Experts Explore History Of Antisemitism On Long Island

GLEN COVE, NY — If you have been watching the latest Ken Burns documentary on PBS, "The US and the Holocaust," you have been getting a greater understanding of antisemitism in this country.

The three-part series examines how efforts were made on many fronts to rescue Jews from Nazi persecution and bring the refugees to the U.S. But only a fraction of the population would get their freedom before the dreaded extermination began in Poland.

"Patch AM," on Wednesday spoke to Dana Arschin and Brad Kolodny with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center (HMTC) of Nassau County.

They added details about some of the pre-World War II Nazi gatherings held locally.

"Antisemitism is really as old as the Jewish people," Kolodny, who also founded the Jewish Historical Society of Long Island, said. "It has taken many forms over time."

After the segregation of Jews throughout the early part of the 20th century, a shift happened in the U.S. as Hitler came into power in Germany and expanded his territory in Europe.

One of several Nazi youth-based summer camps in pre-World War II was in Suffolk County. Camp Siegfried stands today on the grounds of the Suffolk County Police Department Headquarters.

"It's horrifying," Arschin said. "A Nazi training camp right here in Yaphank. It was for youth to learn about Nazi ideology."

It was formed by the German American Bund, which held an infamous rally with 20,000 at Madison Square Garden in 1939.

Camp Siegfried was transformed into "German Gardens" with street names for some of the top Nazi leaders including Hitler and Goebbels. That remained until 1941 when the U.S. entered the war.

The Yaphank community was called the "German American Settlement League," with a roadway sign seen for decades indicating it was a private community for members and guests only.

"It was only up until in 2017 that they stopped discriminating the type of families that can move in there," Arschin said.

As we look back, it's important to see where we are today.

The Anti-Defamation League cites 460 antisemitic incidents in New York last year, including 32 reported in Nassau County.

Watch the full "Patch AM" interview below.