With survivors of the Holocaust dwindling in number, the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC) is calling on the second generation—the children of survivors—to step forward and ensure their parents’ stories endure.
The HMTC’s Second Generation (2G) Community offers members a chance to preserve history while inspiring future generations to combat hate and intolerance. “As a child of Holocaust survivors, your voice matters,” said Gail Kastenholz, chairperson of the 2G Community. “Each story connects us to the past and strengthens our shared mission to remember, educate, and inspire.”
Among those already carrying the torch is Dr. Bernie Furshpan, HMTC’s vice chairman. “Both my parents were Holocaust survivors,” he said. “My father was the only survivor in a family of eight. At 10 years old, he hid in a forest for three years, surviving like an animal through brutal Polish winters.”
After years in a displaced persons camp, Furshpan’s father met his mother in Israel, and the family later immigrated to Brooklyn. Though Furshpan pursued careers in chiropractic care, media, and comedy—running the original Gotham Comedy Club—his life eventually turned toward Holocaust education.
At the Glen Cove center, he leads tours, records podcasts, and shares his father’s story with students. “I try to have kids see humanity differently,” he said. “We are all relatives—there’s only one race: the human race.”
An estimated 225,000 Holocaust survivors remain worldwide, with the largest populations living in Israel, the United States, and the countries of the former Soviet Union.
To join the HMTC Second Generation Community or get involved, contact Gail Kastenholz at gail.kastenholz@gmail.com.
Membership benefits include updates on exhibits and events, a free guided tour, book discounts, and opportunities to volunteer, connect with survivors, and join the Speakers Bureau. Annual membership levels are Chai and Koach, with guest passes included.