home page





Search our ZP Website   

read about symposium

CONNECT










SUPPORT





Share


PARTICIPATE



COMING SOON

Aug 9-14, 2010 Symposium on Socially Engaged Buddhism.To read about the Symposium, link here. To register, link here.

DAILY ZEN MEDITATION


resident_program

Join the Zen Peacemakers Resident Program in Socially Engaged Buddhism.


Auschwitz/Birkenau Bearing Witness Retreats

  • Descriptions
  • Registration
  • Fees
  • Krakow Lodgings
  • Memorial Candles
  • Links
  • Readings
  • Nov. 2010 with Young Adult Cohorts
  • Initial Retreat (Nov 1996)

Bearing Witness Retreat at Auschwitz/Birkenau
Including Multi-National Multi-Faith Young Adult Cohorts

from Israel, Palestine, Germany, Poland,
Switzerland, United States and other Countries

November 1 - 5, 2010

The fee is $1,000. Please click on the "Registration" tab above and fill out the form. When you click on the "Submit Button" you will be forwarded to our Store where you can pay the fee. If you have already registered, please click here to pay now.

Bernie Glassman and the Zen Peacemakers are returning for the 15th year to the old site of the concentration camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Oswiecim, Poland, for a Bearing Witness Retreat in November 2010. This retreat will include the first cohort of young adults from several countries. The international young adult groups will come from: Israel, Palestine, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, United States and other Countries.

Bernie Glassman began the annual Bearing Witness Retreats in 1996, with help from Eve Marko, and they have taken place annually almost every year since then.

Birkenau

Much has been written about these annual retreats (see Bernie Glassman’s Bearing Witness, articles in numerous magazines); at least half a dozen films have been made about them in various languages. They are multi-faith and multinational in character, with a strong focus on the Zen Peacemakers’ Three Tenets: Not-Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Loving Action.

Most of each day is spent sitting by the train tracks at Birkenau, both in silence and in chanting the names of the dead. There is time to walk through the vast camps, do vigils inside women’s and children’s barracks, and memorial services. Prayer Services from various religious traditions are offered daily. Participants meet daily in small Council groups designed to create a safe place for people to share their inner experiences. The whole group meets in the evenings to bear witness to oneness in diversity.

Although Auschwitz, the Place, is the main Teacher for this retreat, experienced Spirit Holders meet each day to reflect on the retreat flow, schedule, events and make appropriate modifications if necessary.

The Spirit Holders for this retreat will include: Ohad Ezrahi, from Israel, Bernie Glassman, from USA, (co-founder of Auschwitz/Birkenau Bearing Witness Retreats), Andrzej Krajewski, from Poland, Eve Marko, from USA, (co-founder of Auschwitz/Birkenau Bearing Witness Retreats), Levana Marshall, from England, Fleet Maull, from USA, Heinz-Jürgen Metzger, from Germany, Ginni Stern, from USA, and Barbara Wegmüller, from Switzerland.

The staff for the retreat is led by Andrzej Krajewski, from Poland and includes: Grover Gauntt, from USA, Malgorzata Jakubczak, from Poland, Francisco Lugoviña, from USA, Roland Wegmüller, from Switzerland and Mariola Wereszka, from Poland.

Schedule

The 5-day retreat will begin on the morning of November 1 and end with a Sabbath dinner on November 5. Participants are asked to gather in Krakow by Sunday evening, October 31. The retreat will begin the following morning with a tour of Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter of Krakow, and proceed by bus to Oswiecim, 90 minutes away. We encourage participants to arrive in Krakow some days before October 31, to see the beautiful city and reduce effects of jet-lag.

Fees

The fee is $1,000. Please click on the "Registration" tab above and fill out the form. When you click on the "Submit Button" you will be forwarded to our Store where you can pay the fee. If you have already registered, please click here to pay now.

Provide a Scholarship for a Young Adult Participant of this Auschwitz Bearing Witness Retreat.

By linking here you can make a donation to send a youth to the retreat. We will provide you with the name and bio of the young adult your gift has supported. Your gift of $500 will be matched by a $500 scholarship by the Zen Peacemakers.

If you wish to donate another amount please link here and specify on the donation page what your donation is for.

For more information, please contact Ginni Stern: ginni@zenpeacemakers.com, or by phone: 413-367-5276.

Please subscribe me to the Free Online Newsletter for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism

First Auschwitz Retreat (November 1996)

upcoming_auschwitz

We gathered as a multi-faith assembly of practitioners of many cultures in Oswiecim, Poland, on the grounds of Auschwitz - Birkenau, the place of personal and universal human tragedy during World War II. There, we offered many opportunities to bear witness to the diverse aspects of ourselves and others.

The retreat was guided by Bernie Glassman, Eve Marko and an experienced group of international leaders representing diverse cultures and religious traditions. We spent most of the daylight hours each day at the Birkenau camp, practicing periods of silence and meditation, offering prayers, chanting the names of the dead, offering Kaddish (the Jewish Memorial Prayer) and religious services in many traditions. In the mornings there were facilitated small group Listening Circles, and special programs in the evenings for the whole group.

In Krakow, retreat check-in began on Sunday afternoon. The Retreat officially started Monday morning with a guided tour of the Kazimierz district - the old Jewish ghetto of Krakow - once the home of close to 70,000 inhabitants. Charted buses brought Retreat participants to Oswiecim, where Auschwitz is located and where we spent the rest of the week. Oswiecim is located 55 km from Krakow and 30 km from the airport.

During the Retreat, housing accommodations were located within walking distance of Auschwitz-Birkenau and had meeting and dining rooms. While walking together to and from Birkenau was encouraged, bus transportation was provided each morning, each afternoon and for all evening programs.

Please fill out one Registration Form for each person attending the retreat.

Please fill out the form below and push the submit button (at the bottom of the form), the return key,
or the enter key to send it to us. The tab key will take you from field to field.

Many rooms at Auschwitz are doubles. There are also triples and dorms (6 people to a dorm.)To help us with room assignments we are asking you to tell us your gender. If you have a desired roommate, please give us their name in the appropriate box. If you have special needs please list them in the comments box.


Fees

November 2010

The fee for the retreat is $1,000. After you fill out this form and click on the "Submit Button" you will be forwarded to our Store where you can pay the fee. If you have already registered, please click here to pay now. Housing is generally in dorm rooms. There are a few doubles and triples.

The fee includes all buses, food and accommodations at the Dialogue Center in Oswiecim (walking distance to both Auschwitz 1 and Birkenau). Plane fare and your stay in Krakow are not included.

Provide a Scholarship for a Young Adult Participant of this Auschwitz Bearing Witness Retreat.

By linking here you can make a donation to send a Young Adult to the retreat. We will provide you with the name and bio of the Young Adult your gift has supported. Your gift of $500 will be matched by a $500 scholarship by the Zen Peacemakers.

If you wish to donate another amount please link here and specify on the donation page what your donation is for.

For more information, please contact Ginni Stern: ginni@zenpeacemakers.com, or by phone: 413-367-5276.

Final Registration in Krakow

Final registration will take place in Krakow, in the Saski Hotel Lobby, Sunday night, October 31. You will receive your registration packets including bus assignments, lodging information, list of names to read at auschwitz site, ID badges, general information.

We are reserving a block of rooms at a group discount rate for Sunday night at the Saski Hotel. We recommend that you get reservations at this hotel (please click on the "Hotel" Tab for directions on how to secure a reservation with our group discount.) The hotel cost for this night is not included in the Retreat Fee. You can see other lodging options by clicking on the "Hotel" Tab.


How did you hear about this retreat?  

Please include your birthdate.  

Member of Young Adult Group          Country Representing  

How many times have you attended an Auschwitz Bearing Witness Retreat? (0-15)  

Primary Language  

Fluency in English  

First Name      Last Name  

Name you want on your Retreat Name Tag  

We will have a limited number of meditation cushions (zafus), please indicate here if you desire a cushion instead of sitting on a bench during our meditation periods.   



Address  

Address2  

City    State   or Province  

Country   Zip Code  


Home Telephone            Office Telephone                               Cellular Telephone
   

E-Mail Address

Participant's Gender  

Desired Roommate's First Name
Desired Roommate's Last Name

Vegetarian  

Comments (Special Needs, etc.)



Image Verification
Please enter the text from the image
( Refresh Image ) ( What's This? )



Fees

November 2010

The fee for the retreat is $1,000. Please click on the "Registration" tab above and fill out the form. When you click on the "Submit Button" you will be forwarded to our Store where you can pay the fee. If you have already registered, please click here to pay now. Housing is generally in dorm rooms. There are a few doubles and triples.

The fee includes all buses, food and accommodations at the Dialogue Center in Oswiecim (walking distance to both Auschwitz 1 and Birkenau). Plane fare and your stay in Krakow are not included.

Provide a Scholarship for a Young Adult Participant of this Auschwitz Bearing Witness Retreat.

By linking here you can make a donation to send a Young Adult to the retreat. We will provide you with the name and bio of the Young Adult your gift has supported. Your gift of $500 will be matched by a $500 scholarship by the Zen Peacemakers.

If you wish to donate another amount please link here and specify on the donation page what your donation is for.

Refund Policy

If the workshop is canceled by the Zen Peacemakers, registrants will receive full credits or refunds of the paid registration fees. No refunds can be made for lodging, airfare or any other expenses related to attending the workshop.

If a registration is canceled by the participant more than one month (31 days) prior to the retreat start date, all but $100 of the paid fees will be refunded.

If you cancel 15-30 days before the start date of the workshop, you will receive all but $250 of your retreat fee.

Fees are non refundable if a registration is cancelled by the participant within two weeks (14 days) of the start date of the retreat.

All refunds will be processed within 60 days of notification of cancellation.

KRAKOW HOTELS

The hotel prices below are subject to change! Please, check before reserving.

SASKI

saski

November 2010 Retreat

Final registration will take place in the Saski Hotel Lobby Sunday night, October 31, between 4:30pm (16:30h) – 6:30pm (18:30h). You will receive your registration packets including bus assignments, lodging information, list of names to read at auschwitz site, ID badges, general information.

General

Most of us will stay at the Saski Hotel which is 1/2 block from Krakow’s wonderful Grand Square - Rynek Glowny. This is a bustling market square with lots of cafes, restaurants, museums, 14th Century Gothic churches, gift shops and fabulous people watching. All the other Krakow lodgings listed are within walking distance of the Saski.

We are reserving a block of rooms at a group discount rate for Sunday night at the Saski Hotel. We recommend that you get reservations at this hotel. The hotel cost for this night is not included in the Retreat Fee.

The only way to make a reservation at the Saski Hotel and receive the Peacemaker discount is to email Dorota Gieldon info@hotelsaski.com.pl Please give your name, the dates you will be at the Saski and and say you are with the Peacemakers. You do not have to give your credit card info until you get there.

*** It is NOT possible to receive the Peacemaker Discount if you reserve your room through the Saski web site!

info@hotelsaski.com.pl
www.hotelsaski.com.pl
Double room with bathroom: 410 PLN/ 100 Euro, $144 at 9/07/09 exchange rate
incl. breakfast - group reduction will be 20 %

POLSKI
(Similiar to SASKI, also a good choice.)
hotel.polski@podorlem.com.pl
www.podorlem.com.pl
fax (48) 12 429 18 10
Single: 335 PLN
Double: 475 PLN
3 person: 550 PLN
incl. breakfast - group reduction: 15-30%

ASTORIA
In Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter.
biuro@astoriahotel.pl
www.astoriahotel.pl
fax (12) 432 50 20
Single: 147 PLN $49 USD
Double room: 196 PLN/ $66
breakfast: group reduction up to 10%

HOTEL KAZIMIERZ
In Kazimierz
Miodowa 16 (12) 421 66 29 (12) 421 02 30
phone/fax: +48 (012) 421-66-29, 422-28-84
hot.kazimierz@interia.pl
hotel@hk.com.pl
www.hk.com.pl

WAWEL-TOURIST
hotel@wawel-tourist.com.pl
www.wawel-tourist.com.pl
fax (48) 12 42 41 333
Single w/bth 260 PLN
Double w/bth 380 PLN
breakfast, reduction 10%

ROYAL
Sw. Gertrudy St.
Tel. +48 012 618 40 00
hotel@royal.com.pl
www.royal.com.pl
Single: 210 PLN
Double: 295 PLN
included breakfast

GLOBTROTER HOTEL
Librowszczyzna 1
31-030 Kraków, Krakow,
globtroter@cracow-life.com
www.hostelworld.com/availability.php/HostelNumber.1796?PHPSESSID=n1le7012qsp3o8k482um56s3qj3ff5qc
We have:

  • six rooms that sleep 2 or 3
  • three rooms that sleep sleep 1 or 2
  • three apartments (two bedrooms in open plan layout that sleep 4 or 5.

Total sleeping places 30 to 40. We always give discounts for groups staying two or more nights. We also have a conference/meeting room for up to 30 people.

Best Regards Jack.
To view the price list: www.cracow-life.com/globtroter.

DOM TURYSTY
Ul. Krowoderska 5
31-141 Krakow, Krakow, Poland
www.hostelworld.com/availability.php/HostelNumber.6444?PHPSESSID=n1le7012qsp3o8k482um56s3qj3ff5qc

U Zeweckiego
www.zewecki.com

Inexpensive Lodgings:

Seminarium Duchowne Salezjanow
(12) 267 67 66 (12) 266 36 11
12-18 zl for night = $ 3-4

Klasztor Salwatorianow
(12) 269-12-31
with breakfast 62 zl- = $ 16

Seminarium Zmartwychwstancow
ul, ks. Pawlikowskiego 1
(12) 266 69 65

Trzy Kafki
Al. Slowackiego 29
(12) 632 94 18 cell: 0 605 293 504
trzykafki@trzykafki.pl
www.trzykafki.pl
$ 9 for a night in 1-2-3 person rooms

The Memorial (Yahrzeit) Candles / Auschwitz Retreat Scholarship Fund

During the Auschwitz Retreat, there will be many opportunities to light Memorial (Yahrzeit) Candles and say Kaddish (the Jewish prayer for the dead).

We will create one special service as an offering during which Zen Peacemakers participating in the Auschwitz Retreat will light Memorial (Yahrzeit) Candles on the grounds of Auschwitz and read names of your loved ones aloud.

Donations collected for The Memorial (Yahrzeit) Candles will flow directly into an Auschwitz Retreat Scholarship Fund.

Suggested donation is $18 or $108 per candle. To make a donation for the November 2010 Retreat, please link here. Please be sure to include names to be read during this important ceremony (see below.) You may want a candle for someone whose name you don't know. Please simply write, "Name Unknown" and this will be read out loud.

This is a tax-deductible donation that will assist with scholarships for the Auschwitz Retreat. Thank you for considering a contribution.


Names of people you want us to read.


Your Name  

Country  

E-Mail Address



Image Verification
Please enter the text from the image
( Refresh Image ) ( What's This? )



Tracks leading into Birkenau

Many, many books have been published concerning the Holocaust. Those listed below are particularly recommended because they are very powerful personal accounts of bearing witness and/or raise complex moral and spiritual issues.

Suggested readings

For first time attendees to the Auschwitz Bearing Witness Retreat, we highly recommend that you read at least one of the following books before the retreat.

Ka-Tzetnik 135633. Shivitti: A Vision. Gateways/IDHHB (Canada: 1998). (A must read - Bernie Glassman)

Levi, Primo. Survival in Auschwitz. Simon & Schuster (New York: 1996).

Wiesel, Elie. Night. Bantam Books (New York: 1982).

Historical readings

Amery, Jean. At the Mind's Limits: Contemplations by a Survivor on Auschwitz and its Realities. Schocken (New York: 1986).

Borowski, Tadeusz. This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen. Penguin Books (New York: 1976)

Delbo, Charlotte. Auschwitz and After (includes None of Us Will Return, Useless Knowledge, and The Measure of Our Days). Yale University Press (New Haven: 1995).

Eliach, Yaffa. Hassidic Tales of the Holocaust. Vintage Books (New York: 1988)

Epstein, Helen. Children of the Holocaust: Conversations with Sons and Daughters of Survivors. Penguin Books (New York: 1979).

Hillesum, Etty. An Interrupted Life: The Diaries of Etty Hillesum 1941- 1943. Washington Square Press (New York: 1983).

Hoess, Rudolf, Commandant of Auschwitz. Phoenix Press.

Ka-Tzetnik 135633. Shivitti: A Vision. Gateways/IDHHB (Canada: 1998). (A must read - Bernie Glassman)

Ka-Tzetnik 135633. Kaddish. Algemeiner Associates (New York: 1998)

Langer, Lawrence L. Admitting the Holocaust. Oxford Univ. Press (New York: 1995).

Langer, Lawrence L. Holocaust Testimonies: The Ruins of Memory. Yale Univ. Press (New Haven: 1991).

Lanzmann, Claude. Shoah: An Oral History of the Holocaust. Pantheon (New York: 1985).

Levi, Primo. The Drowned and the Saved. Vintage International (New York, 1989)

Levi, Primo. Survival in Auschwitz. Simon & Schuster (New York: 1996).

Steiner, Jean-Francois. Treblinka. The New American Library (New York 1967).

Szpilman, Wladyslaw, The Pianist: the extraordinary story of one man's Survival in Warsaw 1939-1945, Victor Golancz (London, 1999)

Wiesel, Elie. Night. Bantam Books (New York: 1982).

Wiesenthal, Simon. The Sunflower. Schocken Books (New York: 1997).

Fictional Novels

The Book Thief (2005) by Markus Zusak Knopf
(A war story from a child's perspective - her foster family hides a Jew in their basement)

Wilkomirski, Binjamin. Fragments. Schocken Books (New York: '1997).

The History of Love (2005) by Nicole Krass Norton Publishers
(story of a Polish Holocaust survivor living in NYC and his friendship with a 14 yo girl.)

Schlink, Bernhard. The Reader. Vintage Books (New York: 1998).

Stones From the River (1994) by Ursula Hegi Simon & Schuster
(In a small German town a father and daughter hide Jews)