{"id":76676,"date":"2025-12-20T19:21:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T19:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/76676\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T19:21:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T19:21:17","slug":"thousands-tune-in-for-conversation-with-community-giants-history-humanity-hope-a-holocaust-survivors-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/76676\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands tune in for \u2018Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity & Hope: A Holocaust Survivor\u2019s Story\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 On Dec. 15, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of Advance\/SILive.com hosted its 11th panel discussion, \u201cConversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor\u2019s Story,\u201d<\/a> at the Advance\/SILive.com headquarters in Bloomfield.<\/p>\n

The hour-long event was viewed by thousands on the Advance Facebook Live<\/a> platform.<\/p>\n

Featured panelists were Arthur Spielman, a Holocaust survivor who grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Krak\u00f3w, Poland; James Merlino, a Wagner College student and Holocaust Center intern; and Dr. Lori R. Weintrob, founding director of the Wagner College Holocaust Center and professor of history.<\/p>\n

The discussion was co-moderated by Brian Laline, executive editor of the Staten Island Advance\/SILive.com, and columnist Dr. Gracelyn Santos. <\/p>\n

The program opened with remarks from Caroline Harrison, CEO of Advance Local and publisher of the Staten Island Advance\/SILive.com.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Gracelyn, thank you, Brian, and thank you to our Advance DEI committee for, once again, putting together an excellent panel and discussion for us,\u201d Harrison said. \u201cAnd a special welcome to our panelists on this day, the first full day of Hanukkah, which is very meaningful.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut as we celebrate today, we also face a backdrop of harsh realities \u2014 not just of our past, but also of our present \u2014 as we reflect on the events of this past weekend. Chilling, shocking, and making this discussion today even more relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"History,“Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story” featured Holocaust survivor Arthur Spielman, 97, who holds up a photo of his younger self during the Holocaust. (Advance\/SILive.com | Dr. Gracelyn Santos)History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story”<\/p>\n

Spielman, a former Staten Islander who now calls New Jersey home, had turned 97 just five days earlier on Dec. 10. <\/p>\n

During the discussion, he shared reflections shaped by both history and current events.<\/p>\n

As the panel discussion unfolded, Spielman shared his lived Holocaust experience, while Weintrob shared her personal and professional challenges and triumphs leading the Holocaust Center. <\/p>\n

Merlino shared insights from his perspective as a student pursuing a master\u2019s degree in the medical field and volunteering within the Staten Island community.<\/p>\n

In his opening question to Spielman, Laline referenced the Dec. 14 mass murder in which two gunmen opened fire on families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at Sydney\u2019s Bondi Beach.<\/p>\n

\u201cFifteen people were murdered in a mass shooting in Australia,\u201d Laline said. \u201cHow do you feel today, 80 years later \u2014 after all the work that has been done to erase and dispel the horrors of the Holocaust \u2014 when we still see antisemitism? Does it bring you back?\u201d<\/p>\n

To view the panel discussion, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"(Advance\/SILive.com“Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story” was held at Advance headquarters, Bloomfield, on Dec. 15, 2025. Pictured are, from left, Dr. Lori Weintrob, Exec. Director of the Wagner College Holocaust Center; Holocaust survivor Arthur Spielman, 97; James Merlino, intern at Holocaust Center. (Advance\/SILive.com | Jason Paderon)<\/p>\n

Spielman responded candidly, drawing connections between his past and the present.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a niece who lives in Sydney. She was here a few weeks ago. I fear for them, because I experienced years ago what I experienced in Krak\u00f3w, Poland,\u201d Spielman said. \u201cI see what\u2019s going on \u2014 the demonstrations, what\u2019s happening here in New York, in California, Memphis, Tennessee. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s scary. I\u2019m not an optimist. I lived through the Holocaust. I went into hiding. I was smuggled across borders. What\u2019s happening now is very scary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laline then posed the same question to Merlino, asking for the perspective of a young person involved in Holocaust education.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very painful to see,\u201d Merlino said. \u201cAnd the mentality I take is to be open to all, because even when becoming part of a Holocaust Center, I myself am not Jewish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merlino explained that he joined the Holocaust Center through a history teacher and often encounters surprise from others.<\/p>\n

\"(Advance\/SILive.com“Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story” was held at Advance headquarters, Bloofield, on Dec. 15, 2025. (Advance\/SILive.com | Dr. Gracelyn Santos)(Advance\/SILive.com | Dr. Gracelyn Santos)<\/p>\n

\u201cThey ask, \u2018Are you Jewish? If you\u2019re not Jewish, why are you working there?\u2019\u201d Merlino said. \u201cEven though I\u2019m Catholic, my faith teaches love for your neighbor. In the end, everyone should feel safe practicing whatever religious beliefs they choose.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone should feel safe in their home, in their community, and on their campus. Seeing acts of hate like these \u2014 whether against members of the Jewish community, Catholic, Muslim \u2014 it should all be condemned as hateful violence. It\u2019s very painful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weintrob emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in the face of hate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the first night of Hanukkah, with families trying to light candles in a public place,\u201d Weintrob said. \u201cWhen there\u2019s an attack like that, not only the Jewish community has to come together, but communities of all faiths must stand together and say this is not acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"(Advance\/SILive.com“Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story” was held at Advance headquarters, Bloomfield, on Dec. 15, 2025. Pictured are co-moderators, Dr. Gracelyn Santos and Brian Laline, Advance executive editor. (Advance\/SILive.com | Jason Paderon)(Advance\/SILive.com | Jason Paderon)<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cWe won\u2019t allow it to happen. We\u2019re going to make sure that wherever we are \u2014 including on Staten Island \u2014 we continue to celebrate, and that we count on our neighbors to help keep us safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we continue to promote dialogue so that young people growing up don\u2019t feel compelled to act out hate in this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event was produced by the Advance\u2019s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, comprised of Kelli DeSantis, Shane DiMaio, Jason Paderon, Dr. Gracelyn Santos (chairwoman), and Felicia Torres, and was attended by newsroom staff both in person and remotely.<\/p>\n

To view the panel discussion, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Advance\"– The DEI Committee of the Staten Island Advance\/SILive.com will host a panel discussion, Conversation with Community Giants \u2013 History, Humanity, and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story, on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, from 2\u20133 p.m. Panelists are James Merlino, left, Arthur Spielman, James Merlino and Dr. Lori R. Weintrob.Advance<\/p>\n

CHECK OUT PAST PANELS<\/p>\n

The event follows on the success of the DEI committee\u2019s past discussions:\u201cConversation with Community Giants: Celebrating Black History\u201d<\/a>(March 2024);\u201cWomen\u2019s Heart Health,\u201d<\/a>(May 2024);\u201cCelebrating Pride\u201d<\/a>(July 2024);\u201cCelebrating Women in Leadership\u201d<\/a>(Sept. 2024);\u201cBuilding Strong Foundations and Inclusive Boards,\u201d<\/a>(Oct. 2024).<\/p>\n

Also: \u201cWomen, Work and Wealth<\/a>\u201d (Jan. 2025); \u201cCelebrating Diverse Abilities<\/a>\u201d (March 26); \u201cBreaking the Silence of Staten Island Food Insecurity<\/a>\u201d (June 2025); \u201cBridging Critical Stroke Care Disparities<\/a>\u201d (Aug. 2025); \u2018Women Leaders Driving Equity and Impact\u2019 <\/a>(Sept. 25, 2025).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 On Dec. 15, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of Advance\/SILive.com hosted its 11th…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":76677,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[9,24,63,134,136,135],"class_list":{"0":"post-76676","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-staten-island","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-staten-island","12":"tag-staten-island-headlines","13":"tag-staten-island-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76676"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76676\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}