A $2,000 scholarship is being offered to every qualified high school junior and senior who participates in the 2022 March of the Living (MOTL) Jewish heritage trip to Poland and Israel. The 2022 MOTL trip will run April 24 – May 8, 2022. 

Trip guides include educators, rabbis, Holocaust survivors.

“This is the only program of its kind and it is important that we take as many students as possible,” said Irv Kempner of Sharon, chair of New England Friends of MOTL. “The annual March of the Living (MOTL) trip (only missed in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic) simultaneously teaches about the roots of prejudice and Holocaust history, builds lifelong Jewish identity, creates ambassadors for Israel, and helps teens meet new friends from around the world.”

Highlights of the two-week trip include visits to historic Jewish sites in Poland, visits to concentration camps with Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom HaShoah) ceremonies in Poland, followed a week later with tours throughout Israel, climaxing with celebrations in Jerusalem on Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut).

Kempner, the son of Holocaust survivors, emphasized the importance of educating the next generation. In a college student survey last year, 63 percent of those surveyed did not know that six million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. Seven percent weren’t sure if the Holocaust even occurred and three percent denied that it happened. Another survey showed 95 percent of participants in past MOTL trips agreed the experience strengthened their Jewish identity and their bond with Israel. It’s a lifelong lesson about ‘Never again.’

New England Friends of MOTL is committed to make the experience affordable for every Jewish teen who wants to participate through its $2,000 scholarship offer. Space is limited. Contact Aaron Kischel, director of Teen Programming for more information about registration: kischel7241@gmail.com / (781)799-4765. Additional financial assistance may be available from area temples and organizations.

To contribute, contact Development Chair Jim Slovin at jim@motlnewengland.org / (508) 846-2448. Contributions may be made via the website https://motlnewengland.org/. New England Friends of MOTL is a tax-exempt charitable organization as defined by Federal Tax code section 501(c)(3).