Iona University students and faculty with Polish Christian Witness Survivor, Mrs. Zdzisława Włodarczyk. New Rochelle, N.Y. – Iona University students embarked on a week-long study abroad experience in Oświęcim, Poland. The program offered a blend of classroom knowledge and real-world exploration, focusing on the themes of Jewish-Christian relations and the Holocaust during World War II and its lasting impact on history.

During their time in Poland, students typically started the day with an early breakfast featuring fresh food inspired by Polish traditions. Travelling by foot, an educational excursion was usually next on the itinerary.

Dr. Elena Procario-Foley, Jewish-Catholic studies professor, led the trip in cooperation with the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer. During their stay in Poland, students visited the Auschwitz State Museum, toured several historical sites, and heard first-hand accounts about the Shoah from a Polish child survivor of Auschwitz.

“Having the honor to learn on such an important topic as the Shoah has allowed me to become a true advocate for those of Jewish heritage through personal relationships and experiences,” said Shakinah Silverberg ’24, one of five participants on the trip.

Viola Shala, an intern at the Center for Dialogue Prayer in Oswiecim, taught Iona students and faculty about the history of Oswiecim. “Very few get to say that they have gone to Poland and walked the grounds of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and even fewer have had the honor to meet a survivor of the Shoah. Thanks to these opportunities put together by Dr. Elena Procario-Foley, I can now call myself a true witness and scholar on topics related to the history of Judaism and the complexity of their relationships with various groups. I will forever be grateful and changed as a person moving forward.”

Additionally, students visited Pope John Paul II’s hometown and toured a multi-story museum dedicated to him which provided further context about Jewish-Christian relations during the time of the war.

Each day ended with a guided evening reflection for students to decompress and share thoughts following the day’s events.

When not engaged in academic activities, students enjoyed tours of Kraków, visited actual sites depicted in "Schindler’s List," and explored Market Square.

Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private Catholic institution located just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With nearly 4,000 students enrolled and more than 50,000 alumni worldwide, Iona offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, business administration as well as advanced degrees across various disciplines.

The university has received recognition from The Princeton Review’s national list of “The Best 389 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” ranking #66 overall and #8 among Catholic schools nationally.

In July 2021, Iona announced establishing the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences at its Bronxville campus. Reflecting its growth in academic programs and prestige in education, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022.

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