To be here in Treblinka, in a place where once the light of humanity was extinguished, is both a great privilege and an immense responsibility. Today, in a place where life was once taken, we bring life, memory, education, and dialogue. This ceremony is the culmination of a day when more than 200 young people from both our nations met, learned, and discovered one another,
said Omer Chechek-Katz, Deputy Ambassador of Israel, during the ceremony in Treblinka.
On 22 October, a meeting of Polish and Israeli youth, as well as representatives of both countries, took place to commemorate the victims of the German Nazi Extermination Camp Treblinka II. The event, titled “We Stand Together”, is a joint initiative of the Mazovian Voivodeship Office and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, organized in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Education. The project partners included the Mayor of the Town and Commune of Kosów Lacki and the Treblinka Museum.
Before the main part of the ceremony, youth from both countries participated in educational and integration workshops held at the School Complex in Kosów Lacki. These meetings provided an opportunity for shared reflection on history, the exchange of experiences, and building dialogue based on mutual respect and remembrance.
The ceremony in Treblinka began with a minute of silence, followed by the National Police Headquarters Representative Orchestra performing the national anthems of Poland and Israel. Afterwards, participants lit six memorial candles, symbolizing the six million victims of the Holocaust, paying tribute to all who perished during the Shoah. The candles were lit by:
- Candle of Remembrance – First Deputy Mazovian Voivode Robert Sitnik
- Candle of the Righteous Among the Nations – Deputy Ambassador of Israel Omer Chechek-Katz
- Candle of Janusz Korczak’s Memory – Representative of the Israeli Ministry of Education Borys Brodzki
- Candle of Friendship Between Nations – Deputy Director of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews Łucja Koch
- Candle of Resistance and Heroism – Witness of history Ester Camri
- Candle of Hope – Representatives of Polish and Israeli youth
First Deputy Mazovian Voivode Robert Sitnik stated:
As one of the survivors of Treblinka, Jankiel Wiernik, once said: ‘I carry the burden of ages on my shoulders, but I must live for tomorrow.’ These words show how the memory of past tragedies shapes our present. The ‘We Stand Together’ program is more than just a name – it represents real actions for reconciliation. […] Thinking about these events, about all those murdered in Treblinka – parents, children, ordinary people – I realize how crucial it is to speak about this openly. […]
In his speech, he also emphasized the importance of cooperation and the involvement of participants:
I would like to sincerely thank everyone who made this event possible. My thanks go to the Ambassador of Israel, the management of the POLIN Museum and the Treblinka Museum, the educators, the Mayor of Kosów Lacki and the entire local government, the school community of Kosów, and the young people for their dedication.
Polish and Israeli youth presented a joint artistic program featuring poetry and musical pieces, including “Eli Eli” and “Śpij Kolego”, performed by the National Police Headquarters Representative Orchestra.
The Polish-Israeli delegation also paid tribute to the victims of the Labour Camp by laying flowers at the Gravel Pit and at the Execution Site.
