Norwood’s first ever visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau
‘a humbling and unforgettable experience’
On Thursday 27th November 2003, 189 Norwood supporters returned from the organisation’s first ever pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland where they visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, one of the Nazis’ most brutal extermination camps.
The one-day visit brought together a cross section of the community including Rabbi Alan Plancey, survivors and three generations of Anglo-Jewry as well as Christians and Muslims, all of whom shared a common aim - a commitment to respect the memories of the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust and never to forget the atrocities of the Second World War.
Rabbi Alan Plancey of Borehamwood synagogue led the group, together with Ziggy Shipper and David Herman, two Auschwitz-Birkenau survivors. Both gave moving first-hand accounts of their struggle for survival at the notorious death camp during the Second World War.
Mark Ruben, a long-time Norwood supporter, was instrumental in planning the trip. Explaining why he chose to get involved Mr Ruben said: “This visit was especially poignant to Norwood as thousands of children and disabled people were brutally murdered at the hands of the Nazis during the holocaust. Norwood’s mission is to safeguard the future for vulnerable people in our community, whether young or old, disabled or disadvantaged. The organisation’s guiding philosophy made the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis’ all the more appalling. I also got involved because I felt it was important to arrange a visit to an extermination camp so that, in a small way, I could educate my children about the horrors of the Holocaust. They joined me, together with our friends and their children, on the visit and I hope that they’ve learnt the importance of doing what they can to make sure that a dark period in our history is never allowed to happen again.”
The day started with an in-flight briefing on the way to Krakow. The first stop was Auschwitz I and the Martyrdom Musuem. The group then travelled 3km to Auschwitz II (Birkenau), which was the main extermination camp. Here a memorial service was held on the site of the former gas chamber. People then continued on to the Jewish Quarter of Krakow, where they visited the synagogue and had an opportunity to walk around the town.
Daniel Burger, Community Fundraising co-ordinator at Norwood arranged the visit and joined the group in Krakow. Speaking as the group’s privately chartered plane touched down at Luton he said: "I have wanted to go on a one day visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau for the past couple of years. Not only have I subscribed to such a trip, I have had the opportunity to organise one, and take 188 other people with me. The positive feedback from everyone has been over-whelming. There was such incredible demand for a further one-day visit that we are planning one in April 2004 as well as a three-day visit taking in Krakow, Auschwitz-Birkenau and Warsaw from 30th March to 1st April 2004. We are also looking into the possibility of arranging visits to other areas of Jewish historical interest, and our first stop is likely to be Prague.”
Anyone wishing to sign up to either Norwood’s one-day or three-day visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau should contact Daniel Burger, Community Fundraising co-ordinator at Norwood on 020 8420 6922 or email daniel.burger@norwood.org.uk
