This past Monday, March 16, eight MTA seniors returned to Newark Airport after a powerful and unforgettable week-long trip to Poland. These students are participants in MTA’s year-long Names, Not Numbers program, an oral history documentary initiative in which students interview and film Holocaust survivors, preserving their stories for future generations. At MTA, students have the added privilege of bringing that learning to life through a meaningful journey to Poland.
During the trip, the boys spent time in Warsaw, Lublin, and Krakow, encountering both the depth of pre-war Jewish life and the devastation of the Holocaust.
In Warsaw, they met with family members of a Polish Righteous Gentile, spoke with the Chief Rabbi of Poland, and walked through the remnants of the Warsaw Ghetto and the historic Warsaw Jewish Cemetery. They also visited the POLIN Museum, which highlights the rich, centuries-long history of Jewish life in Poland prior to the Holocaust.
In Lublin, the students visited the Majdanek and Belzec death camps, confronting the stark realities of destruction and loss. They stayed in the famed Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, connecting to the vibrant Torah life that once defined the city.
After visiting the kever of the Noam Elimelech, the group traveled to Krakow, where they spent a meaningful Shabbos. Following Shabbos, the boys enjoyed a traditional klezmer concert, followed by bowling and a melaveh malkah together. The trip concluded with a visit to Auschwitz, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.
The students were accompanied by Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Michael Taubes, who shared his vast knowledge of the Holocaust and Jewish life in Poland throughout the journey, adding depth and perspective at every step.
A tremendous hakaras ha’tov is extended to Tova and Dov Rosenberg for coordinating every aspect of the trip, including flights, speakers, accommodations, transportation, and meals, ensuring a seamless and impactful experience for the students.
