Two Holocaust survivors visited FDR High School on Thursday, November 21, 2019 and addressed two hundred students, from tenth and twelfth grades, describing the horrors of their experiences during World War II and the stories of their miraculous survival. The visit was arranged by New York State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein to educate our next generation and enable students to learn from firsthand accounts about this painful chapter in history. The students attentively listened to the survivors tell their personal stories and then engaged in a discussion with them.

Assemblyman Eichenstein arranged the visit largely in response to the recent dramatic increase in hate crime incidents. While there is much to be done in response to the recent rise in anti-Semitism, one crucial component is ensuring young people are educated about the tragic history of the Jewish people in Europe and the inherent dangers and consequences of prejudice and hate.

“Anti-Semitism didn’t end after the Holocaust and many of the recent hate crimes that we are witnessing are eerily reminiscent of events that occurred before the Holocaust,” said Assemblyman Eichenstein. “When young people are exposed to the real-life stories of those who have suffered from bias and hate, they develop empathy which we hope will ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.”

Assemblyman Eichenstein continued, “We won’t solve the problems of anti-Semitism in one afternoon. I want to thank Principal Katz and the staff at FDR High School for today’s outreach which was a positive step in the right direction. Our goal is to build bridges and create an atmosphere of tolerance, understanding and mutual respect.”