By Downington Area School District, May 21 2024. Click for full report.
In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, the Downingtown Area School District (DASD) hosted a virtual program featuring Holocaust survivor Daniel Goldsmith. The event, organized by the DASD Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), was attended by students from grades 7 through 12. During the program, Goldsmith shared his harrowing story of survival, answered questions, and presented a challenge to the students to accept everyone, regardless of their background. This impactful event was made possible through the support of the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center.
Daniel Goldsmith was born in Antwerp, Belgium to an orthodox Jewish family. His father worked as a plumber, while his mother was a homemaker. At the age of 8, his life was upended when the German army invaded Belgium in May 1940. The family’s attempt to flee to France was thwarted, forcing them to return to Antwerp. In August 1942, Goldsmith’s father was taken to a forced labor camp, and his mother was compelled to sell some of his tools to buy food for Daniel and his sister, Lillian.
In September 1942, after a terrifying raid by the Nazis on their street that saw many Jewish families arrested, Goldsmith’s mother sought help from a known resistance movement member. Within 48 hours, Daniel and Lillian were placed in a Catholic convent for their safety. By December, Daniel was moved to a boys’ orphanage and given a false identity as “Willy Peters.”
The ordeal continued when the orphanage was raided in May 1944. Goldsmith, along with other boys, was arrested and sent to multiple prisons. During a transfer to a third prison, they escaped from the train and found refuge in Perwez, Belgium. The local priest hid the children in various homes in the village until liberation came in September 1944, when Goldsmith was just 12 years old. In April 1948, Goldsmith arrived in the United States, where he began a new chapter of his life.
Reflecting on the event, DASD DEI Director Justin Brown stated, “Daniel Goldsmith’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of acceptance and inclusion. His message is especially poignant for our students as we strive to build a community where everyone feels valued and respected.”
The DASD Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion continues to promote educational initiatives that foster understanding and acceptance among students. To learn more about DEI in DASD, visit dasd.org/diversity.
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