Holocaust Survivor Speaks To Hillsborough H.S. Students Regarding Experiences And Outlook On Life

Hillsborough High School students Daniel Strauss and Sarah and Kimberly Neydon, along with their teacher Joan Sheridan, worked to organize the visit of Mr. Irving Roth, a Holocaust survivor and originator of the Adopt a Survivor Program to speak to two social studies classes.

The program aims to transfer the life experiences of a Holocaust survivor to an “adopter” by taking a joint journey through the life of the survivor.

Mr. Roth presented on Monday, December 22, 2014 to the students in the high school’s Genocide and Holocaust class as well as those in United States History II.

He provided his audience with an overview of his life experiences before, during and following the Holocaust. He also discussed with the students how his experiences have impacted his thoughts on life.

Daniel, Sarah, and Kimberly became aware of the Adopt a Survivor Program last February though a neighbor.

The students contacted Mr. Roth and then spoke with both their principal, Ms. Karen Bingert, and their teacher Ms. Sheridan, to arrange for him to come and speak. During his visit, Mr. Roth spoke about his experiences as a child in Czechoslovakia, the changes that followed during the German occupation, and his imprisonment in Auschwitz and Buchenwald Concentration Camps.

Following Mr. Roth’s presentation, the students and staff were able to ask questions and purchase Bondi’s Brother, the book Mr. Roth co-authored with his son Rabbi Dr. Edward S. Roth.

“It has been a privilege meeting Mr. Roth,” stated Kimberly Neydon. “The atrocities he endured during World War II are unbelievable and we are committed to sharing his story with future generations so that no one ever forgets.”