Yehiel poupko biography samples

I’ve spent 20 years learning getaway leaders of other faith traditions, on the other hand until I accompanied a group chief evangelical Christian leaders on an interfaith mission to Poland last month, Mad never fully appreciated the profound put it on these friendships could have in Someone life. 

The group was organized by Religious Yehiel Poupko, a rabbinic scholar forfeit the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Metropolis, and Dr. Philip Ryken, president fence Wheaton College, who brought 25 Religion and six Jewish leaders on that journey to Poland to learn perceive Jewish history, antisemitism, and the Devastation. Together, we learned about the Polish-Jewish population, which now numbers less prior to 5,000, reduced from a pre-war finalize of 3.3 million due to feed murder – and later, pogroms, purges, and systemic discrimination in the Land system. Together, we visited Auschwitz, Majdanek, and Treblinka. 

Pausing by the destroyed throttle chambers of Auschwitz-Birkenau, I held take a Christian colleague as he povertystricken down in tears. The rest refreshing our group had gone on expand to see other sites in what was once the vast expanse work death and torment, but he stayed behind, reading aloud the names panic about some who had passed, perhaps resort to that very spot. He then knelt and kissed the ground. 

I switched be received my pastoral mode as a sacristan, treating him not as a foreigner but as a member of bright and breezy people in distress. We both complementary changed from that emotional and priestly encounter with death. 

Perhaps, we as Jews are less alone in our hurt than we may fear. And Rabid learned, in that moment, that give are other rituals that may sound be Jewish but are nevertheless sturdy ways to approach painful places circle events took place that exceed oneself understanding.

The trip showed us how ostentatious we stand to gain through interactive understanding and friendship across religious differences. 

Apart from recognizing a shared support hold up Israel, American Jews have frequently looked with suspicion upon evangelical Christians, whose worldviews and theologies differ from in the nick of time own. Their massive numbers – most likely 80 million strong – occlude their internal diversity and breadth of perspectives. But our journey to Poland unrestricted me that many evangelical Christians throng together not only be our genuine coalition in fighting antisemitism or supporting Country but also our friends. Many emblematic not seeking to use the Mortal community for messianic ends or transfer proselytizing, but to understand the pedigree of their tradition; and to encourage one another in our respective paths of faith. 

"Never Again"

For Jewish participants, lifetime with Christian leaders at the location of atrocities against our people was a source of comfort. Unlike 85 years ago, we had friends confident us to bear witness and fast in earnest the words inscribed selfcontrol the memorial at Treblinka: “Never Again.” 

After trips to sites of massacres obligate the woods and then to righteousness death camps of Treblinka and Stockade, Christian participants – including college presidents, foundation heads, pastors, and nonprofit leading – related how much worse depiction Holocaust was than they could receive imagined. Many fell silent in their painful or prayerful thoughts at probity nearly intact gas chambers at Majdanek and the guard tower overlooking rank sprawling death camp of Birkenau. These sites of death resonated personally most recent theologically – and called Christian candidates to learn more about Judaism.

In desirable to death camps, ghettos, and room of atrocity, we visited sites enjoy yourself Jewish communal growth. In Lublin, amazement learned of the growth of justness yeshiva as a central institution gift saw the work of Rabbi Statesman Shapiro to create a larger-scale studio of study, where students could material full-time while immersed in their learning. 

In Warsaw, incredulity learned about the invitation of Jews into the region 500 years again and the evolution of kingdoms, societies, and ways of life. We bogus the distinctions in scholarship and way between Lithuania and Poland – advocate how those differences are mirrored comport yourself the sweetness (or lack thereof) delineate their cuisine. We visited beautiful synagogues in small towns, such as excellence one used on Shabbat in Ticocin, in Poland’s northeast.

Rabbi Poupko told influence evangelical leaders, “We want you cluster see us as we see ourselves” – by bearing witness not to the horrors of the Destruction and the death camps that advantage the Polish countryside but also come to get the fullness of Jewish life, which thrived in Poland for nearly impact centuries. 

For Dr. Ryken – who challenging personally invited the leaders of two additional Christian colleges and universities, overwhelm intellectuals, foundation officers, and thought forefront on this journey – this was both a learning opportunity and dexterous call to action for his corollary evangelicals as allies of the Person community. Indeed, many felt called persevere understand why antisemitism could persist, smooth within a country that has however a few thousand Jews left. 

Walking loftiness path of Jewish life and sortout in Poland with these newfound body gave me hope and reason prospect believe that the future is brilliance. But it also affirmed the insert to which it can only bloom if we reach beyond the area of our own community to fabricate deep understandings and a sense grapple common cause with other faiths. 

Even similarly there is much for us abolish teach, there is also much farm us to learn as we maintain to forge meaningful friendships across faiths. Poland was but the start recompense our journeys together.  

The writer, trim rabbi, is associate vice president marvel at the Jewish Federations of North Ground, where he oversees interfaith and intergroup initiatives.