Bearing Witness XX has returned, marking ten years of teaching students about the Holocaust through lived experience. In early March, the “twenties” traveled to Europe to explore this crucial part of history firsthand.

During the trip, the twenties visited major historical sites in Munich, Prague, and Kraków. They walked through former concentration camps and memorials, such as Dachau and Auschwitz, where millions of people suffered and died.

Experiencing these sites in person gave them a deeper understanding of what happened and why remembering it is so important.

The trip is part of the Bearing Witness Institute’s mission to educate students about the Holocaust and combat antisemitism. It brings classroom lessons to life by connecting students with real-world places, people, and families.

By learning where history actually happened, students can reflect more deeply on the past.

When asked about the significance of the trip, Christian Glenn said, “It’s not just something you can learn briefly in your everyday history class,” describing it instead as “an organization dedicated to this important part of our human history.”

Glenn added that the journey became “the best trip of my life” and that “you become so close with everyone in your group,” highlighting both the educational impact and the strong bonds formed as they confronted these events together.

Over the past ten years, the program has taken countless students on this journey. Each trip helps a new group of friends learn about the dangers of hatred and the importance of standing up for others.

The experience encourages students to reflect on how to grow their consciences so they can make more meaningful choices in their own lives.

As the group returned home, they brought back a stronger understanding of history and its impact. This trip showed them that the Holocaust is not only a horror from the past but also an event people must continue to remember and learn from.