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May 17, 2006
March of Remembrance and Hope
A week from today (May 22 – 29) students will be traveling through Poland visiting Holocaust monuments, memorials, and the remains of former death camps, including Auschwitz, Majdanek and Treblinka. This is one of the many trips that the National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education (NCCHE) participates in.
The Center is very active in promoting Holocaust awareness and Christian – Jewish relations. They have been promoting awareness officially since 1987 by sustaining Seton Hill’s Catholic Institute for Holocaust Studies in Israel through a cooperative program with Yad Vashem, Tel Gamaliel and Hebrew Univeristy.
Among the events they have held in the past such as Kristallnacht, March of Remembrance and Hope, and trips to Washington D.C. to the Holocaust Museum; experiencing any avenue of this organization is truly amazing.
While a student here at Seton Hill, I had the honor to meet a few of the Holocaust survivors here on campus. Being an Art History student, I was asking to do a tour of the recent art exhibit reflecting the Holocaust. During this tour, there were about 30+ senior citizens that came to see the exhibit from the Westmoreland County Jewish Community Council. I was already intimidated because I knew they had ties to the Holocaust (whether it is with family or friends) and didn’t want to be wrong with my interpretation or make them feel uncomfortable.
After the tour, I was pulled aside by a gentleman that reminded me so much of my grandfather. He asked me if I would like to talk. Of course I said yes…I definitely wasn’t ready for what he was going to tell me!!
He sat me down and introduced himself and said “I am a survivor of the Holocaust.” I immediately became misty eyed and I couldn’t even imagine what he had endured! He told me that he was in Auschwitz. He also told me that he was moved by my interpretations of the artwork and I did a great job in doing so.
This is one experience that I had a Seton Hill that I will never forget.
Visit the NCCHE’s website and see how your can be involved!
Posted by AshleyHoffman at May 17, 2006 3:05 PM
Comments
There are so many interesting and unique opportunities for students to travel and study abroad at Seton Hill! This topic, though a bleak era in human history, is such an important one to remember and learn about. It's so great that students have options such as this to add to their college experience.
Comment by: Jessie DeHainaut at May 17, 2006 3:25 PM
I'm leaving for Poland in two days. Even at the start of this year I never, ever, ever, EVER expected such an opportunity as this. I hadn't thought that any kind of study abroad would be possible for me in college, and if you had asked me where I would like to go abroad if I could, well, Poland wouldn't have even been on the list. Then in mid-November, I went to a presentation that Dr. Cary was giving about his trip to Poland last year, partly because I respect Dr. Cary immensely and wanted to hear him speak, and partly because he was offering extra credit to anyone in his classes who came to hear him speak. Halfway through the presentation I knew I wanted more than anything to go to on this trip, but I still didn't think it was possible. So many people have helped me along the way. The March of Remembrance and Hope themselves provided a scholarship. The Holocaust Center has been incredibly generous, with special thanks to Ms. Wilda Kaylor and to Sr. Lois Sculco. The Seton Hill Government Association and the Seton Hill Parent's Committee also provided generous financial assistance. On the academic end of things, Dr. Cary has prepared us exhaustively for the trip, and I feel that I'm going to get so much more out of it since he's taken so much time with us. I still can't pronounce more than a few words of Polish, and I still, having asked about five different people, can't remember how to say, "Where is the bathroom?" but I suppose I'll learn what I need to know, and this trip will be the experience of a lifetime. Thanks to everyone who's helped me along the way - one of the things that I love the most about Seton Hill is that there are so many people who really care. Peace to everyone, and if anyone's interested when I get back I'll be posting some reflections (and some photos, if I can figure out how) on my SHU blog, http://blogs.setonhill.edu/MeganRitter
Comment by: Megan Ritter at May 20, 2006 1:17 AM
I can't wait to read about the experiences that you will having in Poland! I will definately keep my eye on your blog! Good luck and we are all thinking of you!
Comment by: Ashley at May 22, 2006 12:39 PM