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Polish-Jewish Student Dialogue
The March of the Living Program has touched the lives of thousands of young Jewish adults. It has touched them in ways that stay with them the rest of their lives. It is a very hard and emotional journey for these impressionable youth.
We try and teach them many things before and after this experience, to remember those that perished, to be a witness, to bolster their Jewish identity. Sometimes when they come to Poland, they come with to the land and the people with preconceived ideas.
This past March 2004, the Coast to Coast Canada Delegation was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet a group of outstanding Polish students. The CTC delegation was composed of 108 participants who were split into 2 groups.
We were able to leave the hotel during this time and walk to the school where they studied. The Polish students first presented a show – singing for the March of the Living students, then the delegation was split into groups of approximately 7 Canadians with 2-5 Polish students.
I did not remain in one group but walked throughout the school. As I did, I could not help but be impressed and overwhelmed by what was transpiring during this exchange. Although this program did not last more that 2 hours, the students really were able to get an understanding of each other, and the different worlds from where they each came. They were able to realize that although they live thousands of miles away, they are very similar in so many ways; the types of music they listen to, clothes, food, hairstyles etc.
For both groups it was the first time for many of them to meet a Jewish person or a Polish person. I can truly say for many of the Jewish students it opened up a different avenue to explore. It enabled them to realize that things in Poland had changed since the war. It allowed these two groups to exchange views, to talk about anti-Semitism, what they can do to combat it. It opened the eyes of both groups and they were able to ask questions that as adults we are unable to do.
Previous to this program, I had attended other dialogue but none as successful as this. As Coordinator, the one regret I had was that there wasn’t more time to spend with the Polish students. We had to pull students out of their group sessions. In fact, the Polish students accompanied us back to the hotel so that they could spend a little extra time with their new friends. I know that both sides exchanged email addresses and can only hope that they are in contact today.
I believe that this type of programming should be an integral part of the March of the Living program. I know that for the Coast to Coast Delegation in 2006, more time will be designated to this program. The Jewish students walked away with a feeling of renewed hope. The program is very hard for them because of what they see and this experience but this program enabled them to look to the future. With continued dialogue, understanding of other cultures, respect for others, maybe the world will become a better place.
- Roberta Malam, Coast to Coast Canada Coordinator
March of the Living 2004
On the 2004 March of the Living, the Canadian Coast to Coast Delegation was fortunate to meet a group of outstanding Polish students.
The meeting was organized in co-operation with the Forum for Dialogue Among Nations, an organization whose mission is to foster Polish-Jewish dialogue, celebrate cultural diversity and teach tolerance through education.
Since 1998, the Forum has been working to eradicate anti-Semitism, prejudice, and stereotypes through seminars, workshops, and exchange programs. With Jewish and Polish participants, the Forum addresses the difficult questions arising from the Holocaust experience in Poland and promotes understanding and respect among individuals, nations, religions and cultures.
In recent years, the Forum has helped organize youth seminars between Jewish groups visiting Poland and Polish students. The Forum considers these meetings to be a significant contribution to Polish-Jewish dialogue, inasmuch as direct contact between students enables them to confront their preconceptions and expectations.
For more information on the Forum for Dialogue Among Nation, please log onto: www.dialog.org.pl
Reflections from the Program:
March of the Living Participants with Polish Students
* The photos here and below were taken during a dialogue session on a previous trip (Anguish to Hope/birthright israel) which was held at the end of 2003.
I found that the program where we met the Polish Students was a very important part of the trip. First of all we were not given very many opportunities to talk to people from the country where we spent a week of our trip, and it was nice to meet the people who live in the country. Also, it gave us a chance to realize that teenagers who live in Poland are pretty much the same as us. I think that the reason I found the program to be so important was that while in Poland most of the thing we did were very serious, however this program split up those programs and gave us a chance to have a little fun. I definitely think the march wouldn't have been the same without this program.
– Miriam Isman, Participant from Saskatchewan
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The thing that surprised me most in Jewish-Polish youth meetings was the openness of both sides. We talked with each other not as Poles or Jews but as representatives of youth – with similar problems and interests. Of course the questions about the Holocaust had to be asked. But they were not confrontational. We rather tried to understand how the experience of the past shapes our everyday life. For me the experience of Shoah is a feeling of some loss. It’s strong especially when I walk the streets of Warsaw. I feel that the streets were home to a people who then mysteriously disappeared. This meeting showed me what their descendants look like. I believe that thanks to this new generation of people I met, this feeling of loss will disappear someday.
– Adrian Wojcik, Warszawa
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My name is Mark Lipson and during April of 2004 I was fortunate enough to participate in the March of the Living. During our time in Poland we had the fabulous opportunity to meet with Polish students our age and to spend some time talking with them and learning from them. We talked about our lives as teenagers in Canada and we learned about their lives as teenagers in Poland. We talked about the different school systems that we are parts of and we talked about how they spent their free time. The focus of our discussion though was an exploration of how Polish people, especially Polish youth feel about Jews, both in Poland and throughout the world. We also talked about how they felt about the March of the Living and the difficult past of their country. We learned so much from these students and it was amazing to realize that though we live thousands of kilometers apart, in the end we are all very similar. Our cultures and backgrounds may be different but we all go to school and we all do similar things with our free time, whether it is dancing, painting, music, sports or just spending time with friends. We also had an opportunity to discuss some of the stereotypes and preconceptions that we as Canadians had about Polish youth and what their lives were like. This meeting was one of the most productive, interesting and engaging activities that we took part in while in Poland. The Polish students were gracious hosts and even put on a wonderful talent show to welcome us to their school. This program is extremely worthwhile and I believe that it should be continued in the future. Both groups of students learned and lot and now have a better understanding of a different part of the world. I hope that future students all have the same opportunity that we did.
– Mark Lipson, Winnipeg Participant
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I have been asked to write a testimonial regarding the March of the Living program with Polish students. As a chaperone, I sat in with a group consisting of five Polish students and five March of the Living participants. The two groups asked questions to each other and discussed a range of topics and opinions in a respectful and positive manner. I truly feel that the youths from both groups learned a great deal about each other and were able to breakdown traditional and potentially harmful stereotypes. The kids were able to interact as people and saw each other as individuals who are not so unlike themselves. The kids from the March of the Living group were elated and ecstatic with joy after departing the Polish School as they felt a connection with Polish humanity and a renewed sense of optimism for life. The program with the Polish students added a powerful and positive dimension to the Polish component of the March of the Living. Without this program the Polish students involved and the participants from the March of the Living would have missed a formidable opportunity to share an afternoon of laughs and learning. Programs such as this can only help to strengthen the positive impact of The March of the Living and promote better understanding between a new generation of Polish and Jewish people.
– Matthew Cairns, Chaperon - Edmonton
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During our lessons in preparation for the March of the Living Program, we were educated about the conditions in Poland during the Second World War. However, the Poland of today was left for us to discover. I arrived in Warsaw and saw a thriving, very modern city, quite different from what it was during wartimes. The people of Poland had a great impact on me as well, especially the students that we met with in Warsaw. Before this program, we had only encountered adults from Poland, so it was comforting to finally interact with people my own age. I felt very welcome in their school, and I had lots of fun. I enjoyed the special show they put on for us, and also having group discussions with individual students, to learn about each other’s lives. We had similar interests, concerns, goals, and attitudes, which helped us to get along very well. I found that this particular part of the journey taught me how Poland has changed for the better since the events of World War Two, and turned around any incorrect views I had imagined of Poland. I really benefited from this component of the March of the Living program, and I hope that it continues to benefit future participants, as well as students in Poland.
– Stevi Golden-Plotnik, Winnipeg Participant
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I personally really enjoyed the visit with the Polish Students in Poland. I met with a very unique and amazing group of students who told us that they were working on Jewish and Polish relations. At first we found out how much we had in common with them because we were all teenagers but after discussing more important issues I think we all gained more respect for each other. They were very understanding and accepting of our religious ways and although they didn’t believe in them they were able to see how we did. They did tell us that Poland did have an anti – Semitic side but that not everyone thought that way. The visit truly changed my perspective of Poland because before I had thought that I wasn’t accepted in the country. I think that it is a really important part of the March because it helps us to understand both sides of the Holocaust and it helps us not to hold a grudge against the world today.
– Tanya Schneider, Hamilton Participant
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It was a good chance to see daily life for Polish students because we didn't get a chance to see what Poland was like today since the portion of the trip in Poland was based only on history. Meeting the Polish students was also a nice emotional break from visiting ghettos and constantly worrying about how we were going to handle going to the concentration camps. The Polish students were fun to talk with and I liked hearing about their culture and how they live. It was interesting finding out about their school and how much more they have to learn than us! Here in Canada most people speak English and that's about it. In their schools it was mandatory to take Polish, English and one other European language. Plus it wasn't just basic "Where is the bus station?" English. They were fluent. It really made me think about how much culture we lack in Canada because of the only languages we really learn are English and sometimes French. It was awkward and kind of difficult to talk to the Polish students at first, and I didn't like the sheet of suggested topic for us to talk about (i.e. What they thought of Jews, what we thought of Poles) because it brought us back to prejudices and the Holocaust. But once we decided to just talk about random topics it was really fun and a well needed mental break. All the students were really cool and I'm glad I met them."
– Jacqueline Geller, Edmonton Participant
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The meeting with the Polish students, I felt, was a very important component of the March. A lot of kids going into the trip are told not to put money into the Polish economy, and that the Polish people will deny large parts of the Holocaust and act hostile towards us as Jews. But when we sat down with the teens from the school, simply as teenagers, it was easier to relate on a different level. We started off with easy topics, talking about school, and life in our respective countries. We then continued to discuss the purpose of our trip, Holocaust education. The things that the Polish students said amazed me. I never thought them to be as educated on the subject as they were. They knew a lot more than many of my gentile friends here in Canada. They also brought up some ideas that I had never thought of in regards to the gentile-Jewish situation in Poland during the war. I found them to be very intelligent and open-minded. It made me happy that as the third generation since the Holocaust we are able to look upon history as history together and become friends. If I hadn't met those Polish students in the manner that we did, I probably would have left Poland with the same attitude that I arrived with. I think that in regards to our particular meeting with the Polish students, it was a vital part of my March of the Living experience.
– Erin Kizell, Kingston Ontario Participant
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I enjoyed very much the program with the Polish students. It was unlike any other program in that we saw direct effects of what happened 60 years ago on life today in Warsaw. Once we got talking, we realized that many of the students believed in a more left-wing view in terms of politics and the rights of man. For example, they wanted Bush and the Americans out of Iraq and they believed in the equal and fair treatment of people no matter what gender or colour of their skin. Although they have admittedly told or heard comments against Jews they believe in resolving issues by words rather than violence and hate. I specifically remember one of the students saying that "there is no need for violence especially in the form of what happened here 60 years ago, we should be able to resolve this issue with words." They have grown up hearing inappropriate comments from their parents and especially their Grandparents but they realize that these are inappropriate and are Consciously making an effort to stop that.
– Josh Staav, Edmonton Participant
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I think meeting with Polish students is a fantastic idea. It connects Jews, on an international setting, to the students of Poland. Many people have biased views towards the people of Poland, due to the fact that many events of the Holocaust took place in their country. Meeting with Polish students erased any biased views towards the people of Poland, that I previously held. I thought it was great to interact with these people and learn that they are not much different than me, being a Canadian. Unfortunately, the students who I met with did not want to talk about history or the Holocaust, which is what many of the students on the March of the Living wanted to talk about. Other Polish students were keen to speak about these events, and the MOL students who spoke with these students benefited greatly. I wish I could have been in a group with Polish students who were keen on talking about the events that we wanted to talk about.
Although I did not find the students in my group very interesting, I think the idea for the program is amazing and it should be continued in years to come.
– Brian Rochwerg, Hamilton Participant
For more information on Polish-Jewish dialogue, please log onto:
www.dialog.org.pl/ENG/index2.htm
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