March of the Living Delegation 2025
Background
ach year, the March of the Living brings thousands of participants from around the world to Auschwitz-Birkenau to confront the horrors of the Holocaust and hear the stories of its survivors. Since its founding, more than 300,000 people—Jews and non-Jews, young people, leaders, and public figures—have taken part, united by a commitment to remember and never forget. In 2024 and 2025, the march took on renewed significance following the atrocities of October 7, 2023, when Hamas murdered, abducted, and tortured innocent civilians. The participation of former hostages, bereaved families, and relatives of hostages transformed the journey from an act of remembrance into an urgent moral call to action.
The Challenge
Eighty years after the Holocaust, the events of October 7 demonstrated that hatred and antisemitism remain deeply present in our world. This year’s march highlighted not only the importance of passing the memory of the Holocaust from generation to generation, but also the responsibility to confront international indifference to present-day hate crimes. Bringing together survivors, relatives of hostages, and bereaved families, the delegation carried both the pain of the present and the memory of the past—a powerful reminder that the struggle to protect Jewish lives continues.
The Opportunity
The October 7 delegation embodied the strength of the Israeli spirit and the Taib Foundation’s commitment to life, memory, and hope. A moving performance by Daniel Weiss, who lost both parents on October 7, and former hostage Agam Berger, playing a Holocaust-era violin, symbolized the connection between past and present and the healing power of music. The delegation reflected the Foundation’s ongoing work to strengthen Israel’s resilience and support communities recovering from the war. As Haim Taib said, “This is not only a commitment to the memory of those who perished, but to life itself, the power of hope, and our right to live in security, dignity, and peace.”