This June, Sandi and I will be traveling again to Krakow to participate in one of the most meaningful things that we do - the 10th Ride for the Living (our 8th). RFTL is a ride of 60 miles from Auschwitz-Birkenau and walk 3 miles from Płaszów concentration camp
to the JCC Krakow during the 2025 Ride For The Living. From the darkness to the light.
This year’s ride is taking place at an extraordinary moment in history with continued hostilities in Ukraine and Israel and an increased need to combat antisemitism in our own communities.
And yet, thousands of miles away from us, there is a thriving Jewish community in Krakow, right in the shadow of one of the biggest atrocities in human history.
Today, JCC Krakow is a beacon of hope, reconnecting Jews to their culture and community.
Money raised during Ride For The Living will provide necessary support to the Jewish Community Center of Krakow, which serves as the focal point for the revival of Jewish life in Poland.
With over 1,100 Jewish members, including a Senior Club with
60 Holocaust survivors, a Hillel with almost 70 members, and the FRAJDA Preschool & Nursery, Krakow’s Jewish community is flourishing.
Additionally, in the last three years, JCC Krakow has been a key partner in providing humanitarian assistance to over 400,000 Ukrainians, 98% of whom are not Jewish and hundreds of displaced Israelis after October 7 attacks.
I hope you will consider helping make a difference in the lives of hundreds of Jews in Krakow who deserve the opportunity to flourish in a vibrant, welcoming, and modern Jewish community.