March of Nations Celebrate With ADI in the Streets of Jerusalem

By Doron Almog, Chairman ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran

This past week, the City of Jerusalem hosted the March of Nations, led by members of the March for Life organization. The organization, comprised of descendants of Nazis who took part in the destruction of European Jewry during the Second World War, works to educate subsequent generations to tolerance and love of humanity.

70 years have passed since the Nazi regime attempted its systematic annihilation of the Jewish people and all people with disabilities.

In response, March of Life has adopted these populations as a way of atoning for their parents’ evil, and to express their support.  Numerous volunteers come from Germany each year to volunteer at the ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village, where they connect with Israeli residents who have severe intellectual and developmental disabilities.  A strong bond is forged between the two groups, as they work to benefit and love those who are vulnerable and different.

This year, in honor of Israel’s 70^th anniversary, 5,000 members of March of Life came to Israel to march in the streets of Jerusalem, together with ADI’s children and hundreds of others who joined the March of the Living in the country’s capital.

The concluding event took place at Sultan’s Pool, at which time the organization honored me with a special award for my activity on behalf of people with special needs and empowering society at large.

At the ceremony, March of Life founder Jobst Bittner spoke: “We founded the organization in an effort to perpetuate the memory of the Holocaust, to fight anti-Semitism and to support the State of Israel. Unfortunately, till this day, anti-Semitism has not disappeared, still rearing its head. Therefore, we march through the streets of the world in an attempt to fight anti-Semitism. In honor of Israel’s 70^th Independence Day, we brought marchers together for one huge march in Jerusalem, to support Israel.”

May the memory of the six million members of our nation murdered in the Holocaust empower the international activity of “March of Life” towards creating a better, more caring society for us all.