Poland Experience

During our trip to Poland, our class put a big emphasis on the resistance. During the Holocaust, the Jews would try their hardest to resist from being captured and killed by the Germans. This theme really stuck out to me not only because of the perseverance of the Jews but my personal connection. My great grandmother was an extraordinary woman. She lived in Germany with my grandfather (Papa) and his sister. My great grandma had to send away my Papa and his sister to Sweden in a Kinder Transport. My great grandmother was an important person in my life because she was such an inspiring person. She left her children for 10 years in order to keep her children and herself safe and free from the Nazi's.

My great grandmother went to China, England, and other places to keep the resisting against the Germans. My great grandmothers wasn't the only person who did this, many other families were separated to keep themselves safe, and especially the children. Her, and like many others, are such an inspiration to me and other Jews. Those who were able to not have Hitler and the Nazi's win, are the definition of resistance. They were able to still be Jewish and still be alive, and to me that is a blessing to know. To be able to live on and become a loving and inclusive community. In one of Martin Niemoller's famous quotes, "First they came for the Socialists..." we are able to see that if we don't stand up for those who are different, then who will be there for us. I believe that through the resistance and the progression of Judaism, the culture has put more of a emphasis on community because if there is no one left who will be there to help you out.