can visit by clicking here and here.

Also, I'll leave you with another link, just for interest's sake: "Nazi propaganda chief's waterfront estate up for sale". 

Reasons for Remembering

So, why did I decide to embark on this journey, which was not only a ten-day journey of being overseas, or six months of webinars, readings and preparations, but is a life-long journey of constant learning and love for one another, compassion, and fighting for justice.

Marching to Birkenau. I can be seen front and center
(with big sunglasses). Photo taken by Jemy Joseph.

Why did I decide to do this?

I'm not Jewish, no. I have no real connection to the Holocaust, and although I have family members who fought in WWII, I don't know their stories so I don't feel a real connection to the war as a whole. I've never felt real prejudice and hatred, and I guess I don't know evil.

But, I will admit, I take things for granted. I overlook things, I focus too heavily on others, I don't treat everyone with the respect I would want in return. I'm human. We make mistakes, we get caught up in things, some things slip and slide. And therefore, I have a responsibility to do something; to stand up and shout out, and to take action.

And I pledge to do so. Starting now, through raising awareness of something that has been a slap in the face to myself, and several others on the MRH trip that I have spoken to upon finding these articles.

A U of T grad who wrote her masters thesis in 2010 has been creating a bit of hoopla among the MRH community. Her thesis, titled The Victimhood of the Powerful: White Jews, Zionism and the Racims of Hegemonic Holocaust Education, specifically mentions the March of Remembrance and Hope, but does so in a negative light. Ms. Peto, a grad from the Department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, accuses MRH of trying to turn "coloured people" into Zionist supporters (to quote a fellow MRH participant who discusses this article on Facebook).

Apparently the directors of the MRH program were aware this thesis existed.

Ms. Peto seems biased in her research, and I cannot fathom how she was awarded a degree for making the claims she has. You can read her thesis here.

Another article I recently found, through the Facebook feed of the MRH group is no better.

Anti-semitism and a Classroom "Jew Count" at University of Toronto's Social Work Faculty brings attention to displacing one's thoughts on others. While I disagree with a Prof sharing their personal views about a topic, unless stated in an appropriate way which can, perhaps, be joked about or debated, I am disgusted to hear that this prof not only projected his views of the Jewish people to a class, but provoking conversations - of the negative kind - to take place within the classroom.

This article can be found here. 

I will be the first to admit that I have not read Ms. Peto's thesis to it's full extent, as I cannot manage to force myself any further while keeping decorum and appropriate language directed towards this individual, but I encourage you all to read these, and take action.

Photos

No fear, I have not forgotten that I am not yet done with posting my journal entries. I hope to have another one in the next night or two. However, to tie you over, I thought I would just post some photos.

The track at Gleis 17 in Berlin that the cattle cars came in and out of the station, on. This strip of track is now a memorial for the 55,000 Jews deported from Berlin

The museum in the Wannsee Villa had fabulous exhibits including many maps, like this, which shows the percentage of the population that was Jewish in each European country.

The day we visited Auschwitz was oddly pretty; clear sky, green grass, and birds chirping. It's a beautiful place which made it hard to believe such horror took place there.

The exhibits within the barracks at Auschwitz were also fantastic. I was very interested in this one, on the tattoos and numbering system of the prisoners and Jews sent to Auschwitz. I was also unaware that this camp was the only one that tattooed people.

This is inside the gas chamber at Majdanek Exermination Camp. The blue and green spots are where the Zyklon-B has seeped into the walls. Ironically, the company that produced this gas for mass killings is still running today, and produces the chemical sprayed on the 2,711 concrete slabs in Berlin so spray paint will not stick and the memorial can't be vandalized.

This memorial, in the middle of the grounds at Majdanek, was an act of resistance. Several artists from within the camp were asked to make this monument, with eagles on top. They risked their lives to steal ash from the crematorium, which they buried underneath, to commemorate those who had already passed and left the camp.

Inside the crematorium at Majdanek. To the right of where I was standing there was a large bathtub. The commander of the crematorium used the heat from the ovens to heat the water for his daily bath. I'll refrain from using the adjectives I would like to when describing this man.

Inside the Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw. The cemetery, prewar, was left alone during the war, but half of it was inside the ghetto, half was on the Aryan side. All documents regarding the Jews buried here were destroyed. Seen here is our tour guide, Michael, showing us a sewage tunnel that people used to escape - going down on the ghetto side, and coming up on the Aryan side.

At Treblinka. 900,000 people were murdered here and they are commemorated with 17,000 stones - some displaying the names of countries and communities they came from. A Soviet monument towers over them.

The black area in the foreground shows where bodies were burned - what remains is charred bone and wood. The stones of commemoration are seen in the background (Treblinka).

"Keep your head up, but your heart higher." - Devin Heroux, MRH 2011 participant.

MRH Article in The Daily Gleaner

Group in Warsaw

Today I am feeling so blessed as my local paper, The Daily Gleaner, ran a story on the March of Remembrance and Hope and my experiences overseas on the trip.

I was featured on the front page of the Live It! section (C1 and C2) with a full story about the trip while overseas as well as what I took away from the trip; intellectually and emotionally. Lori Gallagher did a fantastic job and definitely did my story justice. You can find the article here.

I've had an amazing response to doing this article; it not only has allowed me another outlet to educate others around me about hatred and genocide, as well as the Holocaust itself, but it has given me more connections and allowed me to touch others.

When I arrived home from work I had a message from a gentlemen living in Lincoln who read the story and wanted to speak with me as he served in the Canadian Forces and remembers seeing Hitler's car and Hitler inside, and remembers serving in Berlin and marching through the Brandenburg Gates. I spoke with him for about half an hour and was so honoured that he thanked me for doing this trip and doing the article and letting others know. It should have been me thanking him - for all he fought for, for what he risked, and for what he stood for as a Canadian and as a brave young man.

Old Town Warsaw, Poland.

This trip has given me a new outlook on officials; the Canadian Forces, the local and national Police forces, etc. We owe them so much for the safe country we live in today and for the long history these organizations have that have allowed us, as a country, to become what we are, today.

I once again wanted to thank everyone for following my blog: I now have 4,400 views and I couldn't be happier. Many of you have showed your support and gratitude for these posts and it is for you that I write, work out my thoughts, and trust in helping me change the future.

Stay tuned for more...

Holocaust, Hell.

I can't say I've been to hell. Not in comparison to the stories we heard while overseas and the stories and facts we all know about the Holocaust. It's not fair to compare my suffering now, as I deal with society and humanity and try to educate, to the suffering, then. It's minimal in comparison.

But I can say I survived Auschwitz. I survived Majdanek. And that's rare. It's fantastic that I could visit these places and have the opportunity to witness the sites and atrocities to further educate and prevent genocide. But it is hell, and I was there, I witnessed, too.

I'm currently reading Halina Birenbaum's memoir "Hope is the Last to Die", which I bought at Auschwitz and she describes Majdanek as the following:

"How was it possible to cope in Majdanek with the burden of memories, cruelty and pain? There was one remedy: Majdanek itself. Majdanek gave no one time for memories, sorrow or despair. The threat of death and torture meant that every minute spent in the camp dulled the mind while it sharpened the animal instinct and killed all human impulse (113)."

Majdanek was hell on Earth and it still is, today. While there are exhibits, memorials, here it is not to the extent that Auschwitz has. For the most part, Majdanek is as Majdanek was. And that made things real. That gave me goosebumps. And that really showed the hell. The reality of it and made Pinchas' story, and now Halina's, come to life and haunt me.

It is this place that is the epitome of evil and fear and horror in my mind. And it is this place that is in mind so often during the night as I dream, pray and wake, shaken.

It is hell and I agree with what Philip Riteman, Auschwitz survivor, told me: we all live in Heaven. And it is so beautiful.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone, from New Brunswick.

Location:Fredericton, NB

Education, part 1.

I want to thank all of you. At current, I have had 4060 blog views: something I never dreamed of. I'm overwhelmed by the number of you who faithfully followed (and are still following) my blog, the number of you that helped me by passing my link around and by the amount of feedback I've had.

I can't express my gratitude, but I tear up as I receive your kind words regarding what I have witnessed, and as I embark on a new journey to educate and relate these sites, feelings, and teachings to the rest of the world; to my community, to my classmates, friends, family, and all I meet.

I didn't expect my blog to grow - so rapidly and to such an extent. My original intent was to use this blog as a quick, efficient way to contact people at home, rather than sending several emails to those who worried about my whereabouts.

I am, however, thrilled that this has became an educational tool -- for all of my readers, as well as for myself. I hope to continue this blog in the future, as I try to overcome and answer the questions I still don't understand, as I plan on routes of action and education - projects I will be working on alone, as well as with groups, and as I get ready for a leadership retreat in Toronto at the end of August.

Thank you all for your kind words, once more. It means more than I can say to know that you are not only reading my journeys and expressions, but sharing in my emotions with me.

Stay tuned for the remainder of my journal entries and further reflections in the coming days.

"How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!" - George Elliston.

Reflecting on Ceremonies and Music

Lighting candles at a
ceremony at Majdanek
Extermination Camp. 

Many times throughout our journey in Poland, we paused to reflect on what we had seen and learned throughout the day and paid our respects to the millions of souls who did not survive the Holocaust, the Jewish faith that was hurt so severely, and we paused to love those around us and those at home waiting for our return.

These ceremonies - celebrations of both life and death - as well as music played a huge role in the March of Remembrance and Hope. A beautiful addition to the wonderful and touching monuments we visited by day.

The ceremonies, which ranged from commemorating the homosexual victims of the Holocaust to welcoming the Sabbath, allowed participants of the trip to take part, read testimonies, sing, and share emotion. On top of this, I was honored and humbled on several occasions when the Jewish faith, or Geraldine's stories and traditions within the Ojibwe First Nations beliefs, was opened up to the group to accept, love and learn about, as well as be active participants through hymns and blessings.

Laying 6 roses at Birkenau in a small ceremony

Our first night in Berlin, we focused on the homosexual victims of the Holocaust through songs of acceptance, and testimonies voiced by participants who are passionate on this subject and lifestyle. This ceremony - short and sweet - complimented by the "choir" of the trip singing True Colours, was the perfect layout for the remainder of ceremonies. Emotional,  but this ceremony allowed us to feel empowerment, pride and a sense of overcoming disparities and prejudices.

The role of music on the program was amazing; powerful, beautiful and respected - and participated in - by all. The ability of one and their capabilities did not matter. It did not matter if you squeaked or squawked, whispered or belted, but together we were one force fighting through the power of words, through the beauty of music. Beauty silhouetted against the ugly, dark history we were studying.

Faigie singing a Hebrew
prayer before Shabbat
dinner, Friday in Warsaw.

We were never alone throughout this journey; there was always someone who offered a hand to hold, a shoulder to lean on, or a soft, gentle, understanding smile. And we had music. Something I have re-discovered the last year or so as something that can soothe and calm me, upset me, but also make me smile. Something with healing powers on it's own; something that can connect two people, create emotion and relationships between them, around them, inside them.

Music offered such peace throughout these ceremonies, whether it was agreeing with the lyrics of Cyndi Lauper's hit, praying for peace as we sang Od Yavo, or getting goosebumps during the Hebrew hymns. It wasn't necessary to know the meaning of what we were singing, what the words meant, or what its significance was. It mattered that this was a shared connection between all 60 of us, between our faiths, and between our hearts. Something I will never forget.

I will never forget the feeling of goosebumps and the shiver that ran down my spine as Pinchas sang a blessing of the children, opening his heart to each of us, putting faith in us and our future's, the future, and allowing us to become part of his religion through this.

We had many ceremonies throughout the course of the trip; some focusing on individuals, others on groups, some unknown, and some with names we recognize. But what I will not forget is that weight on my shoulders each time we bowed our heads and sang, held hands, lit candles, and remembered. A feeling that I cannot explain: it was not a weight, nor was it grief, but it wasn't a feeling of doing good and making a difference in the world. It was a bit of both, tied into a neat bundle and placed on my back for me to carry with me through the trip, to bring home with me, to sit with as I write this post.

Faigie reflecting at a
small gravesite just outside
the town of Tykochin.

Although I wish the ceremonies were not necessary (in the sense that I wish that this chapter in our history did not happen), I found these most powerful, enjoyable, and challenging on the trip. And I cannot wait to continue to let music steer my life, convey my emotions, connect me with others and be the words that I cannot say, myself.

I remember. I will always remember. And I will continue to see beauty...even against the grey sky of these places in Poland.

I'd like to share with you a few links of songs we sang, and videos of ceremonies we had.

- Pinchas singing at Treblinka Extermination Camp. Video by Jemy Joseph,  
     MRH 2011 participant.
- Faigie leading a song on the bus. Video by Leaelle Derynck, MRH 2011
     participant.
- Pinchas welcoming the Sabbath. Video by Leaelle Derynck, MRH 2011 participant.
- Faigie and Pinchas singing at the Tykochin synagogue. Video by Leaelle Derynck, MRH 2011
      participant.
- MRH 2011 "choir" singing Od Yavo. Video by Leaelle Derynck, MRH 2011 participant.
- "We Shall Overcome", a song we sang at our Birkenau ceremony.
- "Lean on Me"

"If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change" - Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror

Day 6 Journal: Warsaw, Righteous Among the Nations

21 May 2011: Warsaw, Free Time, Meeting a Righteous Among the Nations...

Courtyard surrounded
by apartments within
the Warsaw ghetto.

I found it very frustrating as many of my friends, leading up to my trip, and upon returning home, were so excited and jealous that I was going to Europe. Sure, I did travel to another continent, I did see gorgeous sights and architecture, struggle with the language barrier, and eat different food, but, it wasn't exactly a walk in the park or just a tourist trip to Europe. Nothing to be jealous of in the sense that I didn't really experience full European culture, didn't travel and do my own thing and do the stereotypical backpacking through Europe meeting people. Something to be jealous of in the sense that I did meet fantastic people and this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Today was a bit more on the "I went to Europe!" side of things, as the itinerary allowed us a bit of free time in Old Town Warsaw.

The morning consisted of another tour of Warsaw, which included visiting sites within the Warsaw Ghetto. I was surprised at how big the Ghetto area is; perhaps because of it's representation in films and what I had pictured in my mind based on personal testimonies and stories I have heard.

We also visited Mila 18, Umshlagplatz (the deportation area for the Warsaw Jews - to the camps), and several different monuments.

Eating zapikanka, the national
street food of Poland.

Umshlagplatz is the place Pinchas and his family were deported from. Near the area is now a large marble monument - something that bothers him, he says, as it has little meaning or representation.

Our Free Time was much needed, appreciated, and great fun. The Old Town part of the city is gorgeous with stereotypical European streetscapes. I took advantage of this time to separate myself from the group and wind down, relax, and enjoy.

I so needed this: time to browse cheap souvenir shops, eat overpriced but delicious food, and wander the streets at my own pace, taking in the scenery; the sights, the smells and the sounds. I did find myself a gorgeous amber and silver ring in a neat little jewelry store. I plan to post more on what I brought home from the trip - materialistically and intangible - at a later date.

The Righteous Among the Nations we met is seated in front
row, wearing white. I'm on floor, front row, center.

One of the most exciting, and the moment with the most impact, parts of today was, however, meeting a Righteous Among the Nations; someone who risked their lives to save others during WWII/The Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Poland.

It was fantastic to have this opportunity and to hear her story - with fear, sadness, and good spirits and laughter - and it was so heartwarming to see how thrilled she was to be there, seeing herself in our eyes.

Due to lack of my own words, I leave you with this:

Key Points of Interest / Other Sites Visited Today:

The Uprising Statue: "The statue commemorates the Ghetto warriors. Erected in the center of the former Ghetto region, on Zamenhoff Street, it was built by the famous sculptor, Nathan Rappaport. An exact copy has been placed in the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem. A solemn state assembly takes place annually, near the statue, commemorating the date of the original memorial statue, erected by the Ghetto warriors in 1946, marked with the letter "x". (MRH Notebook 2011).

The Umschlagplatz:  "A square near Zamenhoff and Stavki streets, in the northern parts of the Warsaw Ghetto, near the freight train depot and the vocational school. After being gathered in the Umschlagplatz courtyard, most of the Warsaw Jews were sent to Treblinka, while a minority was sent to other camps. The station began to operate with the first 'actions' in the summer of 1942. Today the site is marked by a memorial wall inscribed in Polish, Yiddish, and Hebrew, commemorating the spot. The Polish authorities erected a new memorial on the former site of the gas station." (MRH Notebook 2011).

Mila 18: "The Z.O.B. (Jewish Fighting Organization) main Warsaw bunker during the April uprising.  AFter the great Ghetto fires and losing its bases, this is where many troops assembled, using it as the organization's headquarters. On May 8th the Germans surrounded the bunker. As they no longer had any hope of survival, many warriors committed suicide. Several of them were poisoned by the gas bombs hurled into their hideaway. More than one hundred warriors died here, including Mordechai Anilewicz, commander of the Uprising. The 8th of May marked a turning point in the Ghetto battles. Until that day there were few Z.O.B. victims. After conquering the bunker, SS. General Stroop made a report to his superiors. To this day, the warriors' bodies remain beneath the rubble. Nothing is left of the bunker. A hill of testimony was erected in the spot after the Ghetto was freed." (MRH Notebook 2011).

Info on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: "Between 1941 and 1943, underground resistance movements were formed in approximately 100 ghettos in Nazi-occupied eastern Europe (about one-fourth of all ghettos), especially in Poland, Lithuania, Belorussia, and the Ukraine. Their main goals were to organize uprisings, break out of the ghettos, and join partisan units in the fight against the Germans.
   ...
   The most famous attempt by Jews to resist the Germans in armed fighting occurred in the Warsaw ghetto, where the largest single revolt by Jews took place.
   In the summer of 1942, about 300,000 Jews were deported from Warsaw to Treblinka. When reports of mass murder in the killing center leaked back to the Warsaw ghetto, a surviving group of mostly young people formed an organization called the Z.O.B.. The Z.O.B., led by Mordecai Anielewicz, issued a proclamation calling for the Jewish people to resist going to the railroad cars. In January 1943, Warsaw ghetto fighters fired upon German troops as they tried to round up another group for deportation. Fighters used a small supply of weapons that had been smuggled into the ghetto. After a few days, the troops retreated. This small victory inspired the ghetto fighters to prepare for future resistance.
   On April 19, 1943, the Warsaw ghetto uprising began after German troops and police entered the ghetto to deport its surviving inhabitants. The heavily armed and well-trained Germans encountered fierce resistance from 750 fighters. The ghetto fighters were able to hold out for nearly a month, but on May 16, 1943, the revolt ended. The Germans had slowly crushed the resistance. Of the more than 56,000 Jews captured, about 7,000 were shot, and the remainder were deported to killing centers or concentration camps." (MRH Notebook 2011).

Certificate of the Righteous Among the Nations

Info on Righteous Among the Nations: "A person recognized as a 'Righteous Among the Nations' is awarded a specially minted medal bearing his or her name, a certificate of honor, and the privilege of his or her name being added to those on the Wall of Honor in the Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. (This list is in lieu of tree planting, which was discontinued for lack of space). To date, 19,141 men and women have been recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. This figure includes family members who shared in the rescue of Jews and represents more than 8,000 authenticated rescue stories. Yad Vashem's policy is to pursue the program for as long as petitions for this title are received and are supported by solid evidence that meets the criteria." (MRH Notebook 2011). There are 5,632 Righteous Among the Nations in Poland, of which we met one. The USA has one. For more information on these people, visit Yad Vashem's website, here. 


"He who saves a single life saves the world entire" - Talmudic dictum