May 7, 2025
Lucy:
The most meaningful part of the trip for me was meeting the other school kids. At first, it was a little awkward since we didn’t really have time to talk on the plane, but once we connected, it felt like we had known each other for a while. We formed strong friendships in just a few days, and saying goodbye was honestly really sad. I never expected to get that close so quickly, and I’m definitely going to miss them.
As a Jewish person, the Jewish gravestones in Prague had a big impact on me. Even though we didn’t get much time there, just seeing the names made me think about the lives and stories behind them. It felt very personal, like I was connecting to people from the past.
The Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration in Vienna made me feel incredibly proud to be Jewish. Seeing the whole community come together with so much joy and love for Israel was amazing—especially because it’s something I don’t usually get to experience at home in St. Louis.
Seraphina:
This trip was meaningful to me because I got to see places like old synagogues and museums about events similar to the Holocaust. The buildup to World War II was especially interesting to learn about, and it was powerful to actually see places like historic synagogues and the house of Theodor Herzl. Visiting these sites deeply impacted me as a Jew, evoking strong emotions and giving me a new perspective on life. I now feel more aware of the importance of caring for those around me and more thankful that nothing like the Holocaust is happening right now, even with the current war in Israel.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was meeting other Jewish people from outside of St. Louis. When we celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut, I saw different types of Jews all dancing together in the same place. I had never experienced anything like that before, and it gave me a new perspective on what it means to be Jewish.
Charles:
For me, the most meaningful part of the trip was thinking about who stood in these places before me—whether in the prison/castle or in old buildings from generations ago. This trip really helped me understand how my family got to where we are today as Jews. Now I know which Jewish figures stood in these places before me, why they did, and how it all had an impact.
Personally, the Yom Ha’atzmaut party made me feel the most proud to be Jewish. We were able to celebrate Israel and our Judaism in Vienna’s historic Jewish square, alongside Jews from many different places. It was something that would have been unthinkable many years ago—and something I never imagined myself doing.
Gavi
This trip was very meaningful to me for a number of reasons. My biggest hope for the trip was to find any mention of my family members who fled or were killed in the Holocaust. No one in my family had ever seen their names at any memorials, since they were from Czechoslovakia, so it was incredibly impactful to finally see those names honored.
Another powerful part of the trip was seeing all the thriving Jewish culture. While I didn’t particularly enjoy the Yom Ha’atzmaut party, I appreciated experiencing Jewish culture throughout our time in Europe—through synagogues, city neighborhoods, memorials, and many other places. One moment that stood out to me was the concert at the Spanish Synagogue. Everyone there was Jewish, and you could really feel how alive Jewish culture was in that space.
One of the most impactful things for me was the memorial dedicated to people with disabilities. Although I already wrote about it, I think it’s important to mention again because it’s not talked about as much as other atrocities committed by the Nazis. That memorial was incredibly moving and helped many of us truly understand the broader horrors of the Holocaust.
Maya
The part of the trip that was most meaningful to me was getting to make new memories with my friends in all the amazing places we visited. I can’t remember a single moment during the trip when I wasn’t happy—both with where I was and who I was with—because I was enjoying it so much.
For example, I loved going to the shopping square in Prague because I formed so many new relationships and got to know so many new people. I also developed a deeper connection to my Jewish heritage by walking on the same land as my ancestors. It was very impactful to know that I was following in their footsteps, and it made me feel even more proud of who I am. I will always cherish that feeling.
The event that made me feel the most proud to be Jewish was the Yom Ha’atzmaut party. I spent the night singing and dancing with people I had never met before, but we were all connected through our shared Judaism—and that was all that mattered. I had such a great time that night; it was truly one of the best nights of my life, and I will never forget it. Being able to celebrate my Judaism with Jews from around the world is an experience I will always treasure, and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it.
Benny
Spending time with our new friends from Tampa and Tucson felt very meaningful and impactful. We had never met any of them before arriving in Vienna, but I felt a strong, genuine bond with many of my new friends. All the experiences I had with them helped me learn more about who I am as a person. At first, I was shy and nervous to meet them because I didn’t know what to expect—but by the time we got to Prague and were talking more and doing things together as a group, I felt a real connection. It helped me realize that I can be friends with anyone I want to be, and it opened me up in a way I hadn’t expected.
My connection to my Jewish heritage was also deeply impacted—especially when we visited Herzl’s former home in Vienna and saw several Holocaust memorials and historical sites I never thought I’d get to see. These places changed my perspective in powerful ways. Being there made me feel that the Jewish people are still here—alive, strong, and united. I reflected on these experiences through a Jewish lens that made me proud of who I am today.
At the Yom Ha’atzmaut party in Vienna, it felt amazing to see Jews from all around the world coming together to support Israel. That experience lifted my spirits and left me on a high note as we were leaving Vienna. I loved all the singing, dancing, and prayers for Israel—it was moving and helped me empathize with other Jewish people and their stories. I also found it especially meaningful that we were celebrating Israel’s independence in Theodor Herzl’s hometown, connecting past and present in such a special way.
Sammy
The trip was meaningful to me because we visited places where our people were murdered, but also places where some were helped by individuals who risked their lives to save others. One of the biggest impacts this trip had on me was realizing just how many people were killed during the Holocaust. Seeing memorials with the names of the victims made me understand the scale of the tragedy in a way I hadn’t before.
We toured many old synagogues, and it was interesting to see the different styles of art and what they were trying to represent.
The event that made me feel the most proud to be Jewish was the Yom Ha’atzmaut party. We were in the middle of Europe, celebrating being Jewish freely with the citizens of Vienna. Even more powerful was that the celebration took place on a piece of history—right next to the Holocaust memorial and on top of the ruins of a shul. That made the experience even more meaningful.
Hailie
Throughout the whole trip in Europe, there were many meaningful moments that really connected with me. One of the most meaningful was in Vienna, during the Yom Ha’atzmaut party. It was such a new and different experience because I had never done anything like that in America.
I also learned so much more about the Holocaust and the Jewish community around the world. We learned that more than just Jews were affected by the Holocaust, and that before it happened, there was a large Jewish population in Europe.
Being in Vienna, Prague, and Berlin made me feel like I’m part of something bigger—that my family’s ancestors have a deep history, and I’m connected to it.
An activity that made me feel especially connected to being Jewish was visiting the Jewish Quarter in Prague. There were so many meaningful Jewish landmarks like monuments and synagogues. It made me feel proud to be Jewish, surrounded by so much history and representation.
Seeing all the old buildings still standing today, after everything that happened, also made me proud. It reminded me of the strength and resilience of the Jewish people.