Connecting to the Jewish heritage with Rabbi Wolowik

Two weeks ago, my wife, Chanie, and I had the great fortune of joining a special VIP USA delegation to the March of the Living in Poland. I want to share some of our reflections regarding this powerful experience especially since for both of us it was the first time.

The feeling of standing among 10,000 Jewish youth from all over the world is absolutely indescribable, as we marched together for over an hour from concentration camp Auschwitz to concentration camp Birkenau.

On a personal note, it was meaningful to be joining my dear friend the former ambassador to Israel, David Friedman and his wife Tammy, alongside current ambassador to Israel Tom Nides. I was moved by the thought of two proud Jews from two different presidential administrations and political affiliations coming together for one common cause.

We were also joined by other well-known figures including former Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, a Holocaust survivor, CNN television journalist Wolf Blitzer, the son of Holocaust survivors.

In a true spirit of “Never Again” we were also joined by the famous Rapper Meek Mill who came with us to learn firsthand, and be educated so that he could spread the message of zero tolerance for antisemitism, as well as Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori who runs a Holocaust museum in Dubai that educates Muslim children about tolerance.

One of the highlights of my trip was helping people who do not yet have the opportunity to put on their prayer shawl and phylacteries (tallit and tefillin). It had a special meaning for us after seeing the items, such as the prayer shawls that were taken away from the Jews who perished in the Holocaust, and now in those same concentration camps we were able to do it with pride.

This is definitely one of the most memorable trips my wife and I have had and will stick with us for many years to come.

Personally, we think that the message from here is to spread the idea of “Never Again” by encouraging people to bring goodness to the world and in memory of the 6 million Jews who perished, to do a mitzvah such as lighting a Shabbat candle Friday evenings before sundown for girls, over the age of three and women, and for men putting on Tefillin.

In this way we ensure that not only will there never be a physical Holocaust, but we should not have a spiritual Holocaust by keeping all souls connected to their heritage.

Rabbi Wolowik is the director of the Chabad of the Five Towns.