hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 402: Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and guest Sherona Varulkar on hmTv
In Episode 402 of Ordinary Heroes on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with Sherona Varulkar for a fascinating conversation that spans 2,200 years of Jewish history and lands right here on Long Island. Sherona shares the remarkable story of the Bene Israel community, tracing their origins from the Holy Land to the west coast of India, and explains how Jewish identity, tradition, and observance were preserved across centuries and continents.
Sherona also tells her own journey, growing up in Bombay (Mumbai), building a life in Israel, and eventually settling in the Hamptons, where she runs a private acupuncture practice. Together, Bernie and Sherona explore the diversity of Indian Jewish communities, the importance of passing heritage to the next generation, and what it means to stay connected to your roots while living in the modern world.
The conversation turns to the present moment, with a candid discussion about the rise of antisemitism in the United States, the role of education, critical thinking, and dialogue, and why staying silent is never the answer. Thoughtful, heartfelt, and occasionally funny, this episode is a reminder that “ordinary” heroes often carry extraordinary histories, and that the future depends on what we choose to do now.