08/23/2026
The educators’ tour to Poland was not only explored the Holocaust as a historical event but also provided the group a broader view of life in Poland before, during, and after the Holocaust. Among the areas visited were cities and towns where Jewish people had lived for hundreds of years. A special moment for educator Justin Feingold during the trip was a stop in Bilgoraj, where his ancestors lived. While his great-grandfather was able to come to the U.S. before the war, other family members who remained in Bilgoraj were likely deported to Bełżec and murdered. He noted “Not only did I get to walk the same streets as two of my great-grandfathers, but I got to see the final resting places for their aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings. I now get to share my stories (and pictures) with my students, which means the world to me.”
Justin Feingold at Bilgoraj city limits sign; his family members lived here before and during the Holocaust
View of Auschwitz taken from inside the home of the commandant
Wes Moreland at Auchwitz Camp Commandant Hoss’ family home
