Holocaust Survivor Emphasizes Determination, Kindness at High School
Holocaust Survivor Emphasizes Determination, Kindness at High School
Holocaust survivor Rosalie Simon told a powerful story of tragedy and triumph during her third annual visit to Seaford High School on April 8. The presentation was attended by sophomores who have been studying World War II.
Ms. Simon’s visit was sponsored by the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. She was born in Prague and arrived at the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944 before being liberated by Allied forces, along with her four sisters. In 1949, she came to the United States and currently lives in Floral Park.
Her tale of survival captivated students, who have been learning about the Holocaust. She explained that throughout her time in Auschwitz, she never gave up and her will to live never waned.
Donna Rosenblum, director of education for the Holocaust center, said Ms. Simon’s message of determination and perseverance remains relevant today. Ms. Simon explained how she raised her children to treat others kindly, another lesson that students took from the presentation.
“It made me realize how bad and terrible it was,” Matthew Allen said of the Holocaust. “She helped me envision it more and how scary it was to be alive during that time.”
Corinne Gustavson said it was powerful to hear the story of survival from a person who had a first-hand account and appreciated that the school provided students with this experience. Sydney McEntee added that it is inspiring how Ms. Simon tells her story to others to ensure this will never happen again. For Meredith Goldberger, she was captivated by Ms. Simon’s ability to live with positivity despite the atrocities she experienced as a child.
A question and answer session followed her speech, and then she remained on stage for one-on-one conversations with students. Following Ms. Simon’s presentation, sophomores will be reading “Night” by Elie Wiesel, a personal memoir about his survival as a teenager after being sent to Auschwitz.
“As the years pass,” Assistant Principal Melanie Judson said, “we will have less and less opportunities to hear first-hand accounts of the Holocaust, and with antisemitism on the rise, it’s important that we expose our students to these meaningful experiences.”
