hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 442 The UN, Society, and Antisemitism with Susanne Seperson and guest Elias Saratovsky P1 on hmTv
The UN, Society, and Antisemitism – Episode 442 (Part 1)
Host: Susanne Seperson
Guest: Elias Saratovsky
In this opening installment of The UN, Society, and Antisemitism, host Susanne Seperson welcomes Elias Saratovsky, President and CEO of the Birthright Israel Foundation. Saratovsky shares his personal story as the grandson of Holocaust survivors and the child of Soviet Jewish immigrants who came to America seeking freedom and dignity. He reflects on growing up with a strong awareness of antisemitism but little formal Jewish practice, and how a last-minute acceptance onto one of the very first Birthright Israel trips in 1999 transformed his identity and life direction.
The conversation explores how firsthand experiences in Israel can shape Jewish identity, strengthen resilience, and counter rising antisemitism, particularly on college campuses. Saratovsky discusses the mission of Birthright Israel, its expanded programs including Onward internships and post-October 7 volunteer initiatives, and why immersive engagement may be more effective than classroom learning alone.
Seperson and Saratovsky also address difficult questions: the increase of anti-Jewish hostility in the United States, the role of education, misconceptions about Zionism, and the growing pressures faced by Jewish students. Together they examine whether today’s protests reflect criticism of policy or something deeper about Western values and Jewish belonging.
Part 1 sets the stage for a thoughtful and candid discussion about identity, history, and the challenges confronting Jewish communities today, while pointing toward practical ways individuals and institutions can respond.