Ep 424: Inheriting Memory with Rebecca Sparacio and guest Tamara Healy on hmTv

Ep 424 | Inheriting Memory

What does it mean to carry history you did not live through, yet feel every day? In this powerful episode of Inheriting Memory on hmTv, host Rebecca Sparacio speaks with Tamara Healy, a third generation descendant of Holocaust survivors, about identity, resilience, and the quiet ways trauma and strength travel through families.

Tamara reflects on growing up surrounded by pride, gratitude, and deep family connection, while also navigating antisemitism and ignorance outside her community. She shares how her grandparents’ survival stories, her parents’ values, and her own experiences as a school counselor and mother shape the way she responds to hate today. From childhood memories and intergenerational anxiety to the urgency of Holocaust education and the impact of October 7, this conversation bridges past and present with honesty and heart.

This episode explores how memory becomes responsibility, why education still matters, and what each of us can do to stand against hatred with facts, dignity, and humanity.

A meaningful conversation from hmTv, a podcast of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.

Transcript

Podcast: Inheriting Memory – Ep 424
Host: Rebecca Sparacio
Guest: Tamara Healy
Platform: hmTv, a podcast of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County

Speaker 1 (Rebecca): 00:14
Hello and thank you for joining us. I am your host, Rebecca Sparacio. This is a podcast of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. On today’s episode of Inheriting Memory on hmTv, my special guest Tamara Healy joins me for a conversation about being a third generation Holocaust survivor.

Tamara, what was it like growing up as the child of a second generation Holocaust survivor?

Speaker 2 (Tamara): 01:03
Growing up, the history was always important. My parents sent me to Solomon Schechter, a yeshiva school, from kindergarten through eighth grade. Learning Hebrew and Jewish history was part of daily life. We prayed several times a day. I knew it mattered, but I do not think I understood how deeply until adulthood.

I remember an assignment where we had to interview a grandparent about the Holocaust. Most of us had a survivor grandparent. I interviewed my grandfather, asked questions, and I always knew the history was there. But it hits differently now as an adult.

Rebecca: 01:57
Was there a moment you realized your family experience was different from other families?

Tamara: 02:02
Yes. When I left Solomon Schechter and went to Bay Shore High School, everything changed. I came from a class of 12 Jewish kids, all with similar backgrounds. Suddenly I was in a huge, diverse public school and felt like the odd one out.

People introduced me as “the Jew.” Students held up swastikas in class. Friends made jokes about bagels and lox. I do not think many meant harm, but there was ignorance. That was when I realized we are sometimes seen as different.

Rebecca: 04:17
Did you go to your parents or grandparents when that happened?

Tamara:
I spoke to my parents. I was proud to be Jewish and wore my Star of David. When someone showed a swastika, I went straight to administration. They took it seriously and suspended the student. There was ignorance more than understanding of what the symbol truly means.

Rebecca: 04:35
That shows why Holocaust education is so important.

Tamara:
It is. This did not happen centuries ago. Survivors are still alive. My family could have been so much bigger. My dad did not even have grandparents. That reality hits hard.

Rebecca: 05:09
How did your parents’ upbringing under survivor parents shape your home?

Tamara: 05:25
Gratitude was huge. We were taught to be thankful and not brag. Family was everything, shown through action. Feeding, showing up, sacrificing. We saw my grandparents every Shabbat. Even in high school, I went weekly. It was never a burden. It was love.

Rebecca: 07:02
Was the Holocaust openly discussed?

Tamara:
Not much. My grandfather did not love to talk about it. Later in life, he opened up more. I knew the basics. He was nine, hiding in forests, his family murdered. I pieced together details as I grew up.

Rebecca: 07:57
Did not knowing everything affect you?

Tamara:
I knew the gist. I was just curious about details. I once asked him if he cried when it happened. He said no. He was frozen in survival mode.

Rebecca: 08:47
What did he share about life after the war?

Tamara:
A lot about going to Israel and rebuilding. He was young, starting over, fighting for a new country, building a career. That part of the story is beautiful and often overlooked.

Rebecca: 10:48
Was the loss of a mother figure noticeable in your family?

Tamara:
My grandmother was incredibly protective and motherly. Family traditions, food, and connection centered around her. That glue held everything together.

Rebecca: 13:21
Are you working to preserve their stories?

Tamara:
I have not started yet. I have two young boys and a full time job. But my dad shares my grandfather’s story now. Eventually, I want to help record my grandmother’s story too.

Rebecca: 14:15
How do you experience intergenerational trauma?

Tamara:
Parenthood brings it out. I use humor like my dad did. But there is anxiety too. Always preparing for something to go wrong. Safety rituals. Deep emphasis on family and tradition. You do not realize what you carry until you become a parent.

Rebecca: 16:10
How has your history influenced how you respond to antisemitism?

Tamara:
I am a school counselor. Education is key. The Holocaust must be treated with respect and historical accuracy. Kids often learn it briefly and move on. When I share my grandfather’s story, even for five minutes, I see a shift in them.

Rebecca: 18:23
Since October 7, have you felt increased vigilance?

Tamara:
Yes. Sometimes I do not feel comfortable wearing Jewish symbols. I have family in Israel. It has been difficult. We cannot even acknowledge October 7 at school because it is considered political. That hurts.

Rebecca: 20:02
What do you wish people understood about the Holocaust and Israel?

Tamara:
Survivors were displaced with nowhere to go. Israel became a refuge and home. It is deeply tied to Jewish history, faith, and safety. People often do not understand that context.

Rebecca: 22:26
What gives you hope?

Tamara:
I worry whether these stories will still matter. We need new ways to make them real and meaningful so history is not forgotten.

Rebecca: 23:10
What can listeners do now?

Tamara:
Fact check information. Social media spreads misinformation. Stand up against hate. Choose conversation over conflict. Treat people with respect.

Rebecca: 24:14
If your grandparents could speak today, what would they say?

Tamara:
Treat everyone with love and respect.

Rebecca: 24:27
Beautiful message. Thank you, Tamara, and thank you for listening to Inheriting Memory on hmTv. Subscribe, share, and stay connected for more conversations. Until next time.