March of the Living
a once in a Lifetime Journey for Adults

The March of the Living provides proof to the world that the Jewish people not only remember the holocaust, but have survived and thrived. You now have a chance to participate in a truly once in a lifetime experience. Since 1988, Jewish people from all over the world have united to pay respects to each soul whose life was cut short by the Holocaust. The program begins in Poland and continues to Israel. During two weeks, each participant will experience the significance of three holidays: Yom Hashoah, Yom HaZikaron & Yom Ha'atzmaut.

This year, you have the unique opportunity to be part of an exclusive group of travelers representing South Florida.

Your group will be led by South Florida's most experienced March of the Living Leaders: Mark Baranek & Mel Mann. In addition, you will have the opportunity to learn from Marty Baranek who managed to survived the horrors of Auschwitz and later fought in Israel's war of Independence , and will accompany our group from beginning to end.

In Poland, you will witness the Holocaust from several angles. You will stand among the overgrown and sparse remains of Treblinka, and look up at the mute clouds over Warsaw's Ghetto and Majdanek. You will journey from the days of great European Yeshiva scholarship to the destruction and rebirth of Jewish life, which is now returning to Poland. Shabbat in Poland will be very special. We will have the unique opportunity to pray in the Nozyg Service. Throughout the journey, Marty Baranek, Mark Baranek and Mel Mann will add their personal experiences, perspectives and wisdom, adding great depth and dimension to this experience.

Our delegation will join tens of thousands of other marchers on Yom Hashoah for the two-mile journey from Auschwitz to Birkenau. We know this will be one of the most significant moments of your life. Even stronger affirmation of life and Jewish continuity occurs following the March, when we fly to Israel, the land to which we returned after thousands of years in the Diaspora. (It is all a miracle, like the Exodus from Egypt.) Landing in Israel, you will feel a special pride. And when the Hatikvah (once a song of longing) is playing at Independence Hall, your soul will open to release the pain you have carried. You have come home, and the hope -- the "Tikvah" -- has not been only a dream.

While in Israel, learn about the early secrets of the Ayalon Institute, and meet with a Knesset member to discuss the political issues of today. Pay respects not only to the updated and enhanced Yad Vashem Museum, but also to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for the survival of Israel at Mount Herzl. Then, celebrate with a festive evening at one of Israel's great wineries, where our Wine of Life gives meaning to the toast: L'Chaim!

The climax in Israel is the commemoration of Yom HaZikaron (which commemorates the fallen heroes of Israel) and Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day), where you will take part in another march from the Jerusalem City Hall to the Kotel, and join an International Celebration (complete with fireworks) at the famous Latrun Museum.

You will return home enriched by the experience of a lifetime. You will forever remember the kind eyes and soft smile of survivor Marty Baranek. Most of all, you will know that you did not sit back at this historic moment: You were there.

Tentative Program
Day 01 Wednesday April 27
Departure from Miami on your connecting flight to Warsaw

Day 02 - Day 06 Poland
Arrival in Warsaw, Excursion to Treblinka
Excursion to Lublin, Visit to Majdanek Camp
Services at the Warsaw Nozyk Synagogue, Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner
Day at leisure or join Marty Baranek for a visit to his former ancestral home Shtetl Wierzbnik
Havdallah & Evening tour of Warsaw Ghetto Monument, Mila 18, Umshlagplatz and the remains of the Ghetto Wall, Warsaw Cemetery
Transfer to Krakow, Evening visit to Historical synagogues in the Kazimierz Jewish area of Krakow
Yom Hashoah, Visit Auschwitz, March of the Living Participation from Auschwitz to Birkenau, Visit Birkenau
Fly to Israel

Day 07 - Day 15
Tel Aviv (independence Hall), Shehecheyanu upon arrival in Jerusalem
Har Herzl & Briefing at the Knesset, Yad Vashem
Dinner at Katlav Winery
Mahane Yehuda, Welcome Shabbat at the Kotel
Full day excursion (to be announced)
Join Communal Commemoration of Israel's Memorial Day
Welcome Yom Ha'atzmaut, Participation in Yom Ha'atzmaut
March from the Jerusalem City Hall to the Kotel
Celebration of the International March of the Living at Latrun including a concert and fireworks
Flight back to the USA