Sixth-grade students at Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School experienced a powerful and deeply personal lesson in history as they welcomed the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivor Dina Brandel for a classroom discussion.

Jenna Polivy, Brandel’s granddaughter, and Sara Cohen, her daughter, shared the story of Brandel’s life as a young girl in Poland and her survival through three years in Auschwitz during the 1940s. 

Their presentation offered students a firsthand connection to one of history’s darkest chapters, transforming textbook lessons into lived experience.

The visit was arranged by teachers through 3GNY, an educational nonprofit that connects third-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors with schools and communities. Polivy, who has family ties to Remsenburg, brought both personal connection and historical perspective to the discussion.

The timing of the presentation aligned with the class’s reading of White Bird, a graphic novel by R. J. Palacio that tells the story of a young Jewish girl hidden by a family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Hearing directly from Brandel’s family helped bring the book's themes to life, reinforcing lessons of courage, compassion, and resilience.

Through organizations like 3GNY, speakers work to ensure that Holocaust stories continue to be shared as the number of living survivors declines. Their mission is to educate diverse communities about the dangers of intolerance and the lasting impact of hatred.

By connecting classroom learning with real-world testimony, the program underscored a critical message: that remembering the past is essential to shaping a more compassionate and informed future.