Authentic Israel

This was both a sobering and empowering experience. Being able to honor the memory of those who died in the concentration camps and to see so many people doing the same, from so many different countries and walks of life was impactful. Additionally, to hear the stories of survival from those who walked those paths that we followed, was an honor. Our guide was excellent, and our trip leader was amazing. They truly created an experience that was educational, thought provoking and memorable.

This was an amazing trip Well organized Groups well divided Guide was amazing Will Go on another Authentic Israel trip again and recommend this company to all of my friends

Excellent!

Here’s what I posted on Facebook, followed by descriptions of the two most amazing experiences I had in Poland: Yesterday afternoon I returned from a trip to Poland that my late husband Rod and I had wanted to take for about ten years. I left LA on April 10 to participate in the March of the Living, a walk from Auschwitz to Birkenau, with a group called Authentic Israel. The trip was absolutely amazing. All of us were moved and changed by what we experienced. We were divided into four groups of about 30 each. Most were from the US, but my group included people from Canada, Australia, and South Africa as well—and even a few non-Jews. Mine was the senior group, which turned out to be a special blessing because some of our members were able to relate firsthand experiences passed down by their parents, who had actually gone through the Holocaust. I had done some genealogical research in preparation for the trip and was relieved to discover that none of my ancestors remained in Europe by that time. I refrained from posting on Facebook about the trip while I was away to avoid alerting evildoers of my absence from home. I did send photos, videos, and detailed accounts of my experiences each day to a few of my friends. It’s way too much to post here, but in separate posts I shall tell you about two of the most amazing experiences I had on my trip. Due to world events, there were fewer participants in the March of the Living than there have been in past years. There were about 7000 of us, representing at least 46 countries. There were a lot of tears as we heard horrific stories of what had been done to our people in Poland and elsewhere during the holocaust. Our group shared sad times and happy times as we toured Kraków, Lublin, and Warsaw and the outlining areas, visiting four concentration camps. We became a family and had a very special time of sharing our reflections on the last evening we were together. We hope to remain in touch and perhaps even to reunite someday.

Authentic Israel's volunteer trip was an unforgettable, inspiring, and moving week that combined both volunteering and touring. Our knowledgeable and experienced guide, Alon, aided by assistant guide Dana, created a warm and welcoming environment that put all at ease. Together with 20 other members of our group, we learned about and pitched in at Israeli nonprofits that serve diverse communities including families, seniors, and soldiers. We packed food parcels and personal items, sorted and harvested produce, and cooked in a soup kitchen. We visited the Wall of Hope, a street mural in Tel Aviv's Florentin neighborhood where Israeli artists captured the angst of Israeli society about children who were kidnapped Oct 7. And we heard a young Nova attendee recount his story of survival and hope at the Nova Musical Festival Site in the Gaza Envelope. We also visited the Kotel, toured Jerusalem on foot, and visited the Shuk. Authentic Israel provides a well-organized opportunity to both serve and learn about Israel in the wake of Oct 7.