P2K - Shoah Experience to Poland and Israel
Personal Experiences
Personal Experiences
TAKE ME HOME
Two weeks ago I set off on the most incredible journey of my life! I was eager to participate and open-minded but in retrospect I really did not have a clue what was about to happen to me on the P2K Shoa Tour 2003.
We started off in Johannesburg where I met the rest of the South African group (all 34 of them) for the first time. For me this was an experience in itself, as apart from camp, I had never seen so many South African Jewish children of my age in one place. I was excited and got to know a few of the people. I did not even dream that 14 days later these people would be like siblings to me, that we would have both cried and laughed with our arms around each other. Even as I write this piece I feel alone without one of them nearby. We have shared an experience that is hard to relate to others and we have a connection that is unique and extrememely meaningful.
The first part of our tour was spent in Israel and for the first time I really appreciated the Jewish Homeland and its beauty. I was at Home!! We visited many attractions in and around Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, including the Western Wall, which is probably the most universal Jewish place today. It was incredible for me to stand and doven at the same place millions of Jews have dovened before and I will never forget the feeling I had. We also visited Yad Vashem and were given some background information before Poland. We met both our guide, Jacob, and the Israeli contingent of our group during this time. At first it was awkward with the language barrier, but soon we were making ourselves understood. There were many late nights in Israel and the plane trip to Poland was valuable time to catch up on some much needed shut-eye.
As we arrived in Poland everyone’s mood became more serious and we started to focus on the main reason for this trip, The Shoa. The next 10 Days were spent touring Poland. Jacob believes that without understanding the life as a Jew before the Shoa, and the extent of how great the Jewish communities were, one cannot understand the magnitude of the holocaust. With this in mind we visited many magnificent synagogues, yeshivas and famous Jews graves to attempt to grasp the significance of the Jewish population prior to the Holocaust. This was interspersed with visits to the countless ghastly death camps, labour camps, ghettos and mass graves. It was a very emotional time for all of us and we leant on each other for support.
The nights were late. How Late? Finally falling asleep at half past three when your wake up call is at five forty five. That’s how late!! They were spent chatting about the days events and other less serious topics. I personally used the night time to discuss my thoughts of the experience and the continuous effect it was having on me and my understanding of life. There were many hours spent on the bus and Jacob who was incredible and an inspiration to all of us, showed Holocaust movies for those who were not catching up on the last nights sleep or sharing a set of headphones with their neighbour.
This trip has changed me as a person and I believe that I now have a larger view on life. It is as if somebody has zoomed out on my lens and I have realized so many new things. The most important thing that I realized on this trip is that respect for life is paramount! As soon as there is a loss of respect for life and people believe that they have the power to choose between who lives and who dies, I believe disaster ensues. I thank god for the gift of life.
After Poland we spent 2 days in the holy land before coming back to South Africa and in those 2 days I felt a magne6tic attraction to Israel. When we left it was as if I was leaving my real home, where I can always feel comfortable as a Jew.
As I try and get used to life back in Durban there is one underlying cry in my heart that will not fade:
Take Me Home
I would like to thank Janiv Dogan and Cheryl Unterslak for accompaining us on this trip. I know we were hard work, but we really appreciate it. I believe it should be compulsary for all Jews to visit these terrible places as if we don’t remember, who will?
Two weeks ago I set off on the most incredible journey of my life! I was eager to participate and open-minded but in retrospect I really did not have a clue what was about to happen to me on the P2K Shoa Tour 2003.
We started off in Johannesburg where I met the rest of the South African group (all 34 of them) for the first time. For me this was an experience in itself, as apart from camp, I had never seen so many South African Jewish children of my age in one place. I was excited and got to know a few of the people. I did not even dream that 14 days later these people would be like siblings to me, that we would have both cried and laughed with our arms around each other. Even as I write this piece I feel alone without one of them nearby. We have shared an experience that is hard to relate to others and we have a connection that is unique and extrememely meaningful.
The first part of our tour was spent in Israel and for the first time I really appreciated the Jewish Homeland and its beauty. I was at Home!! We visited many attractions in and around Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, including the Western Wall, which is probably the most universal Jewish place today. It was incredible for me to stand and doven at the same place millions of Jews have dovened before and I will never forget the feeling I had. We also visited Yad Vashem and were given some background information before Poland. We met both our guide, Jacob, and the Israeli contingent of our group during this time. At first it was awkward with the language barrier, but soon we were making ourselves understood. There were many late nights in Israel and the plane trip to Poland was valuable time to catch up on some much needed shut-eye.
As we arrived in Poland everyone’s mood became more serious and we started to focus on the main reason for this trip, The Shoa. The next 10 Days were spent touring Poland. Jacob believes that without understanding the life as a Jew before the Shoa, and the extent of how great the Jewish communities were, one cannot understand the magnitude of the holocaust. With this in mind we visited many magnificent synagogues, yeshivas and famous Jews graves to attempt to grasp the significance of the Jewish population prior to the Holocaust. This was interspersed with visits to the countless ghastly death camps, labour camps, ghettos and mass graves. It was a very emotional time for all of us and we leant on each other for support.
The nights were late. How Late? Finally falling asleep at half past three when your wake up call is at five forty five. That’s how late!! They were spent chatting about the days events and other less serious topics. I personally used the night time to discuss my thoughts of the experience and the continuous effect it was having on me and my understanding of life. There were many hours spent on the bus and Jacob who was incredible and an inspiration to all of us, showed Holocaust movies for those who were not catching up on the last nights sleep or sharing a set of headphones with their neighbour.
This trip has changed me as a person and I believe that I now have a larger view on life. It is as if somebody has zoomed out on my lens and I have realized so many new things. The most important thing that I realized on this trip is that respect for life is paramount! As soon as there is a loss of respect for life and people believe that they have the power to choose between who lives and who dies, I believe disaster ensues. I thank god for the gift of life.
After Poland we spent 2 days in the holy land before coming back to South Africa and in those 2 days I felt a magne6tic attraction to Israel. When we left it was as if I was leaving my real home, where I can always feel comfortable as a Jew.
As I try and get used to life back in Durban there is one underlying cry in my heart that will not fade:
Take Me Home
I would like to thank Janiv Dogan and Cheryl Unterslak for accompaining us on this trip. I know we were hard work, but we really appreciate it. I believe it should be compulsary for all Jews to visit these terrible places as if we don’t remember, who will?
Jason Kluk
