Student Refelctions:
Lily
After three years as part of J-LOFT, I couldn’t have asked for a more memorable and meaningful way to conclude this journey. This trip to Europe has taught me so much—not only about World War II and the Cold War but also about what it truly means to be Jewish. Being Jewish means standing up for yourself and others, even in moments of helplessness, much like those in the Warsaw Ghetto did during the uprising. It means staying fearless and brave, even when you know the outcome, like Janusz Korczak, who refused to let the children from his orphanage walk alone to the death camps. And it means knowing who you are and accepting your identity, a struggle that many Polish (and other) people continue to face today.
While I’ve always felt connected to my Jewish identity, this trip has deepened that connection profoundly.
We began our journey focusing on Jewish life in Berlin, which dates back hundreds of years—longer than I had ever realized. Learning about this deep history was fascinating and gave me a broader understanding of Jewish life in Europe before the Holocaust. From there, we shifted our focus to the Shoah. Though it is a deeply sad topic, I learned so much more than I expected. We spent significant time discussing the lead-up to the Holocaust rather than solely its outcome. This perspective—understanding the question “how did we get here?”—was invaluable to me as someone who often reflects on history through that lens.
In Berlin, we visited the Platform 17 memorial, the starting point of our journey. We learned that deportations didn’t begin with people being sent directly to concentration camps; instead, many were first sent to other cities or “in-between” camps. Later, we discussed the evolution of the “Final Solution” and learned that it wasn’t part of a preexisting Nazi plan but something devised mid-regime. This revelation was eye-opening. Growing up, I always thought the Nazi regime had an intricately detailed, long-term plan. Realizing their methods were as chaotic and improvised as those of modern politicians changed my perspective on both the Holocaust and the nature of political systems.
As we moved on to Warsaw, I was struck by the incredible strength and resilience of the Jewish people. Touring the area of the old Warsaw Ghetto, we learned about acts of defiance against the Nazis: children risking their lives to smuggle bread for their families, the creation of the Oneg Shabbat Archives, and the heroic efforts of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. These stories of resistance were empowering. Even though they couldn’t liberate themselves, they fought back with remarkable courage. Their actions remind us of the strength within our people and the importance of honoring their memory by learning and sharing their stories.
As we prepare to fly home, I feel saddened that this is my final journey with J-LOFT. However, I know the experiences it has given me will stay with me forever. I will carry in my heart the stories of my ancestors and my people, and I will share them in the way they would have wanted. I’ll also treasure the friendships I’ve built through these trips. My bond with Avery, Eliana, and Jordan remains one of the strongest parts of this experience.
Though this is the end of our travels together as a group, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities Shoni and J-LOFT have provided. The lessons I’ve learned, the stories I’ve heard, and the connections I’ve made will continue to inspire me for a lifetime.
Jordan
Getting into my dream college at the airport right before we went through security for our flight, was a sign of how meaningful this trip would be for me.
To start off with Germany, I had no idea how much Jewish history there was in Berlin. I had learned almost every year about the world wars but nothing came close to how much I learned on this trip. What was especially eye opening to me was actually stepping foot in locations where historical events took place. For example, walking through the meeting room in the Wannsee Conference house where the “Final solution” was physically planned or standing on Platform 17 where tens of thousands of Jews were deported to concentration camps. There’s a different feeling being present in such a location than learning about it in school. I felt closer to the Jewish people.
Along with the meaningful historical places and history Berlin has, it was also a lot of fun. Through singing karaoke at a club to the endless Christmas markets, there was never a dull moment and always something to go do. It was one of my favorite places I’ve been to.
Onto Poland, Warsaw was a lot more beautiful than I expected. While there we had learned about how much destruction the war had caused and thus everything was modern and it almost felt American. We spent a lot of time in the Warsaw Ghetto, which we all thought would look like some sort of US prison, that had bombed buildings and we read many letters that people had written there that were eye opening. One of my favorite parts of the trip was speaking with the head Rabbi of Poland who was originally from the U.S. and very well spoken. What really got to me was how on a weekly basis he hears stories of Poles who discover they had Jewish roots. This was due to Jews hiding their identity after the war and not telling their future generations in fear.
We ended our journey cooking 120 pierogis in a cooking class with four Australians. That was a blast.
I truly believe no words can describe the impact physically being present in the locations of these moments in history has. I’m grateful to Shoni for starting this program with us and I hope that future students have the opportunity to experience the important history of the Jewish people.
Eliana
Going into this trip, I didn’t really know what to expect. All I knew is that we were going to learn about Jewish history in these cities, and of course eat our weight in food with my friends. Balance, of course. What I didn’t expect was how much this trip would feel like stepping into a history book; everything I had heard stories about from family or in history class was standing in front of me. Or in some cases, below me.
We kicked things off in Berlin, a city that somehow feels modern and ancient all at once. Hitler’s bunker—or, technically, the parking lot where it used to be stuck out to me. It’s bizarre standing on such a mundane patch of concrete, knowing it was the epicenter of so much evil.
The entire time walking through the city, I felt the history was yelling at me—photos, documents, stories—it’s all there, raw and unfiltered. It made me think about my own family, about the people who didn’t get a chance to tell their stories.
To lighten things up, we visited a local Hillel for Shabbat. It was definitely an experience, but also a reminder that Jewish life isn’t just about the past; it’s thriving in the present all around the world in very similar ways. It was very cool to me sitting at a table and hearing 4 different languages being spoken, but then everyone coming together singing the same song.
It is so interesting to me how much Berlin has changed over the past century. It bounced back to great lengths after the wars, making it the place to be in the modern age. I’d say: bumping!
Then came Warsaw, where we learned about the smaller stories of WW2. I stood where hundreds of thousands of people were crammed into an area similar in size to my neighborhood. We walked through streets that told countless stories of survival and resistance, likely even ones of my ancestors.
By the end of the trip, I realized this wasn’t just about learning history—it was about feeling it. The stories, the people, the resilience—it’s all a part of who I am, even if I didn’t know it before.
So, if you ever get the chance, visit Berlin and Warsaw. Learn the history, meet the people, eat the food. Especially pierogis. All in all, history is heavy, dumplings are delicious, and we’re all just trying to find a little joy in the chaos.
Avery
I am so grateful to have traveled with J-LOFT on this trip to Europe. I gained so much knowledge of the history, connection to the Jewish People, and understanding of the context surrounding jews today. Not only that, but I got to spend time with some of my best friends and absolute best travel buddies, Eliana, Lily, and Jordan, and the best leader we know, Shoni.
In Berlin, we got to experience the rich, lively city while learning about the deep history. These two things could not be more opposite. To me, that is what made Berlin so interesting. I found the history itself fascinating, but I especially found the country’s revival to what it is now even more fascinating. While walking through the streets, we would see bustling shops next a Holocaust memorial, or a beautiful lakeside villa that happened to be where the Final Solution was decided on. I think that this juxtaposition showcases the reality of German history and jewish history. And, how without taking the time to unpack the history like we did on this trip, it’s impossible to understand the present. For this reason, I’m so happy to have learned about the complicated history in the very place it happened.
Somewhat similarly, what made Warsaw so special to me was being on the grounds of history. However, unlike Berlin, most places in Warsaw are frozen in time. Standing on the walls of the former ghetto and seeing tangible pieces of the holocaust (among many other things) had a profound impact on me. Imagining history unfolding in the spot where I stood or around the artifact I was looking at is what shook me. With much of my family’s history coming from Poland, I felt proud to be there and be able to send my family pictures of all the sights. Lastly, my favorite spot in Poland was the Polin Museum which took us through the history of polish jews, from before medieval times through today. It was completely immersive and the most impressive and interesting museum I’ve ever seen.
I’m saddened to be going home right now but so glad I was able to be a part of the first group to do the trip. I’m sure it will continue for a long, long time. I will carry with me everything I learned and a new pride of being jewish thanks to this trip. It was the perfect way to conclude my J-LOFT journey!