Written by Sophie Math, Yallah! 2024 Participant
As I walk along the paths of Treblinka, the only thing I can feel is shock. Every part of the camp was destroyed, completely eradicated to hide any proof of Jewish extermination – a way for the Nazis to avoid taking responsibility. Or so we thought. Today our group witnessed history. During an excavation dig, a wall thought to be part of a gas chamber was discovered. This could be a turning point in history for Treblinka and all those that suffered there. It solidifies history, leaving no room for people to deny the tragedies that took place behind the barbed wire of the isolated death camp. Never again could a blind eye be turned to the 900,000 people that fell to the hands of the Nazis in Treblinka. 
Treblinka, just .25 square miles, is responsible for the death of 900,000 people – an unimaginable number. The ground where Treblinka once stood now holds 17,000 stones to memorialize communities whose people were victims in the camp. 17,000 stones, just a fraction of the 900,000 people, seemed to stretch on forever. I can only feel shock as I try to grasp the reality of the terrors so many people went through. Standing on the same ground that thousands of people suffered on is a pain I have never felt before. It is heartbreaking to learn about those before us, knowing that what connects us is what brought so much pain. I keep finding myself asking, “how can so many people be so inhumane? Why does the story keep repeating itself?”
Even today, we face the same hate that Jews experienced about 80 years ago. This is why it is so important to remember. Despite the pain it brings, we can never stop telling the story. It not only unifies Jews as a whole, instilling a sense of community and hope by standing together, it also protects us from repeating it. We must never forget what others went through to grant us the gift to live freely. We must honor everyone that suffered or fell, simply for existing. While this is an inconceivable thought to apply to today, it was millions of people’s reality. As our tour guide recently told us, we hold the torch. To fulfill our duty, we will continue to share the story so that it may never be forgotten. We must tell the story right now so the future of us can pass on the torch. We will continue to honor and take pride in the past, and keep the promise of never again.
