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March of the Living 2003
This march takes place every year at Auschwitz-from the gate Auschwitz to the ruins of the crematorium at Birkenau. It is a large international youth event in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. In 2003, about 3,000 people from all over the world took part in the twelfth March of the Living. Most were Jews, coming from Israel, the United States and Canada, as well as from other countries. For them, the March itself is the central element in a larger trip during which they learn about the tragedy of the Holocaust.
Before the march, young people visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum:
Traditionally, the second part of their trip takes place in Israel, but from 2001 to 2003, everything has taken place in Poland because of the unstable situation in the Middle East.
In addition, large groups of Polish young people from various towns, schools and associations. Polish young people have taken part in the march since 1998. The beginnings were not easy, since both groups had to become accustomed to each other. In 2003, more Jews and Poles were marching and talking together, carrying Polish and Israeli flags.
The march began with the sound of a shofar-a traditional Jewish ram's horn, which was sounded at the receiving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, and which continues even today to be played during important religious holidays such as Yom Kippur.
After the sounding of the shofar, the march went from Auschwitz I to Auschwitz-Birkenau. This is no longer the original route from the Second World War, which used to go across the ramp at the railroad tracks, where the inmates from the transports would be segregated. The route today reflects the postwar development in the area.
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In 2003, the presidents of Poland and Israel, Moshe Katsav and Aleksander Kwasniewski, led the march. In his speech, the Polish president said: "We stand together, shoulder to shoulder, to bear witness to our common will: may no one ever be threatened with extermination again. No one should ever forget the times when people were killed in the name of an insane ideology." He stressed that increasing numbers of Polish young people were participating in the March of the Living, and he called on young Jews and Poles to make the most of that which links them. Moshe Katsav said that he is proud of the young Israelis and Poles for together carrying "memory of the Holocaust and the lessons it teaches". "You are the hope of future generations," he said.
The presidents of Poland and Israel during the ceremony in Birkenau:
Among the participants were also veterans and former inmates, as well as three veterans of the Warsaw Uprising: Symha Rotem ("Kazik"), Masza Putermilch and Pnina Grynszpan, who currently live in Israel. At the initiative of President Kwasniewski, they were awarded Polish citizenship and were made officers in the Polish military.
The ceremony concluded with the Jewish prayer for the dead, kaddish:
The March of the Living is a symbol of living memory. It is gradually becoming a symbol of the collective memory. Nevertheless, efforts should be made to have more meetings between Polish and Jewish young people during their visits to Poland. The March itself could have more Polish language components. After several years of marching together, however, one can already see that the strengthening of the foreign participants' Jewish identity is fully compatible with the idea of meetings, common experiences and reconciliation.
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Fr dr Manfred Deselaers:
During the March:
Prof. Israel Gutman (Yad Vashem), surviver, Vice-president of The International Auschwitz Counsil:
Before the entrance to Birkenau:
We'll come back next year...:
You are welcome to discuss about "March of the Living 2003"
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