Remembering the Past While Establishing a New Future

Immediately after arriving in Poland, we were brought on a walking tour of Oświęcim – the town we were staying in. Led by Sister Mary, we traveled through time, fluctuating between three distinct periods: Oświęcim before, during, and after the Shoah. Referred to as Oshpitzin by the Jewish community, which means “guests” in Yiddish, Sister Marry informed us that this town was viewed as a place for all Jews seeking asylum. Hearing this, and knowing...

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The Power of Hate

On the second night of our visit to Poland, we were privileged to hear the first of three lectures by Father Manfred. He, a German Holocaust scholar, spoke of Rudolf Hoess, the Commander of Auschwitz. Hoess was the subject of Father Manfred’s dissertation, which developed into the book, “And Your Conscience Never Haunted You?” I spent a few days mulling over this title. The question itself is so important in trying to dissect the mind of...

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Preserving Memories of Lives Lost

Arbeit Macht Frei - "Work Sets You Free" My first visit to Auschwitz I on Monday, March 13, did not surprise me. The setting and atmosphere were very similar to my expectations. As I imagined what Auschwitz would be like, I pictured rows of brick buildings and a solemn, quiet air of respect and reflection blanketing the camp. This is exactly the scene I entered as I passed through the Arbeit Macht Frei gate. What did surprise me, however,...

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Pope John Paull I- Love is Stronger Than Hate by:Allyx Fabiano

           After a good night's sleep, our group woke up, ate breakfast, and was ready to go for the day. Sister Mary took us to the Pope John Paul II museum in Wadowice. Before going to this museum, I knew very few things about the former pope and his life, so I was excited to learn more about him and tour the museum. As we arrived, we were informed that the museum was the pope’s former home.      ...

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The Important Questions

            I took this class hoping to find answers to some of the difficult questions surrounding the tragedy of the Holocaust, but instead of answers, I’ve only gotten more questions. I’ve learned that some of the most important questions simply don’t have answers. Questions like “What kind of horrible human beings could orchestrate an event like this?” or “People must have been aware of the situation,...

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Resistance in the Face of Evil

Monument to the Ghetto Heroes by Nathan Rapoport in Warsaw Resistance movements orchestrated by victims during the Holocaust have captured my interest while studying abroad at the Auschwitz concentration camps in Poland. While studying the Holocaust, one is constantly confronted with the fact that the Nazis were relentless in their pursuit of annihilation of the Jewish people. The fact that people found the courage and strength to fight back...

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