Avella student’s Holocaust trip an eye-opening experience
Elijah Porbin 2
Courtesy of Elijah Porbin
Courtesy of Elijah Porbin
Elijah Porbin took this photograph of what remains of Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.
Courtesy of Elijah Porbin
During Elijah Porbin’s visit to the Auschwitz-Brkenau State Museum, he saw The Book of Names, a collection of 4.2 million known victims printed on pages of books that stand 6 1/2-feet tall extending through a long hallway.
Courtesy of Elijah Porbin
Elijah Porbin took this photo of children playing in the streets of Warsaw, Poland.
Courtesy of Elijah Porbin
Courtesy of Elijah Porbin
Elijah Porbin
When a member of his congregation at Temple Shalom suggested he participate in a seminar organized by Classrooms Without Borders, Elijah Porbin didn’t hesitate to send in his application.
Interested in history and travel, Elijah knew the trip to Poland would be another adventure, but he didn’t realize the lasting impact it would have on him.
“As a follower of Judaism, I felt it was my responsibility to pass on the information I learned there, information that could otherwise be lost,” said Elijah, referring to information he feels is missing in school curriculums.
“It was extremely sad. Surreal. And I thought, ‘Why didn’t I already know this?’ In the classroom, the information is filtered. After seeing what I saw, I now see how much it is filtered. In school, you hear the numbers; but there, you put a face to those numbers. There is no way to really describe it unless you go there and experience it for yourself.”
Elijah, who is currently a junior at Avella Junior-Senior High School, toured cities in Poland, historical landmarks, a Jewish cemetery, and four concentration camps, including Auschwitz.
“It was overwhelming,” said Elijah. “Many of my friends there were absolutely devastated. It was important that we supported each other. I found myself taking on that role of making sure everyone else was alright.”
Elijah explained that what remains of Auschwitz was set up like a museum.
“In one room, a projector played images of the Jewish people living life before the holocaust. They had homes and jobs and families. There were happy families and children living life.”
During the visit to the Auschwitz-Brkenau State Museum, he saw The Book of Names, a collection of 4.2 million known victims printed on pages of books that stand 6 1/2-feet tall extending through a long hallway.
“These were real people, like you and me,” Elijah said.
During the trip, mornings were filled with historical tours and discussions. But in the afternoons, participants were dropped off in the cities to explore.
An avid photographer, Elijah enjoyed capturing photographs in those old towns, capturing the stark differences between the photos he took at the camps compared to the present day life in the cities, just miles away from where the atrocities happened.
“That really got me. Here is this place with all this history that experienced all this sadness. After touring a concentration camp in the morning, I had the opportunity to witness these amazing people. Regardless of how awful humanity was, we recovered. We are still here. There is still happiness in this world.”
Elijah was particularly inspired by one of the tour guides named Howard, a man in his 90s who was a Holocaust survivor.
“I listened to him tell stories about his family and what he went through at the concentration camp. He actually escaped, but had to sneak back in because he was afraid of what they would do to his family. He has an amazing story. Even after all he had been through, he was full of joy. He was happy.”
Elijah spent a lot of time alone on the trip, processing the places he visited and the things he learned.
“Everyone comes back a different person, morals altered and enhanced. I find myself less tolerant of acts of violence, bullying, even the telling of insensitive jokes. I have seen the extremes of what can happen.”
Classrooms Without Borders expects its participants to share what they learned with others. They want participants to educate others about the history of the holocaust and to motivate others to attend the trip as well. Elijah plans to do both.
Elijah is not fearful of standing up for himself or others.
“My parents have taught me independence and how to react to those situations. My dad is a pretty wise guy, too. He has taught me to not get angry or emotional, but to talk and educate people. Sometimes, people don’t know better, or have learned something that isn’t true. I can be that person to teach them what is right.”