Visiting Auschwitz with Muss

My recent trip to Poland was an unforgettable experience, one that showcased both the tragic history of the Jewish people and the enduring strength of the Jewish community as a whole. I had the opportunity to visit Auschwitz, Majdanek, and the cities of Warsaw, Krakow, and Lublin. Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and most notorious Nazi concentration and extermination camp, was a deeply emotional experience. 

Walking through Auschwitz I, although many of the blocks have been transformed into museum-like exhibits, created an eerie atmosphere that left me unsettled. In Blocks 4 and 5, which contain artifacts discovered after the war—such as victims’ hair, glasses, tallesim (prayer shawls), and suitcases brought by Jews who believed they were simply being relocated, unaware they were being transported to their deaths—I felt an overwhelming sadness and despair. Seeing the suitcases, still bearing the names and addresses of their owners, made the reality of these people and their belongings all the more vivid and personal. 

Block 10 resonated with me as well, even though we couldn’t enter. This building had been used for torturing and experimenting on women, subjecting them to unimaginable horrors. The violence in this place seemed never-ending. 

At Birkenau, standing amidst the remains of the buildings, I found myself questioning everything—who, why, when, where—without finding any comfort. Each testimony we heard left me feeling even more sorrow and anger. As a community, Jewish people had every part of their identities stripped from them, yet they held onto hope, even if it was through the smallest acts of resistance. They remained loyal to each other during those times, even at the risk of their lives. 

This juxtaposition of small acts of resistance against the enormity of death truly encapsulates our trip to Poland. My experience there served as a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering the past, appreciating the present, and striving for a better future. 

Taylor is a 17-year-old student at The Weber School in Sandy Springs, GA.