The March of the Living
After the Shoah the promise of ‘Never Again’ was proclaimed. We pledge to create a world where ‘Never Again’ will become a reality for the Jewish people and, indeed, for all people.
This is our solemn pledge to the Jewish people, to those who came before us, to those of our generation, and to those who will follow in future generations.
Goals of the March of the Living
TO REMEMBER
those who perished and to be a witness, thus denying Hitler a “posthumous victory.”
TO PAY TRIBUTE
to the courage of those who survived the Holocaust—who rebuilt their lives despite the haunting memories of the past—and to be the bearers of their memories, the witnesses for the witnesses.
TO RECOGNIZE AND LEARN
from the altruistic actions of the Righteous Among the Nations, who taught us to never be a bystander in the face of oppression.
TO HONOUR
the heroic veterans of WWII who fought to liberate Europe from the hands of Nazi tyranny.
TO NEVER AGAIN
allow for the unchecked rise of the menace of antisemitism.
TO NEVER AGAIN
allow any kind of discrimination directed by any individual or group against another to gain strength. Given the Jewish people’s historic experience of persecution, our tradition teaches that the Jewish people have a special responsibility to oppose intolerance (“And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners” - Deuteronomy 10:19). We must also teach the world that all human beings are created btselem elohim (in the image of God) and deserve equal dignity and respect.
TO BOLSTER
the Jewish identity of the next generation by acquainting them with the rich Jewish heritage that existed in pre-war Eastern Europe. Included in this goal is a commitment to living our Jewish lives today in a way that reflects the diverse values and traditions of pre-war European Jewry.
TO UNDERSTAND
the importance of the existence of Israel as the spiritual centre and homeland of the Jewish people:
through the lesson that Jews will never again allow themselves to be defenseless. by developing a love for the people of Israel and an appreciation of the hardships and sacrifices endured by her citizens on behalf of Israel. through the understanding of the concept of meshoah le’tkumah (from destruction to rebirth). Despite the devastation of the Holocaust, the Jewish people never gave up on their belief in building a better tomorrow. Rather, they defeated the odds and established the State of Israel—the hope and future of the Jewish people.
JEWISH UNITY
to instill a love for Israel, an appreciation for and connection to the Jewish people in every land, throughout the ages and in contemporary times.
TIKKUM OLAM
to remember the responsibility of the Jewish people to be a Maor Lagoyim (a light unto the nations) by reaching to people of other faiths and cultures. By providing assistance to those in need, we can mend our too often shattered world.
Never Forget
The final goal is not so much to learn from or about history, but to enter into history. By visiting Eastern Europe, participants are taking part in a commemorative act, which demonstrates to the world that the death of six million of our people has been marked and will never be forgotten by the Jewish people.
