March of the Living in Warsaw - Rabbi Beliak's Blog

Welcoming Visitors to Poland

The March of the Living visited Warsaw on May 6 and 7, 2016. This annual gathering brings thousands of young people and adults from all over Europe, Israel, North America and Russia to Poland.

The central activity of expressions of solidarity with the victims of the Holocaust is expressed in march from Auschwitz I to Auschwitz II, Birkenau. The Nazis used occupied Poland as their killings fields.

After seminars and discussions students travel to Poland. Increasingly a new emphasis of the trips has been to visit the Polin Museum in Warsaw and to meet with Polish young people and members of the Jewish community.

Beit Polska, the umbrella organization of Poland’s Progressive Jewish movement welcomed the marchers at a special downtown service both Friday evening and Saturday morning. The service was led by Rivka Foremniak. Rivka is an accomplished prayer leader trained in Poland by a number of outstanding cantors. In the last minute, Rivka had to lead both Friday evening and Saturday morning services when one of the people scheduled to do so took. Menachem Mirski the ill lay cantor recovered by Shabbat evening and led a klezmer orchestra in a post-Shabbat Havdalah gathering.

Rivka Iza Foremniak is pictured in the blue tallit. Members of Beit Polska’s congregation Beit Warszawa greeted the visitors from all the various communities.

Participants in the March of the Living were greeted enthusiastically by a number of Beit Polska members who mobilized to participate in the services that were held in center of Warsaw.

The effort to transport the new prayer book, find a Torah, and organize kosher juice was a Herculean task. Thanks to Rivka Foremniak and all the Beit Polska members who pitched in.

Both Rivka Foremniak and Menachem Mirski are slated to participate in a series of three concerts on October 19, 22, and 23. Click here to view the concert details and locations.