46.9 F
New York
Thursday, March 28, 2024

50 IDF Soldiers to Join American Jewish Delegation on Visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

The main entrance to extermination camp Auschwitz-BirkenauOver 100 American supporters of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) will participate in a 30th Anniversary Delegation to Poland and Israel

Over 100 prominent FIDF lay leaders and supporters from the United States and Panama were accompanied by 50 IDF soldiers and officers as they embarked on an impassioned ten-day excursion to Poland and Israel starting on Monday. This once-in-a-lifetime “From Holocaust to Independence” journey, taking place on April 16-27, celebrates 30 years of FIDF support for the courageous IDF soldiers and the State of Israel.

“The Delegation is comprised of philanthropic community leaders from around the U.S,” said FIDF National President and 30th Anniversary Delegation Chairman, Julian Josephson. “Our hope is that as they return to their communities, they will be our FIDF Ambassadors and encourage other like-minded people to join our rapidly growing base of contributors throughout the country,” he said.

The trip begins in Poland, where the group is traveling to emotional and historical sites such as the Auschwitz-Birkenau Camps, the Tikochin village (a thriving Jewish town before the Holocaust), and Lopachova forest, where countless Jews were murdered. Together, the group will walk through the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Krakow, the Ghetto, and the Schindler Factory, where Oskar Schindler saved almost 1,100 Jews by employing them in his factory.  

The participants will be flying with the IDF soldiers on an Israeli Air Force plane from Warsaw to Krakow and back, and from Poland to Israel to continue the journey to celebrate Yom Ha’Zikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut in Israel. The group will also spend time on several IDF bases with soldiers, meet with top-level government and IDF officials, including the Commander of the IAF and the Head of IDF Military Intelligence, and have a special dinner with the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, at his official residence. FIDF Chairman, Nily Falic, will also host the delegation for an evening at her home in Jerusalem.

“There can be no more profound a demonstration to mark the 30th Anniversary of FIDF and our support for Israel and the beloved and brave IDF soldiers, than by joining them on a journey to Poland, where our people suffered the horrifying times of the Holocaust, and visiting them on their bases throughout Israel,” said Josephson. “Our Delegation will both mourn and celebrate with our soldiers during Yom Ha’ Zikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut in Israel, for it is precisely because of these dedicated soldiers that the Jewish people worldwide have a State they can call their own,” he added.
The ten-day trip will come to a close with the celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut at the official state ceremony on Mount Herzl, under the auspices of the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, and the Speaker of the Knesset, Reuven Rivlin.

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -