(KINGWOOD, TX) – A delegation from the Holocaust Remembrance Association (HRA18), including Board Members Rachel Jerome and Chris Sarvadi, Founder & President Rozalie Jerome, and Chairman Jeffrey Craig, participated in the 10th Annual March of Life Conference at the TOS Community and Conference Center in Tübingen, under the motto “Unwavering. For Jewish Life and Israel.” Held from February 14-16, 2025, the conference drew 500 participants from around the world, highlighting the ongoing commitment to remembrance, reconciliation, and taking a stand against antisemitism.
KEY MOMENTS / HIGHLIGHTS
Powerful Testimonies and Call to Action
The conference opened with a moving report by Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Dala-Gilboa, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7. Using pictures and videos, he recounted the horrific events of that day, providing a powerful and heartbreaking prelude to the conference.
Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in lectures, seminars, and personal testimonies. Jobst Bittner, founder and president of the March of Life Movement, addressed the roots of antisemitism and the urgent need to take to the streets for Israel. He emphasized, “We can only fight antisemitism if we come to terms with our family history.”
Journalist and activist Sarah Maria Sander spoke on media bias in Germany and antisemitism in social networks. The highlight of the conference was the Night to Honor Israel, featuring performances by Bar Zemach of the West Divan Orchestra, and testimony from Holocaust survivor Gita Koifmann. Reflecting on the recent Hamas attacks, she stated, “I survived the Holocaust, and my husband and I have lived through all the wars in Israel, but the one on October 7 is the worst.”
The conference concluded with the announcement of the March of Life 2025 motto: “We will not be silent! For Israel and against Antisemitism.”
Remembering the Past, Acknowledging the Present
The HRA18 delegation embarked on a profound journey through Germany, visiting historical sites that illuminate both the atrocities of the Holocaust and the persistence of antisemitic violence in modern times.
Their visit began at the Memorial to the 1972 Munich Massacre, commemorating the 11 Israeli athletes murdered by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September during the Summer Olympics. The delegation’s visit carried an added layer of urgency, as it took place just one day after a Munich car attack that injured over 30 people and claimed two lives—the third such attack by a migrant in Germany within three months. This stark reminder of ongoing antisemitic violence underscored the importance of remembrance and vigilance in combating hatred.
Next, the delegation traveled to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, the first Nazi concentration camp, established on March 22, 1933, just weeks after Hitler’s rise to power. More than 200,000 prisoners passed through its gates, with at least 41,500 perishing due to forced labor, starvation, disease, and execution. Walking through its preserved barracks and memorial sites, the delegation reflected on the immense suffering endured by those imprisoned and reaffirmed their commitment to preserving their memory and ensuring that history never repeats itself.
Their journey concluded with a visit to Bisingen Concentration Camp, a subcamp of Natzweiler-Struthof, where prisoners were subjected to inhumane forced labor under the Wüste Project (Operation Desert)—a Nazi initiative to extract oil from shale for the war effort. Thousands of Jewish deportees from across Europe suffered in grueling conditions, leading to the deaths of approximately 2,000 individuals from exhaustion, malnutrition, and mistreatment. Standing on the solemn grounds where so many perished, the delegation honored the resilience and suffering of those who endured the camp’s brutal existence, vowing to continue their mission of remembrance and education.
Two delegation members also visited Grafeneck, a historic site in Germany, which was one of the primary killing centers used during the Nazi T4 Euthanasia Program in 1940. Located in Baden-Württemberg, the site was originally a castle but was repurposed by the Nazi regime as a facility for the mass murder of individuals with disabilities and mental illnesses. Over 10,500 victims were systematically killed at Grafeneck. Deceived into believing they were receiving medical treatment, victims were transported by bus to the facility, where they were murdered using carbon monoxide gas.
These visits served as sobering reminders of both historical and contemporary antisemitism, further motivating the HRA18 delegation to take an active stand against hatred and injustice. Through their journey, they bore witness to the past while acknowledging the urgent need for continued action in the present.
A Call for Healing and Remembrance
The delegation concluded their visit with a solemn moment of reflection, offering prayers for the righteous martyrs of World War II, the victims of the Munich attack, and the Bibas and Lifshitz families, whose suffering under Hamas captivity was confirmed just days after the conference. Standing in solidarity, the delegation reaffirmed their commitment to combat antisemitism and terrorism.
Since the 70th anniversary of Israel in 2018, several thousand people have been coming to Israel for the March of the Nations every year from all over the world to show friendship and solidarity with the Jewish state. Members of the HRA18 will be joining this event, and invite supporters to join them in the March of Nations. March of Nations in Israel (May 11-14, 2025): Background Details
STATEMENTS BY HRA18 MEMBERS
“As we walk in the footsteps of history, we honor the memory of those who perished and reaffirm our unyielding commitment to ensuring that the voices of Holocaust victims are never silenced,” said Rozalie Jerome, Founder & President of HRA18.
“With unwavering strength and resilience, we stand against antisemitism in all its forms, past and present. United in hope, we pray for healing and justice, looking ahead to a future of authentic peace where righteousness prevails and evil is overcome. Am Yisrael Chai!” said Jeffrey Craig, HRA18 Chairman.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION / RESOURCES
1-minute video recap of the conference: Watch Here
Full Night to Honor Israel (February 15, 2025): Watch Here
Event Photos and Assets: Media Folder Here
