Berlin & Warsaw: Part 5 (Epilogue)

Nearly a year ago, a group of then-juniors who had participated in the HiBuR Israel program the previous year and were currently taking part in the L’taken seminar in Washington D.C. came to the (harsh) realization that there were no more immersive Jewish experiences for them to embark on through J-LOFT. Not known as a shy bunch, this group shared their dissatisfaction with the situation. Since we are not genetically predisposed to tell Jewish teens eager to engage, “No,” we simply asked: “Well, what kind of educational, immersive experience are you interested in?”

This dialogue led us to pilot the Berlin & Warsaw Journey, which concluded this Erev Christmas.

As with any pilot, the educational goals continued to be a moving target throughout the six-month planning process. We knew we wanted to learn more, and up close, about the Holocaust from a Jewish perspective. We sought a better understanding of the internal processes that led to the rise of fascism in general and antisemitism in Europe. We were curious about what Jewish life in Europe looked like before the war and how (and if) these communities have rebuilt themselves. Additionally, as with all our travel programs, we looked forward to immersing ourselves in (at least some aspects of) the local culture. We also made a conscious decision that this would not follow the model of what’s often referred to as a “Holocaust trip” in the Jewish (and primarily Israeli) educational world, which appeals to the emotional side by evoking an unbearable dose of historical trauma.

This wide range of (J)lofty educational goals led us to partner with another, much more experienced educational organization – with the appropriate name for a pilot program – He’chalutz (“The Pioneer” in Hebrew). He’chalutz is the diaspora-focused educational arm of Ha’noar Ha’oved Ve’halomed (NOAL), an Israeli youth movement established a century ago which is closely associated with the Israeli labor and kibbutz movements. He’chalutz is also affiliated with Dror Israel, an organization many in the Boston area are familiar with.

Together with our teens, and working closely with He’chalutz, we designed a week-long journey to two cities we believed would meet our needs: Berlin and Warsaw. Berlin is an ideal place to trace the collapse of democracy and the rise of fascism, as well as to explore one of the most unique and consequential Jewish communities to ever exist – home to luminaries like Moses Mendelssohn, Hermann Cohen, Abraham Geiger, and Martin Buber. Warsaw, on the other hand, was the epicenter of Jewish life before the war, housed the largest Jewish ghetto during the war, and was home to some of the most inspiring Jews of the era, including Janusz Korczak, Mordechai Anielewicz, Rachel Auerbach, and Emanuel Ringelblum. A tale of two cities, if you wish: in Berlin, we visited the site of the Fuhrerbunker, and in Warsaw, we stood atop the bunker where Anielewicz, the leader of the ghetto uprising, hid. As history would have it, these two individuals, who represent diametrically opposed ideologies, ultimately met the same fate.

While it is too early to fully understand the long – or even short-term – impact of this experience on our students, based on the scope of what they learned and experienced, the questions they asked, the thoughts they shared, and the expressions they made, we feel confident saying that – while far from perfect – this journey was a worthwhile venture, and one we dearly hope will become a permanent J-LOFT offering in the years to come.

We extend our gratitude to the following incredible individuals who made this pilot possible:

• Gabe Freund, Co-Director of He’chalutz, who thoughtfully and attentively crafted this journey with us.
• Ioana Niculescu, our guide in Berlin, who went above and beyond in both the depth of content and her efforts to make our stay in Berlin productive, meaningful, and, yes, enjoyable.
• Rinat Sharon, our guide in Warsaw, who brought the life within the Warsaw Ghetto vividly into focus and inspired us with mesmerizing stories and poetry.
• Rabbi Michael Schudrich, Chief Rabbi of Poland, who took time out of his busy schedule to meet with our students for an open, friendly, and fascinating conversation about contemporary Jewish life in Poland.
• Hillel Deutschland and Rabbi Sami Vingorn, who hosted us for an unforgettable Shabbat experience in Berlin.
• Shimon and Dan, who welcomed us into the Jewish Historical Institute and shared their vast knowledge.
• Sebastian from Berlin and Dominik from Warsaw, who introduced us to truly unique and authentic aspects of their respective cities.
• Our J-LOFT partners – Congregation Beth El, Or Atid, Karem Shalom, B’nai Torah MetroWest, Ma’yan Tikvah, Temple Beth Am, and Temple Beth Sholom – whose ongoing collaborative efforts allowed this program to become a reality.
• J-LOFT’s Advisory Board, who made the bold decision to bring this new venture into existence, in light of multiple challenges. 
• Last but not least, our students, who were brave enough to step into the unknown and acted with exemplary levels of maturity, curiosity, and responsibility, and were there for each other every single moment, and their parents, who trusted us with their kids – for the third time – and kept supporting us and them all along the way. 

If you’ve read this far, we feel the need to share with you that J-LOFT has decided to offer this journey despite significant financial challenges we are facing this year. With diminishing support from major institutional donors, we now rely on individuals like you to help sustain this program and ensure meaningful, quality Jewish education remains accessible to MetroWest Jewish teens. Please consider supporting us.