E.A, Jerusalem
Poland Trip Spring 2018
E.A, Jerusalem
“I spent a week in Poland on the Jeff Seidel Student Mission learning and experiencing the horrific truth of the Holocaust.
While I have learned about the Holocaust throughout my life nothing compares to this experience. Seeing the pits where innocent children were shot into, the barracks where thousands were forced to live in unbearable conditions, the crematoriums where bodies were burned, the gas chambers, and the land where 6 million Jews were killed.
We saw the faces of young children getting deported to Auschwitz, women holding their babies while being sent to gas chambers, silent and afraid. We saw thousands of suitcases, smaller than most of our weekend bags, labeled with names, dates, and once holding an individuals most precious items. We stared at the tiny shoes that were just a shoe amongst millions.
These shoes, suitcases, photos, are all that’s left of 6 million people, including 1.5 million children, whose lives were cut way too short and whose many stories remain unknown.
Each of these 6 million people had names, dreams and hopes. Just like us. But they were killed, solely because they were Jewish.
So many emotions arose over the trip: sadness from the loss of innocent lives, anger and disgust that a human could commit such horrors and be filled with such senseless hate, and pride, that despite all that we have faced, the Jewish people have a place to call our home. Myself, along with the 38 others on the trip, were able to leave the camps, and return to the State of Israel. The Jewish homeland.
My week in Poland has changed my outlook on life and what it means to be Jewish. I am sharing this because it is important to never forget the 6 million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust and the survivors who are no longer around to share their stories. It is now our responsibility to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself, to educate the future generations, and make sure their legacy’s and stories live on.”
Ashreinu Yeshiva: ravyudin@ashreinu.org.il https://www.ashreinu.org.il/
Bar Ilan Israel Experience: Info@Israelxp.com https://israelxp.com/
Derech Institute: r.brickman@ohr.edu https://www.derechinstitute.com/
Hillel Scholarships: https://www.hillel.org/college-guide/hillel-scholarships/jewish-scholarships
Israelinks: https://chabadoncampus.org/israelinks/
Machon Meir: (beginners program) https://meirtv.com/en
Machon Shlomo: machonshlomo@meor.org https://machonshlomo.org/
Machon Yaakov: rabbijacobs@machonyaakov.org https://www.machonyaakov.org/
Midrash Shmuel: avrahamben1313@gmail.com https://www.midrashshmuel.org/
Ohr Somayach: LUBOW@ohr.israel.net www.ohr.edu “study in Israel”
Simchat Shlomo: info@shlomoyeshiva.org https://www.shlomoyeshiva.org/
Yeshiva Shalom Rav: yeshivashalomrav@gmail.com https://www.shalomrav.org/
Yeshiva Temimei Derech: rsp@thewayinside.org https://thewayinside.net/
Yeshivat Darche Noam: dni@darchenoam.org https://darchenoam.org/
Yeshivat Orayta- Isralight: info@orayta.org, https://www.orayta.org/
Baer Miriam: baermiriam1@gmail.com https://www.baermiriam.com/
Bar Ilan Israel Experience: Info@Israelxp.com https://israelxp.com/
Eyaht: eyaht@eyaht.com https://www.eyaht.info/
Hillel Scholarships: https://www.hillel.org/college-guide/hillel-scholarships/jewish-scholarships
Machon Alte: contact@machonalte.com https://www.machonalte.com/
Machon Maayan: office@machonmaayan.org http://www.machonmaayan.org/
Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin: info@berotbatayin.org https://www.berotbatayin.org/
Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya: dni@darchenoam.org https://darchenoam.org/midreshet-rachel-vchaya/
Neve Yerushalayim: welcometoneve@nevey.org https://nevey.org/
Nishmat (beginners program) info@nishmat.net https://www.nishmat.net/
Shearim: shearim@shearim.com https://www.shearim.com/
Simchat Shlomo for women: info@shiviti.org.il https://www.shiviti.org.il/
To receive tax deduction from Israel, Canada, or England, you must send a check. We can only offer tax deduction through credit card for US donations.
The checks should be made out to Ohel Avraham and sent to P.O. Box 95016, Palatine, IL 60095-0016, , For tax purposes (Tax ID# – 36-3352340)
Checks should be made out to: Jewish Heritage Foundation
(Formerly BETH OLOTH)
Mailed to: 17 Shonei Halachot, Old City Jerusalem 97501
If you want to give by Bank or Wire Transfer or Credit Card, please email Jeff directly: jseidel@jeffseidel.com for instructions.
Checks should be made out to: Ohel Avraham
Mailed to: 17 Shonei Halachot, Old City Jerusalem 97501
Checks should be made out to: Gertner Charitable Trust
Mailed to: Fordgate House, 1 Allsop Place, London NW1 5LF
(registered Charity Number – 327380R)
If you want to give by Bank or Wire Transfer, please email Jeff directly: jseidel@jeffseidel.com for instructions.
Every Spring-semester we conduct a student mission to Poland for the overseas students studying at Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University and Ben Gurion University. Our student mission is led by one of the premier educators of Yad Vashem, Ms. Hazy Flint. The four day mission includes traveling to several of the Concentration Camps including Treblinka, Majdanek & Auschwitz. Shabbat is in Krakow enabling the students to see a once vibrant city that was filled with Jewish life and is now desolate.
Throughout the semester we arrange small group learning sessions and one-on-one learning sessions on a variety of topics to give the students an opportunity to learn concepts and texts they were not exposed to in the past.
We host Football watching parties with pizza and beer on Sunday Nights and throughout the NFL Playoffs.
Each Monday night we host a women’s program, including a lecture series, one-on-one learning sessions and a variety of programs geared to women including challah baking, zumba classes, mikveh tour and more.
Every Shabbat we host dinner at our student Center giving students an opportunity to socialize and experience an authentic Shabbat experience.
Super bowl party – Our annual late night Super Bowl Party on 2 big screens is the place to be to watch the Big Game.
As part of our women’s programming, each semester we have a shabbaton with programming specifically geared to women including trips and information about “women in Judaism”.
Gan Sacher in Jerusalem is the place to be on Yom Haatzmaut and our BBQ is the largest in Gan Sacher with over 300 attendees.
Launched in August 2015 as a response to the rising tide of global anti-Semitism in University campuses, our advocacy program is giving students the tools to combat BDS, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic groups upon return to their home Universities.
During the fall academic semester, we conducted a Shabbaton in Prague for 26 students from our 3 University Centers. Our three day Shabbaton combines the Jewish Historical sites such as the Maharal Synagogue and the Terezin (Theresienstadt) Concentration Camps, as well as the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.
Each semester we host an open house BBQ at our Center to welcome the new students, introduce them to the numerous Jeff Seidel Student Programs, and kick-off the semester.
Our South American students love soccer, and we host them for dinner and all the Champions League games throughout the European season.
If you would like to make a donation by check, please make out to “Ohel Avraham” and mail to:
Ohel Avraham- Jewish Student Info Centers
P.O. Box 95016
Palatine, IL, 60095-0016
Our 501(c) tax ID: 36-3352340