Jewish teenagers recall the horrors of the Holocaust

"It was not a regular two weeks trip but a mission of memory, solidarity and unity," says Judah Lotan, 17, one of the Israeli participants in the UJC/Jewish Agency Detroit/Central Galilee Teen Unity Mission/March of the Living.

In April, 42 twelfth graders from Detroit went to Krakow, Poland where they met 14 Israelis, spending two weeks together exploring Poland - from Auschwitz to Treblinka to Warsaw.

"For me the most awesome place was Treblinka," adds Lotan, "where there is absolutely nothing remaining of the 880,000 Jews murdered by 20 German soldiers and 90 Ukrainian guards."

The Americans and Israelis traveled to Israel for Independence Day where they were hosted in home in Nazareth Illit and Hoshaya.

"It was really cool to see kids half way around the world with the exact same problems and issues as we have," commented Jessica Leeb from Detroit. "They were all so friendly and laid back that it made me feel right at home. The atmosphere was so welcoming and safe that some kids on our trip even said they want to move to that town when they grow up. The experience was pretty much perfect."

"It was the best two weeks of my life," added Lotan.

  June 1999