In 1990 I went on The March of the Living with the Mexican contingent as their photographer. This trip radically changed my life for two reasons; the first, I met Mery, whom I would later go on to marry after two years, the second, I learned about the heroism and extraordinary life of Janusz Korczak, one of the most righteous and committed individuals to the education, the respect and rights of children.

Janusz Korczak was a Polish doctor, educator and writer who founded two orphanages in Warsaw and dedicated his whole life to fight for the rights of the child. His love for children was so grand that despite having the opportunity to save his life, Korczak refused to abandon his pupils and marched with 192 of them to their death in Treblinka.

- Moy Volcovich

Itzchak Belfer is one of the last surviving pupils of Janusz Korczak's orphanage. He is currently 96 years old and lives in Tel Aviv with his wife. Itzchak is a visual artist, sculptor and writer who mainly emphasizes in Holocaust themes and specifically Janusz Korczak art.

Itzchak Belfer entered Korczak's orphanage at the age of four and spent more than a decade with his fellow orphans. He left to Russia when he was seventeen years old to escape Nazi occupied Poland, thus leaving behind Korczak and the orphanage.

Itzchak retired more than 30 years ago from teaching art. We collaborated with him for this project by organizing an activity with several of the featured children of the To Be A Child Again - Israel documentary. He talked to the children about his early life in the orphanage and his love and devotion for Korczak. 

Itzchak also gave the children an art class where they had to color their self portrait. After 30 years from teaching, Itzchak gave justice to the project's title To Be A Child Again as he himself became a child again while teaching the kids.

Visit Itzchak's website at: itzchakbelfer.com