Falafel given to homeless in scheme to mark Auschwitz Death March anniversary
Israeli Embassy in London gives meals as part of global 'Operation Dugo' initiative, inspired by survivor David Leitner who was 14 when he marched from the notorious death camp
London’s Israeli Embassy has donated falafel meals to the homeless as part of a global initiative to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Death March from Auschwitz.
The initiative is based on the life of David Leitner, also known as ‘Dugo’, who was 14 when he marched, hungry and exhausted, with 60,000 other Auschwitz prisoners and would dream of the warm ‘Bilkalech’ buns that his mother made.
Dugo survived and eventually moved to Israel. After visiting Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda market, he noticed a falafel store, reminding him of his mother’s buns of which he once dreamt.
Since then, he has marked the anniversary of The Death March each year by eating falafel to give thanks for his survival.
It’s inspired thousands in Israel, including the president, to join him through ‘Operation Dugo’, founded by Testimony House, an Israeli Holocaust Museum and educational centre, in 2018.
Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, said: “The 2021 UK Holocaust Memorial Day theme is ‘Be the light in the darkness’. David Leitner’s survival of the Death March 76 years ago and Operation Dugo embodies this, and I am glad we are commemorating this anniversary by sharing his testimony and participating in this important initiative.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
