The Flame of Resilience: Why the 2026 March of the Living is the Most Defiant Yet
In a powerful show of defiance, a delegation of Holocaust survivors and recently freed captives from Hamas captivity have led the March of the Living between Auschwitz and Birkenau.
Despite the ongoing war and the challenges of international travel, a dedicated delegation of Holocaust survivors from Israel and across the globe arrived in Poland on Tuesday to lead the annual March of the Living. This year’s event, marking the 38th anniversary of the march, took on a unique and somber significance as it was held in the shadow of the October 7 massacre and a global surge in antisemitic violence. Among the leaders of the 3.2 kilometer procession were 11 Israeli survivors, all aged between 90 and 100, who insisted on making the journey despite the security limitations that prevented a larger Israeli contingent from attending.
A Legacy of Survival and Triumphs
The 2026 march featured a historic collaboration between the survivors of the Nazi era and the survivors of modern day terror. Omri Miran and Agam Berger, who were held in Hamas captivity following the October 7 attacks, were selected to light the Torch of the State of Israel. They were joined by Holocaust survivor Irene Shesher and Rabbi Shmuel Slotki, who lost both of his sons in the battles against terrorists at Kibbutz Alumim. The ceremony also honored the victims of more recent antisemitic attacks, including survivors of the 2025 shooting at the Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre in Australia and the Manchester synagogue attack in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Shmuel Rosenman, the Chairman of the March of the Living, noted that the recent war with Iran has provided a "painful testimony" to the necessity of a strong Jewish state. He addressed world leaders directly, urging them not to ignore the rising tide of hate. "The history will judge your actions," he declared, calling for a commitment to fight antisemitism with the same vigor used to fight physical threats. Although security concerns forced the cancellation of a larger 1,500 person Israeli delegation, the 7,000 marchers who gathered in Poland sent a clear message that the spirit of the Jewish people remains unbroken. The event concluded at Birkenau with the lighting of the Torch of Resurrection, a symbol of the victory of life over the darkness of the past and the present.
