The Miami March Celebrates Shabbat Together

Posted on 01/23/2026 @ 10:23 AM

Leo Martin March of the Living "The Miami March" teens come together for Shabbat on January 9th.

By Stephanie Dargoltz Arazi, CAJE’s Assistant Director of the Teen Department

CAJE’s 2026 Miami Leo Martin March of the Living cohort recently gathered for a Shabbat experience that marked an important moment in their journey together.

Although the students had met previously during interviews and their first educational session, this gathering felt different.

It was the first time they came together in a sacred space, met the staff who will accompany them to Poland and Israel, and sat alongside the Survivors who will walk with them on this journey.

One teen shared quietly, “I was nervous before coming, afraid I would not fit in. But now I understand what this is about, and I am really excited to be here.”

That sense of anticipation and belonging stayed with us all night.

The group represents the diversity and strength of our Miami Jewish community.

Students attend five different schools, both public and private, come from fifteen synagogues, and reflect a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

What united them was a shared willingness to step into something meaningful together.

Before Shabbat began, we were honored to hear from Holocaust Survivors Laszlo Selly and Allan Hall, who spoke not only about their pasts, but about their present.

Both shared why they continue to travel, teach, and bear witness for as long as they are able.

Again and again, they spoke directly to the teens -- about belief in the next generation, about trust, about choosing to be there with them, side by side, so that their voices may carry the story forward.

As Shabbat approached, the room softened.

We sang Shalom Aleichem together, several students volunteered to recite blessings, and then something quiet and powerful unfolded.

A small group of teens shared that they had never participated in netilat yadayim, the ritual washing of hands.

When asked if they wanted to learn, they eagerly said yes.

Together, we talked about why we wash our hands, about intention and preparation, and about marking the transition into something sacred.

They learned the blessing, practiced the ritual, and participated fully.

It was a moment of curiosity, openness, and learning that captured exactly what the March of the Living program is all about.

Eating challah, singing, and sharing a meal felt intimate and grounding.

As conversation filled the room, it was impossible not to notice the energy.

Teens leaning in toward one another. New friendships forming. A community beginning to take shape.

The evening closed with a reflection drawn from Parashat Shemot, reminding the teens that like Moses, who found his voice amid uncertainty, leadership often begins with listening, courage, and presence.

We learned the Krakow niggun together and sang Hinei Mah Tov, a powerful reminder of how good it is to be gathered as one community, united in song, purpose, and the shared responsibility of carrying memory forward.

Everyone went home feeling better prepared for the journey of a lifetime.

For more information on the March of the Living Program, please visit: Miami’s Leo Martin March of the Living.