Event Details

Commemorate "Dugo Day" with the Westchester Shinshinim! Co-sponsored by Jewish Federation of New York, Shames JCC, and BBYO. 

On January 18, 1945, 60,000 Auschwitz prisoners were taken to the Death March, among them David Leitner or "Dugo" a 14-year-old boy. Dugo marched endless kilometers, dreaming about round buns to eat. Dugo survived and made his way to Israel where when he first visited Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem, he saw a falafel store. The falafel balls reminded him of the round buns which kept his spirit going during the terrible march.

Ever since then, every January 18th, Dugo eats falafel to celebrate life and as a symbol that he will never be hungry again. Throughout the years, his family and thousands of people around the world, have joined him.

Last summer, David Leitner passed away, but his heritage seems more relevant now than ever - "Am Israel Chai"