Recha Lewin Scholarship
Each year, Temple Israel awards the Recha Lewin Scholarship to teens and young adults, offering them the opportunity
to travel to the former Pale of Settlement: present-day Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland.
For more information about the Recha Lewin Scholarship, email info@templeisrael.com
Gabi Marmet and Zach Corwin,
our most recent scholarship recipients, have shared their first-hand accounts of their adventures below.
“I feel so lucky to have had this experience...
I will cherish my memories from this special summer forever.”
“My summer on the BBYO Passport trip was an experience that I will never forget!”
My BBYO Central Europe and Israel trip was one of the best five weeks of my life. Coming into the trip, I knew some of the other teens because they were from my summer camp, but I was unaware that I would create more lifetime friendships.
I met Jewish teens across the country from New York, Ohio, Maryland, and Florida. Even though we are spread across the country, I have already gathered with my friends for reunions on two different occasions. I was able to learn so much about my Jewish culture, and explore the beautiful countries with new and fun adventures each day.
Our trip began in Warsaw, Poland, where we walked along the city streets and ate traditional Polish foods. A highlight was traveling 1,073 feet under Poland to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, where we saw salt sculptures, bodies of salt-filled water, and tasted the salty walls. One of the most meaningful yet difficult experiences was visiting Auschwitz and other concentration camps. Our group learned about the history of our families and culture, as well as the importance of remembering the Holocaust. Our group developed a very strong bond during this part of the trip.
The next two stops were in Czechia and Austria. Austria was one of my favorite countries that we visited; I remember the moment we drove into the country, my friend and I played Vienna by Billy Joel to get excited for the next few days. We went to an amusement park that had gorgeous views from up above, visited beautiful synagogues and the Jewish Square, went white water rafting and boat riding, and toured many castles. Our tour guide throughout Vienna was the most funny and entertaining guide I have ever met; he assigned character roles to us in order to tell the story of Vienna’s history. My character’s name was Princess Sisi. My friends and I became part of the history lesson throughout the whole trip.
Prague was the next country our BBYO group traveled to. The moment my roommates and I entered our hotel room, we ran to our big window to see the beautiful view of colorful buildings. We were able to listen to music while sitting at the window and people watching. We rode paddle boards, toured the town, went to a local shabbat service, saw beautiful graffiti walls, hiked, boated, and visited memorials. Our tour guide even surprised us with a final tour around a castle.
The final destination of our Central Europe trip was Germany. We visited more gorgeous palaces and graffiti walls. One of the coolest parts of our trip was meeting other Jewish German teens that were a part of BBYO as well. We became friends with a few girls that I later, surprisingly, ran into at the BBYO International Convention the following February, allowing for a super fun reunion. There was one night for our evening programming when we went to a public park and split up into groups to have a lip sync battle followed by a soccer game with some local kids.
Overall, my friends and I had an incredible trip. Not only was I able to get much closer with my camp friends, but I also formed amazing friendships and connected with teens from all around the country. I learned so much about Jewish history and the different cultural aspects in each country through fun and adventure. After visiting Central Europe, we spent three full weeks in Israel which was amazing. I feel so lucky to have had this experience last summer and I will cherish my memories from this special summer forever.
—Gabi Marmet
Last summer I had the opportunity to go on the BBYO Passport trip where I
visited six countries in Middle Eastern Europe and traveled to Israel for a total of six weeks.
During my time in Israel, we visited many historical sites, some including the old city of Jerusalem, the Western Wall, Mount Herzl, swam in the Dead Sea, and climbed Masada.
During the trip, I saw firsthand the importance of these places in Jewish history and culture. I also gained a deeper appreciation for the country and its people. I can say that Israel really reminded me of the importance of being Jewish and being a part of a community. It also inspired me to be more appreciative of the values, traditions and rituals that our culture and religion has.
In Poland, we visited Auschwitz, and I would say that this visit had the most profound impact on me, being I am a great-grandson of Holocaust survivors. Walking through the gates, seeing the barracks, and standing by the remnants of the gas chambers and crematoria was overwhelming. I felt an intense connection to my great-grandparents, a deep sorrow for their suffering, and a profound sense of responsibility to remember and honor their legacy.
The recent violence and rising tensions globally, particularly the attacks in Israel, have made the lessons of Auschwitz feel more urgent and relevant. It’s heartbreaking and maddening to witness history’s echoes in today’s world, where hatred and violence still plague us. I feel an even stronger commitment to educate others about the Holocaust and promote a message of peace and tolerance. We must stand against hate and violence, remembering that the fight for justice and peace is ongoing. My great-grandparents’ legacy, and the lessons of Auschwitz, motivate me to keep working towards a world where such horrors are not only remembered but actively prevented.
My summer on the BBYO Passport trip was an experience that I will never forget!
—Zach Corwin
