We arrived in Poland on Sunday, June 18, and opened with a lovely dinner in our hotel. We were greeted by Tsipy, then heard from the local Chabad Rabbi and a Ukrainian refugee. His story stood out from the others that evening, as he spoke about his journey fleeing the war, settling in Poland with his family, and the success he’s found since.
Our first day was spent in Warsaw, which we began with a visit to the zoo. We were given a tour of the home of Jan and Antonina Żabiński, in which hundreds of Jews were hidden from the Nazis over the course of World War Two. In the basement, we could see the tunnel through which those hiding would leave when Nazi forces were present. Once alerted by Antonina’s piano, they would quickly flee to animal cages through the tunnels.
After the zoo, we went to the Polin Museum, which is a walkthrough of the thousand-year history of Jews in Poland. I was fascinated by the legend of Jews feeling called to settle in modern-day Poland after hearing birds singing the word Polin (which means “rest here”). However, it was sad to walk through the exhibit and watch a thriving community disappear over the course of history.
A model of the Great Synagogue of Warsaw, which was destroyed during World War Two.
After lunch, we visited the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery. Established in 1806, it is one of the oldest and largest Jewish cemeteries in the world with roughly two-hundred-fifty thousand people buried there. In addition, this cemetery contains the mass grave of the victims of the Warsaw Ghetto. Seeing such intricate gravestones dating back to the nineteenth century or just a few years old in such a gorgeous setting was absolutely enchanting.
A few of the gravestones in the Warsaw cemetery
Finally, we went to Nożyk Synagogue: Warsaw’s only surviving synagogue from before World War Two. A stunning representation of turn-of-the-century European architecture, it not only operates as an orthodox shul, but stands as a reminder of pre-war Jewish life in Poland. A Rabbi provided a broad overview of Jewish life in Poland before, during, and after the war, as well as the state of the synagogue today.
Howard speaking with congregants of the Nożyk Synagogue.
On a final note, I have to mention Mr. Howard Chandler. A survivor of the Holocaust, Mr. Chandler is gracious enough to travel with us and provide his perspective as we experience Poland. I was able to introduce myself to him this morning, and it was an absolute honor to be able to shake his hand. I am looking forward to hearing his story over the next six days, and I (along with everyone else on the trip) am so grateful he is here.