Ep 307: Disrupting Hate with Kenneth Schachter and guest Joel Katz on hmTv

Ep. 307: Disrupting Hate with Kenneth Schachter and guest Joel Katz on hmTv

In this powerful episode of Disrupting Hate, host Kenneth Schachter sits down with Joel Katz, Northeast Regional Director of the March of the Living, to explore how this transformative journey keeps the memory of the Holocaust alive and strengthens Jewish identity across generations.

Joel shares the remarkable story of the March — from its beginnings in 1988 to its global reach today, uniting thousands of students from over 50 countries who walk together from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah, then travel to Israel to celebrate life, renewal, and hope.

He reflects on walking beside Holocaust survivors, the emotional weight of visiting preserved concentration camps, and the profound lessons of remembrance and resilience that each participant carries home.

Through personal anecdotes — including his father’s role as a U.S. liberator and his own 26 years of leading groups — Joel reminds us that bearing witness is not a one-time act, but a lifelong responsibility.

Episode Highlights:

• The origins and mission of the March of the Living
• The emotional journey from Poland to Israel
• The role of survivors and second-generation participants
• How remembrance can counter hate and inspire hope

A moving conversation about memory, identity, and action — proving that education and empathy remain our strongest tools in disrupting hate.

Learn more or get involved: motl.org

Transcript

hmTv Podcast Transcript

Episode 307: Disrupting Hate
Host: Kenneth Schachter
Guest: Joel Katz, Northeast Regional Director, March of the Living

[00:00:31,760]
KENNETH SCHACHTER:
Hello and thank you for joining me today. I’m your host, Ken Schachter, and on today’s episode of Disrupting Hate on hmTv, we’re joined by a very special guest — Joel Katz, Northeast Regional Director of the March of the Living.

Joel is joining us via Zoom, and today we’ll be discussing how this remarkable program keeps the world’s memory of the Holocaust alive and the profound impact it has on those who take part.

Joel, welcome. Before we dive into specifics, could you give our listeners an overview of the March — when it started, what the journey looks like, and what it means to those who participate?

JOEL KATZ:
Thank you, Ken, and thank you for the opportunity.

The March of the Living began in 1988, originally held every other year until 1998, when it became an annual event. It’s a two-week educational journey that brings together Jewish youth from around the world — last year, from 52 different countries.

Participants arrive in Poland shortly after Passover, and on Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day — they walk the three and a half kilometers from Auschwitz to Birkenau, alongside Holocaust survivors. They walk as free Jews, symbolizing life and continuity.

From there, they visit five concentration and death camps, learning the history firsthand. The second week of the trip takes them to Israel, where they commemorate Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron) and celebrate Israel’s Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut) — a deeply emotional contrast that connects loss with renewal.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
So Poland was chosen as the main destination because that’s where most of the Nazi death camps were located?

JOEL KATZ:
That’s right. Many of the camps — like Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Majdanek — still stand. Auschwitz is almost entirely intact. Majdanek, tragically, remains well-preserved, with twelve ovens, gas chambers, and barracks still visible.

The Plaszów camp, made known by Schindler’s List, is also a key stop, as are Treblinka, Kraków, and Lublin. When students walk these grounds, they’re not just reading history — they’re feeling it beneath their feet.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
Do survivors still accompany the marchers?

JOEL KATZ:
Yes, thankfully — though their numbers are dwindling. I’ve been blessed to have a Holocaust survivor on every trip I’ve led. As Elie Wiesel taught, “When you speak to a survivor, you become the witness.”

Over the years, more than 1,500 teens I’ve traveled with have become those witnesses — each now carrying the responsibility to tell the stories of survival and hope.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
That’s powerful. How did you first get involved with the March?

JOEL KATZ:
I began as a volunteer in 1996 through Dr. Chaim Loewenstein of the Jewish Education Center in New Jersey. My first full trip was in 1998, and I’ve been doing it ever since — twenty-six trips and counting.

It’s deeply personal. My father was a U.S. Army liberator at Dachau. I have a photo of him standing at the ovens there — and a photo of myself decades later standing by the ovens at Auschwitz. Two generations, two bookends of memory.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
That’s an extraordinary legacy. Could you share some of the most memorable experiences from your years with the March?

JOEL KATZ:
Absolutely. One unforgettable figure was Rabbi Lau, the Chief Rabbi of Israel and a child survivor of Buchenwald. He’s been with us many times and speaks at Birkenau — his words move everyone to tears.

Another was the late Edward Mosberg, a survivor of eight camps. He dedicated his life to remembrance and personally helped recover damaged Torah scrolls from Europe — a project I worked on with him for years.

And then, of course, seeing our teens — many grandchildren of survivors — walk from Auschwitz to Birkenau and later dance and sing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. It’s the ultimate act of spiritual defiance — living proof that Hitler failed.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
Beautifully said. How have the Polish people and government received the March?

JOEL KATZ:
They’ve been very respectful and cooperative. We walk freely through cities like Kraków, Tykocin, and Lublin, with full support from local authorities. There are always a few unpleasant gestures, but overwhelmingly, it’s been safe, dignified, and secure — with protection from Polish police, military, and Israeli security.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
Have the trips changed much over the years?

JOEL KATZ:
Some — but the mission remains the same. We occasionally adjust the itinerary to include more sites or extra days. I also take adult groups and parents of marchers. Every trip includes at least five camps, a Shabbat in an active synagogue, and a mix of history, spirituality, and reflection. It’s not tourism — it’s transformation.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
And where do participants typically meet? Warsaw?

JOEL KATZ:
Sometimes Warsaw, sometimes Kraków. It depends on the calendar. For example, next year’s 2026 trip departs Sunday, April 12, returning Sunday, April 26.

We’ll begin in Kraków for Yom HaShoah, then move north through Treblinka and Lublin, ending in Israel for Memorial and Independence Days. Every schedule revolves around the Jewish calendar.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
If our listeners are inspired — and I imagine many will be — how can they get involved?

JOEL KATZ:
The best place to start is our website: motl.org
— that’s March of the Living. You’ll find program details, regional contacts, and ways to participate as a teen, young adult, or adult.

Before COVID, we had over 15,000 marchers. Last year, about 10,000 joined — a strong return. Every participant helps keep memory alive and combats denial and hate.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
You mentioned earlier that your own children joined you on the March?

JOEL KATZ:
All five of them. And my oldest grandchild, who’s fourteen, is already begging me to keep doing this so I can take him one day.

We typically bring high school juniors and seniors — old enough to understand, mature enough to feel. Each one comes home changed, seeing the world differently.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
And how does the Israel portion connect with the experience in Poland?

JOEL KATZ:
It’s beautifully intentional. We weave the two together. After witnessing destruction, we bring them to the land of rebirth.

In Israel, they visit Yad Vashem, but through different eyes — they’ve already stood where it happened. They see the exhibits as living witnesses, not distant observers.

We take them to Tzfat, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem — showing how Jewish life, art, and spirit have risen from the ashes. And before they leave, we ask them one thing: Don’t just promise us Jewish children — promise us Jewish grandchildren. That’s how memory survives.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
That’s deeply moving. Have you stayed in touch with your alumni?

JOEL KATZ:
Every one of them. I send out a weekly Shabbat email with Jewish news and reflections. Some have gone on to incredible places — one even ended up in the White House: Jared Kushner, who joined the March as a teen in the late ’90s with his family.

The ripple effects of this program reach far — into leadership, community, and conscience.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
Incredible. Before we wrap up, any final message?

JOEL KATZ:
Yes — whether you’re a teen, parent, or educator, I urge you to visit motl.org and get involved. This is more than a trip — it’s a life-changing experience that transforms pain into purpose, memory into action.

KENNETH SCHACHTER:
Beautifully said, Joel. I want to thank you for joining us today and for your decades of dedication to remembrance and education.

And thank you to all our listeners for tuning in to Disrupting Hate on hmTv. Our director today was Priscilla Dolan.

Be sure to subscribe, share, and stay connected for more meaningful conversations.

Until next time — take care, and be well.