Holocaust Survivor Speaks To Seaford Students

From Seaford High School: Holocaust survivor Irving Roth spoke to students at Seaford High School on April 23 to describe his eyewitness accounts to “the most evil event in history.”

Mr. Roth shared his personal recollections with 10th-graders, who study World War II as part of the social studies curriculum and read “Night” by Elie Wiesel, a book about Nazi concentration camps, for their English classes. The director of the Holocaust Resource Center at Temple Judea of Manhasset has spoken to students at Seaford High School for approximately 20 years.

He discussed his childhood in Czechoslovakia and how his life changed because of Germany’s expansion throughout Europe. Students listened intently as he recounted his capture, his tales of survival, his ultimate rescue by a pair of United States soldiers in April 1945 and reuniting with his parents. Mr. Roth also spoke about the atrocities suffered by millions of people during that era.

In April 1947, just before he turned 18, Mr. Roth moved to the United States. He later wrote “Bondi’s Brother” detailing his experiences.

At the end of his presentation, he told students that they should never stand by and do nothing when witnessing injustice, prejudice or evil. Mr. Roth encouraged them to share his story with future generations so “this never happens to anyone again.”

“Mr. Irving Roth is inspirational,” said Superintendent Dr. Adele Pecora. “He is a living remembrance to us all that we have the responsibility to behave in ways that protect our humanity.”

Following Mr. Roth’s presentation, students watched “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” a movie about the owners of a zoo in Warsaw, Poland who sheltered 300 Jewish people.

Photos courtesy of Seaford School District