Holocaust education came to life at Smithtown High School East and Smithtown High School West , as Dr. Bernie Furshpan shared his family’s powerful story of survival with 10th grade students.
The visit, organized as part of the social studies curriculum, offered students a firsthand account of the impact of genocide and the enduring consequences of hatred.
Dr. Furshpan, an educator at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove, spoke about his parents’ experiences during World War II.
His father was just 10 years old when the Nazis entered his village in Poland. The only survivor in a family of eight, he survived by hiding and living in a forest for three years, facing hunger, fear and constant danger.
Through personal stories and historical context, Dr. Furshpan emphasized the importance of remembrance and responsibility.
“There’s always hatred but let’s stop this nonsense,” he told students. “Let’s grow as a society.” He urged students to consider the consequences of prejudice and recognize their role in building a more tolerant future.
The program was coordinated by Director of Social Studies Dr. Benevenuto to support the 10th grade curriculum on World War II and the Holocaust.
In addition to his presentation, Dr. Furshpan distributed a questionnaire, encouraging students to reflect on what they had learned and to ask thoughtful questions.
Students listened attentively as he described both the horrors his family endured and the resilience that helped them rebuild their lives.
School officials said the visit reinforced the district’s commitment to Holocaust education and to promoting empathy, understanding and civic responsibility among students.
The experience gave young people an opportunity to connect history with lived experience and to better understand the importance of standing up against intolerance in their communities.