Son Of Holocaust Survivors Shares Powerful Story At Smithtown High School East, West

SMITHTOWN, NY — Students at Smithtown High School East and Smithtown High School West heard a powerful firsthand account of Holocaust history when Dr. Bernie Furshpan, the son of two Holocaust survivors, visited both schools on March 2 and 3.

Dr. Furshpan, an educator at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove, shared the harrowing story of his father’s survival during World War II and spoke about the enduring impact of hatred and intolerance.

Dr. Furshpan said his father was just 10 years old when the Nazis entered his village in Poland. The only survivor of a family of eight, he managed to live in a forest for three years to avoid capture.

“There’s always hatred but let’s stop this nonsense,” Dr. Furshpan told students during his presentation. “Let’s grow as a society.”

The program was coordinated by Smithtown Central School District Director of Social Studies Dr. Benevenuto as part of the 10th-grade social studies curriculum, which includes Holocaust education. In addition to sharing his family’s story, Dr. Furshpan distributed questionnaires to encourage reflection and dialogue among students.

District officials said the visit offered students a meaningful opportunity to connect classroom lessons with a personal account of survival, resilience, and the importance of standing against hatred.