Two ASU students traveled to Poland to learn more about their family history and the Holocaust. The trip, organized by Chabad on Campus International, helped them connect with their ancestors and understand the resilience of the Jewish people.
Monday, January 27th, marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day . This year commemorates 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz . Stories of Holocaust survival continue to resonate globally, and one such story comes from siblings attending Arizona State University ( ASU ). They are the first in their family to visit Poland since their grandmother escaped as a teenager.
Yonatan Rosenbloom says the trip not only helped him and his sister, Ilanit Rosenbloom, piece together their family history but also demonstrated the resilience of the Jewish people before, during, and after the horrors of the Holocaust. The two recently returned from what might be the most significant Chanukah journey of their lives. 'It was an incredibly emotional trip. I don't think I expected myself to get as emotional as I was,' Yonatan said. The siblings' trip was deeply emotional, connected to their ancestors, including those who fled the Nazi persecution. 'My dad's grandmother, so my great-grandmother and her brother, they fled Łódź, Poland,' Yonatan explained. He says the trip to Poland, organized by Chabad on Campus International, allowed them to learn more about their heritage than what they knew from their great-grandmother's stories. 'Every time we tried to ask more questions, she'd get really upset and angry, didn't want to talk about it,' Yonatan said, 'Rightfully so.' The Rosenblooms knew their great-grandmother was in a work camp for some time before eventually making it to Israel. This trip provided some closure as to what happened to their other ancestors. 'We found who we think is my great-grandmother's brother there. It was the correct date of birth, the correct city of origin, and the correct name, so we're pretty confident it was him. Then we also found who we think may have been her parents as well. Also cause of death unknown,' Yonatan explained. But while the trip highlights the immense loss, it also showcases the enduring beauty of Jewish culture that persevered despite the atrocities. 'This trip, in addition to going to the concentration camps and showing what happened there and seeing and experiencing the sights, they learn about the communities that were there before the war and the vibrant Jewish life that existed there,' said Rabbi Shmuel Tiechtel, Executive Director of the Chabad at ASU. The hope is that these students will become educators, sharing their experiences upon returning to America. 'I'm very in tune with my Judaism as is, but going here made me realize that it's not just who I am, but it's important to share that with others as well,' Yonatan said. He shared that one of the most moving moments of the trip was witnessing the Star of David carved into the wood in the concentration camp barracks. It served as a powerful symbol of unwavering commitment to their faith and heritage even in the face of unimaginable darkness.
Holocaust Remembrance Day Auschwitz Jewish History Family Legacy Poland ASU Chabad On Campus International
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