Despite War With Iran, Israeli Survivors to Attend March of the Living

A small group of Holocaust survivors from Israel will take part in this year’s March of the Living in Poland on Tuesday, April 14, marking Yom HaShoah, after the war with Iran forced the cancellation of the larger Israeli delegation.

The participation of the survivors comes after weeks of disruption caused by the conflict, which led to heavy restrictions on air travel and ongoing missile attacks on Israeli cities. A ceasefire reached last week brought the fighting to a halt, allowing a limited Israeli presence to attend the annual memorial.

Two weeks ago, organizers announced that the Israeli delegation, which had been expected to include around 1,000 to 1,500 participants, would not be able to travel due to security concerns. The delegation was set to include Holocaust survivors, students, bereaved families, and representatives from Israeli organizations.

In place of the canceled delegation, about a dozen Holocaust survivors from Israel, aged between 90 and 100, will now attend the march after an emergency effort funded by 26 Israeli high-tech companies and venture capital funds. They will join approximately 7,000 participants from around the world in the march from Auschwitz to Birkenau.

The war’s impact was felt directly by Holocaust survivors in Israel. According to Ynet, the homes of more than 50 survivors were damaged by missile fire from Iran or Lebanon during the fighting, underscoring the connection between Holocaust remembrance and current security threats facing Israel.

Among those leading the march this year are survivors of recent antisemitic attacks, including individuals wounded in shootings targeting Jewish communities in Sydney, Manchester, and Washington in 2025. Their participation reflects the event’s focus on confronting the global rise in antisemitism since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

“Hatred of Jews is raising its ugly head,” said Sylvan Adams, president of the World Jewish Congress in Israel, who will lead the march. “We will march to turn memory into a clear commitment to action, and to say in a loud voice: we will not bow our heads to antisemitism.”

Organizers also tied this year’s march to the broader national message emerging from the recent war. “The recent war with Iran was further evidence that the State of Israel must stand firm. Despite the limitations imposed by the war, the delegation will march in Poland and instill in us the spirit of pride and victory,” said Shmuel Rosenman, chair of the International March of the Living.

At the closing ceremony, Holocaust survivor Irene Shashar, former hostages Omri Miran and Agam Berger, and Rabbi Shmuel Slotky, who lost two sons in the October 7 attacks, will light a torch on behalf of the State of Israel.

For many survivors who were unable to travel, parallel commemorations are being held in Israel. In one initiative, participants received memorial candles bearing the names of relatives murdered in the Holocaust, ensuring their stories are represented even from afar.

As the number of Holocaust survivors continues to decline, organizers say the presence of even a small group from Israel carries added significance this year, a continuation of remembrance despite war, disruption, and ongoing threats.