Last week, 150 Charedi Yeshiva High School boys returned from a historic visit to Jewish sites in Poland and the concentration camps, organized by Netzach Educational Network, the Ministry of Education (Charedi Division) and the Jerusalem Municipality education department. The participants came from three Yeshiva high schools: Nishmat HaTorah in Jerusalem, HaMidrasha HaChassidit in Beitar, and Chayei Olam in Beit Shemesh, and the group was led by their Roshei Yeshiva: Rabbi Nechemya Steinberger, Rabbi Menachem Bombach, and Rabbi Akiva Homnick.
Their historic journey – the first tour of Poland organized by the Charedi-State education system – started at the Jerusalem Municipality where Mayor Moshe Leon gave the group his blessing, In an emotional speech by the former Chief Rabbi HaRav Yisrael Meir Lau, he described his childhood in Poland before the War and his experiences in several concentration camps. He entrusted the yeshiva students with the holy duty to bear witness to the atrocities of the Shoah to future generations, when there will be no survivors alive to tell their stories.
One of the designers and participants on this journey was Shai Calderon, director of the Charedi Division of Israel’s Ministry of Education. Explaining its unique perspective, he said: “This historic tour is designed to strengthen the students’ connections to their shared history and to their future national responsibility. It includes conversations about Israeli identity and the importance of the Jewish State, and the responsibility of each student to play his role in the flourishing of the State. We have designed this as a pilot trip for future groups of students from the Charedi-State education sector, as a way to connect their history with their future.”
Addressing his students at the site of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, Rabbi Akiva Homnick, Rosh Yeshiva of Chayei Olam yeshiva high school in Beit Shemesh, mentioned the experiences of Agam Berger as a Hamas hostage in Gaza. “Her story resonates with the stories of millions of Jews who held onto their Jewish identity while suffering horrific persecution. Today’s events bring Jewish history into sharper focus and help us to understand what our ancestors went through.” The students were also warned to take great care when interacting with Polish people, who may regard Israeli Jews as perpetrators of a modern genocide rather than victims of historic atrocities.
Returning from his first ever trip to Poland, Rabbi Menachem Bombach said: “As a descendant of Holocaust survivors, I grew up in the shadow of Holocaust memories that have accompanied me throughout my life. My first journey to Poland was a profound, life-changing experience that led to a deep understanding that our existence here is not to be taken for granted.
“On one hand, I was exposed to the terrible horror of the Shoah; on the other hand, I encountered inspiring stories of heroism. The journey illustrated the deep connection between the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel – a connection that takes on even deeper meaning in light of the events of October 7. Our forefathers, who were once helpless, taught us an important lesson about strength and resilience in any situation. Today, thank G-d, we are not helpless, and I am proud to serve in the Israel Defense Forces.”
The Netzach yeshiva students returned from the journey with profound insights and thoughts. They showed a strengthened Jewish, religious and Israeli identity, and a deeper connection to the land of Israel. The journey deepened their understanding that each and every Jew has a mission and role in continuing the path of the Jewish people. Am Yisrael Chai!