44 | AUGUST 15 • 2024 

D

uring the first month 
of this summer, I 
participated in the 
study abroad program at Wayne 
State University. During my time 
overseas, I traveled to Italy, Poland, 
the Czech Republic, Germany and 
the Netherlands to study global 
supply chains with a focus on the 
automotive industry. 
This was truly an incredible 
experience as I learned about the 
intricacies of the different tiers 
of OEM suppliers, observed how 
various factories operate and 
understood how European Union 
policies will affect the future of the 
automotive industry. 
However, I didn’t want to spend 
my time across the pond learning 
solely from my professor. It is 
important for me to learn more 
about my Jewish history and what 
Jewish life is like today in Europe.
As a grandchild of a Holocaust 
survivor, continually educating 
myself about what my grandparents 
endured is crucial for my 
understanding. This is essential to 
ensure that the evil of antisemitism 
does not rear its ugly head in 
our society. Recognizing and 
understanding how this sickness 
operates is the best way to prevent 
it from spreading. 
Unfortunately, when I look at 
universities across the Western 
world today, I see a discouraging 
number of students identifying 
with antisemitic and anti-Israel 
movements. This is a warning to 
the future of the Jewish people if 
nothing is done. 
While I was abroad, Wayne State 
was also dealing with antisemitic 
and anti-Israel movements, 
marked by the establishment 
of encampments on campus. I 
knew doing nothing was not an 
option. So, I decided to bring my 

classmates to Jewish museums, 
former Jewish quarters and 
concentration camps to learn 
what happens when this type 
of dangerous ideology becomes 
mainstream in society.
I felt the best way to encourage 
participation was to ensure that 
the only barrier to learning about 
Jewish history in Europe for my 
classmates was their time. I took care 
of the planning, transportation and 
payments for those who joined me. 
What was most inspiring to me 
was that 75% of my classmates 
decided to join me on our day 
off in Munich at the Dachau 
concentration camp. We spent 

most of the day there, witnessing 
firsthand the ruthlessness of the 
Nazi regime. We concluded our 
visit with a reflective discussion, 
sharing our thoughts on what 
we saw, its significance and its 
importance. 
A recurring theme was the 
realization that the cruelty we 
witnessed is a stark reminder of the 
dangers of unchecked hatred. We all 
agreed that it is our responsibility 
to actively combat such ideologies 
in our own lives to prevent history 
from repeating itself. 
I am deeply grateful to my peers 
who chose to dedicate their time 
to learning about the Holocaust, 

pogroms and the broader history 
of Jewish suffering and resilience 
in Europe. This journey not only 
enriched our understanding of 
the past but also underscored the 
enduring relevance of these issues 
today. 
Through this experience, I 
have strengthened my resolve to 
combat antisemitism and promote 
awareness, ensuring that the 
lessons of history continue to 
guide us toward a more just and 
compassionate future. @ 

Jared Pazner is in his second year at Wayne 

State University’s Mike Ilitch School of 

Business for his MBA. 

Educating My Peers Abroad

for college students 
by college students

I took my classmates to Dachau to learn about the 
dangers of unchecked hatred.

Jared Pazner } jewish@edu writer

Jared Pazner (center, with 
glasses) with his study abroad 
program classmates in Munich.

