Blind Love: A Holocaust Journey Through Poland with Man’s Best Friend

Photo: A shot from Blind Love

Provided by NETA

With the help of their loyal guide dogs, six blind Israelis travel on the March of the Living, a program that brings students from all over the world to Auschwitz.

They march arm in arm with Holocaust survivors from Auschwitz to Birkenau, and are joined by thousands of diverse people of goodwill, marching against prejudice, intolerance and hate. Blind Love: A Holocaust Journey Through Poland with Man’s Best Friend, airing Sunday, January 15 at 3:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV, shares their journey.

This documentary is presented as part of Dialogue on Disability, a partnership between WXXI and Al Sigl Community of Agencies that celebrates people with differing abilities.

The film highlights two historical facts: the first victims of Nazi Germany were the disabled, of whom approx. 250,000 were murdered by the regime, and the Nazis often trained dogs to attack and kill their prisoners. In the film, the disabled visitors travel to Poland and Auschwitz, with guide dogs who assist them on every step, a stark contrast, to the cruel treatment of the disabled and the brutal usage of dogs, by Nazi Germany during WWII.

Dialogue on Disability, an initiative founded by WXXI and Al Sigl Community of Agencies in 2003, celebrates people with differing abilities and promotes a more inclusive community. Presenting a week’s worth of TV and radio specials, news reports, and interviews on WXXI’s daily talk show, Connections with Evan Dawson, the initiative is designed to encourage community discussion about the perspectives and abilities of people with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. Dialogue on Disability runs January 9-15.

For a complete list of programs and other offerings, visit WXXI.org/dod. Dialogue on Disability is a partnership between WXXI and Al Sigl Community of Agencies - in conjunction with the Herman and Margaret Schwartz Community Series. The initiative is supported by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation with additional support from The Golisano Foundation.