1991-1992 Rothberg Yearbook

I’ve been asked to put into words the
feelings I had while on this March. My
initial reaction was, “How can I possibly
convey in a page of words all that had
1 « I taken place within
־
me mwhile y
in
״.״״c ,
Poland?” I
f v w | / v v ״ ״ v identify with the Jewish people and the
pain and suffering felt by every Jew who
visits Poland or Germany or is touched by any facet of the Nazi hell. Actually witnessing, firsthand,
rooms full of shoes, rooms full of hair, and gas chambers, made me physically sick. I felt ashamed that
I was part of a human race that had acted out this hellish nightmare upon other human beings, while
the world watched. Why does a gentile go on such a March? My reply is that as a believer in the G-d of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I feel some connection to this family of G-d. I want to stand together with
Israel and the Jewish
People, and show the world
that the Jewish People are
still here, even after the
worst genocide ever. This
identification means more
to me than words can
convey. I felt so proud to
wear my kipah and carry
my Israeli flag throughout
Poland. To look around me
and see thousands of blue
jackets on the backs of
proud Jews from all over
the world made my heart
jump. It represented
conquering death.
As the events of the week
unfolded, many feelings
began stirring inside of me.
Foremost, feelings of guilt
arose, for I identified myself
with the gentile “Christian” European community. Even though I know better than to blame myself,
these feelings were evoked inside of me and I felt the need to express them. I also felt ashamed to be
an American, as did other people on the March. I asked myself, “Where were the real Christians when
all this annihilation was going on? Where was G-d while six million people died?” I do not think that
we will ever get complete answers to these questions, but this experience certainly proved one point
to me; that there is absolutely no way humans themselves will “fix” this world. My only hope is that
through G-d the world will find understanding and peace.
Walking through the death camps in Poland is like getting a behind the scenes look at the evil that
exists in our world. It is a look at this incomprehensible hell on earth.
Finally returning home to Israel with many of my friends on the plane, evoked such a feeling of joy,
a rebirth. As the Tel-Aviv coastline slowly came into view, it literally gave me goose-bumps, however
corny it sounds. I will never view Israel in the same way, nor will I ever take this country for granted.
As difficult as this experience was, I am thankful that I had this opportunity and that I was able to
share it with such close friends. I pray that the world will never forget what happened fifty years ago. I
know fro sure that thos who participated in the March and came face to face with the evil, will never
forget.
Chris (Opher) Hennessy
50
״,‏ & “ perspective a different