by Ari Sirkovich

On January 22nd, the SASM Jewish Student Union had the honor of hosting a schoolwide STEM Talk that gave our students a first-hand experience with someone who lived through the horrors of the Holocaust. The event featured Holocaust survivor Eva Perlman, who shared her extraordinary life story and reminded us of the importance of memory, resilience, and human responsibility. Bringing a survivor to speak in person is a rare and meaningful opportunity, as each year there are fewer and fewer people who were alive during that time. Therefore, our school was incredibly fortunate to hear directly from someone who lived through one of history’s darkest chapters.

Eva Perlman was born in Europe during a time when Jewish families faced unimaginable persecution under Nazi rule during World War II. As a young child, her life was shaped by fear, loss, and constant uncertainty. During the Holocaust, Eva endured separation from her family, displacement, and conditions designed to take dignity and hope away from people. Despite these circumstances, she persevered and survived against all odds. Throughout her talk, Eva described her survival not as a single moment, but rather as a series of small miracles: close calls, acts of kindness from others, and moments of courage that ultimately saved her life.

Eva was born in Berlin, Germany in 1932, and her early childhood was quickly shaped by the rise of Nazi persecution. When antisemitic laws prevented her father from working, her family was forced to go to Paris, France. Over the years, her family relocated several times to avoid increasing danger, living in Parisian suburbs such as Courbevoie and Le Vésinet before later moving south to Massay and then to Lyon as Nazi forces expanded across France. Eventually, Eva and her two brothers were hidden in the mountain village of Autrans, where local Christian families risked their lives to shelter Jewish children from capture by the Nazis. These constant relocations meant that Eva’s childhood was marked not by stability, but by movement, secrecy, and the constant need to remain vigilant in order to survive.

What made Eva’s story especially powerful was not just what she survived, but how she has chosen to live afterward. Rather than allowing hatred or trauma to define her, she has dedicated her life to sharing her story so future generations can learn from it. During her presentation, she emphasized the importance of education, standing up to injustice, and recognizing the humanity in others. For many students, hearing these lessons directly from a Holocaust survivor transformed history from something in a textbook to real life.

Our school is incredibly fortunate to be a place where voices like Eva Perlman’s are welcomed and valued. Events like this STEM Talk reflect our school’s commitment to learning beyond the classroom and engaging with history in meaningful ways. The JSU worked hard to make this event possible, and their efforts created a space for growth and a place where education isn’t just taught, but experienced.

As the number of Holocaust survivors becomes fewer each year, opportunities like this grow more rare and therefore more important. Eva Perlman’s visit reminded us that remembering the past is not just about honoring those who were lost, but about shaping a more responsible future. Her story will long stay with our Science Academy community.