Bearing Witness at Auschwitz-Birkenau

This November, Bernie Glassman and the Zen Peacemakers are returning to Auschwitz-Birkenau for the 17th annual Bearing Witness retreat.

Most of the five-day retreat, which runs from November 5 to 9 at the camp in Oświęcim, Poland, will be spent sitting near the train tracks in Birkenau, both in silence and while chanting names of the dead. There will also be time to walk around the camps and hold vigils inside the barracks. Participants will meet in small groups daily to share their experiences in a safe space, and the entire group will meet each evening.

The Bearing Witness retreats have been taking place at Auschwitz since 1996. They are multifaith and multinational in character, with a strong focus on the Zen Peacemakers' three tenets: Not-Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Loving Action.

The base cost for the retreat is $ 1,200, although a discount is available for young adults. A tour of the old Jewish quarter of Krakow will also be offered. More information and registration are available at the Zen Peacemakers website.

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