The MOTL is considered as just one event: people marching from the Arbeit Macht Frei gate to Birkenau. Primarily the MOTL consists of this two-week program, but of course, MOTL staff work all year round.
The March in Auschwitz is our symbol and the most important event since we created the Organization. In addition to the March we have a lot of activities, seminars, gatherings, conferences and exhibitions around the world. In the USA and Canada, for example, we have people attending the MOTL that have been studying with us for seven or eight months before going on the Marches to get knowledge and be much more aware of the history. So there are ongoing activities. We have another project in the States, teaching about the historical period from the Holocaust to the creation of the state of Israel. So we do a lot of other events and activities beside the main activity of the march in Auschwitz itself.
How many people do you estimate are involved in all these projects?
During the last 30 years, we have officially brought 300,000 people to Poland and Israel. We have groups coming that we were not even aware would be attending - so at least 300,000. If we have 300,000, though, it means that each person is an agent for others. They go back to their family, to their school, to their society. In this way, I believe we touch millions of people and I am confident it is even more! We are known all over the world. When I am traveling and meet people, I am amazed that people have heard of the March in Auschwitz even though they’ve never visited the site. The March became a symbol and sends its message that goes from school to school, from society to society, and a lot of people are involved in it.
Thinking about the two main goals that we were discussing earlier: can you see the fruit of the activities of these 30 years? Do you meet people that participated 20 years ago, who have gone on to do other, similar things?
We have people that were involved, that came here as participants of the MOTL and now they are the second generation of MOTL participants, and their kids are involved too. But they haven’t just passed this onto their family; many have become active in teaching, in visiting, in escorting groups around Poland and other sites, including the other part of the March in Israel. After they experience the Marches, alumni are going with their classes to museums and sites such as the Museum in Washington, to lead them around and tell the story that they have been to Auschwitz. We see so many groups from different countries, with different signs, all of them coming to show that they remember and declare – Never Again! They want to go together, to march, to show that we are all still here. It’s not a March of Death anymore; I believe what we now have is truly a March of the Living. In Israel, you see that not only Jewish people are coming - mainly Jews, but not just them. Many non-Jews are coming from the USA, France, Poland, Hungary and other many countries to Auschwitz, but also to Israel.
Aharon Tamir: "We need to carry the torch of memory"
30 years of march of the living
On 12 April over 12,000 people - mainly young Jews from around the world but also groups of Polish youth - marched from the Auschwitz to Birkenau in the 27th March of the Living led by the Presidents of Poland and Israel, Andrzej Duda and Reuven Rivlin. These Marches have been organized for 30 years. Paweł Sawicki spoke with Director General of the March Aharon Tamir about the history of the project, its mission and challenges.
Polish President Andrzej Duda with Aharon Tamir. Photo: March of the Living.
Paweł Sawicki