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Send us Fan MailEpisode 92 — The Fog of War and Humanity (Part 2) Guest: Dr. Bernie Furshpan | Host: Richard Acritelli | Series: hmTvIn Part 1, Bernie Furshpan recounted how his parents escaped Nazi murder squads. In Part 2, we follow the equally dramatic “after” story—one that begins in a Munich displaced‑persons camp and ends with a family carving out a future in Brooklyn. Bernie explains:* How a traumatized ten‑year‑old forest survivor joined Israel’s fledgling air force with nothing more than borrowed rifles and boundless will. * Why Bernie’s mother, separated from her own mother for five years, vowed never to let her children come home to an empty house. * The subtle scars of second‑generation PTSD—from triple‑locked doors to scanning every room for exits. * The ticking urgency behind The Weight of Memory: I Am Bernie Furshpan, a new documentary framing Holocaust lessons for Gen Z.This episode is a blueprint for turning inherited trauma into purposeful action—whether through education, museum work, or simply teaching children to value a safe, open society. Tune in for an intimate, hopeful reminder that even in the fog of war, humanity can prevail.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 90 – “The UN, Society, and Antisemitism” (Part 2) hmTv series: Antisemitism, the United Nations, and SocietyIn Part 1, Dr. Inna Rozentsvit traced her journey from the Soviet Union to American activism. In Part 2, she and host Dr. Susanne Seperson zero-in on solutions: How do we arm the next generation—intellectually, emotionally, and institutionally—against a resurgence of antisemitism?What you’ll hearRoots before branches – Why Jewish identity starts at the dinner table, not in the classroom, and how parents can turn values like tikkun olam into lived family culture.History as self-defense – A lightning primer on Israel’s wars, the mis-use of “Nakba,” and how factual fluency empowers students to debate with confidence instead of fear.Campus tactics – Concrete strategies for confronting chants, bias, and hostile professors: from reasoned public debate to withholding alumni donations when universities enable hate.K–12 action plan – Making state-mandated Holocaust curricula meaningful (museum visits, survivor testimony) and insisting on zero-tolerance for antisemitic bullying.Policy pressure points – Defunding schools that ignore harassment, stripping tax-exempt status from repeat offenders, and the pivotal role of engaged parents and lawmakers.One non-negotiable – Name the problem. “Anti-Zionism” that calls for Israel’s destruction is antisemitism; honest language is the first step toward honest solutions.“Children need to feel belonging before they can understand it. If home isn’t a place of strong identity, they’ll look elsewhere—and sometimes, those places ask them to hide who they are.” —Dr. Inna RozentsvitListen for a blueprint that blends family practice, historical literacy, and civic leverage into a unified response to modern Jew-hatred—and discover why authentic, fearless dialogue may be our strongest weapon yet.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 89 – “The UN, Society, and Antisemitism” (Part 1) hmTv series: “Antisemitism, the United Nations, and Society”In this powerful opening to a two-part conversation, host Dr. Susanne Seperson sits down with Dr. Inna Rozentsvit—neurologist, psychoanalyst, educator, and lifelong advocate—to unpack how antisemitism mutates across societies, institutions, and generations.Raised in the Soviet Union, Dr. Rozentsvit recounts the moment a workplace “revolution” forced her to flee Moldova with two toddlers, the uphill battle of re-licensing in the United States, and the seismic shift she felt after October 7, 2023. Drawing on psychoanalytic and psychohistorical insights, she explains why latent prejudice can be “switched on,” how slogans replace critical thinking on today’s campuses, and why Jewish identity and values must be taught with the same rigor as history.Key themes • From “small-a” to “big-A” antisemitism—understanding the escalation • The Soviet exodus: navigating visas, HIAS, and medical re-training in the U.S. • October 7 as an existential wake-up call for diaspora Jews • Psychohistory 101: bottom-up vs. top-down explanations of hate • UN-based activism and the birth of the NGO Committee to End Antisemitism • Why elite universities became echo chambers—and how to reclaim critical inquiry • Practical foundations for combating antisemitism: rigorous history, lived values, coalition-buildingListen for a gripping personal journey that segues into an urgent blueprint for action—and stay tuned for Part 2, where Dr. Rozentsvit returns to outline concrete responses every individual and institution can adopt.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 87 – “From Paris Crib to Brooklyn Bathtub: Terry Kaplan’s 2G Journey”In this moving installment of Raised by Survivors, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with volunteer and fellow Brooklyn native Terry “Tzirel/Terèse” Kaplan. Born in post-war Paris to Polish Holocaust survivors and brought to New York by HIAS at age three, Terry recounts an odyssey that stretches from the forests near Lublin to Brownsville’s live-chicken markets—and ultimately to her father’s appearance on Schindler’s List.What you’ll hear inside:Life on the run: How Nazi loudspeakers lured starving Jews from the woods to ghettos, and how Terry’s parents endured Budzyń, Auschwitz, Gross-Rosen, and Płaszów before liberation in Czechoslovakia.Schindler’s factory—number 10 on the list: Terry shares the document that saved her father’s life and the nightmare screams he carried home to Brooklyn.Brooklyn Yiddishkeit & bathtub carp: From kaparos chickens to three-day gefilte-fish marathons, Terry paints a vivid picture of 1950s immigrant life, complete with Yiddish zingers and lamb-chop school lunches.The classic 2G split: Why one sibling shields parents and embraces Jewish identity while another rejects it—and how Terry channels that tension into volunteer work and grand-parenting today.With warmth, wit, and unflinching honesty, Terry and Bernie explore food, language, survivor silence, and the fierce love that second-generation families inherit. If you’ve ever wrestled with inherited trauma—or savored a Brooklyn bagel “with a shmear”—this conversation will stay with you long after the credits roll.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 88 – Carrying the Torch: Gail Kastenholz on Building Holocaust Education for the FutureSecond–generation survivor, educator, and longtime HMTC volunteer Gail Kastenholz sits down with host Dr. Bernie Ferspan to trace a remarkable life spent turning family trauma into public service. Born to two Polish survivors who rebuilt their lives in Brooklyn and Queens, Gail explains how a single comment—“you don’t look like a 2G”—pushed her to found one of Long Island’s first children-of-survivors groups, collect testimonies with Yale’s Fortunoff Archive, and create pioneering programs that now train every Suffolk–Nassau police cadet and scores of nursing students in ethical decision-making.From memories of Coney Island beaches and Yiddish card games to the hard facts of DP camps, lost relatives, and post-war silence, Gail reveals why Holocaust education has shifted from graphic footage to empathy-driven storytelling—and why today’s middle-schoolers may be the most engaged generation yet. If you’re curious how museums, 2G/3G activists, and October 7th have reshaped the conversation, this episode delivers a front-row seat.Listen for:The birth of Long Island’s 2G movementBehind-the-scenes of the cadet and nursing-ethics seminarsTips on fostering Jewish pride and moral courage in a restless worldSubscribe to Raised by Survivors on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and help us keep memory alive—one story at a time.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 86 – Ordinary Heroes: Paul Pachter on Fighting Hunger & Carrying Harry Chapin’s LegacyIn this inspiring episode, Bernie Furshpan sits down with Paul Pachter, President & CEO of Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank. From their shared Brooklyn roots and memories of Jan’s legendary “Kitchen Sink” sundae to the sobering reality that 280,000 Long Islanders—including 55,000 children—are food-insecure, Paul traces how rock-icon-turned-activist Harry Chapin transformed a regional crisis into a movement for dignity and self-sufficiency.Key moments you’ll hear:Hunger vs. food insecurity – why language shapes solutions.The story behind Chapin’s 1980 founding of Long Island Cares and its growth to nine locations distributing 16 million pounds of food annually.Innovative programs—from Baxter’s Pet Pantry for family pets to a Center for Community Engagement—that redefine what a food bank can be.How corporate partners and 2,500+ volunteers turn compassion into $10 million of yearly impact.Why today’s economic pressures keep demand rising—and how you can help.Paul’s personal mission to keep Harry Chapin’s humanitarian flame alive, plus a shared call with HMTC to fight antisemitism and online hate.Whether you’re passionate about social justice, volunteerism, or simply love a good Brooklyn nostalgia trip, this conversation proves that ordinary people can tackle extraordinary challenges—and that every can, dollar, or hour donated makes a hero’s difference. Tune in, be inspired, and find out how to join the fight against hunger right in your own backyard.Support the show

Send us Fan MailKinder People. Kindest People — Episode 84 (Part 1)Guest: Manny Korman | Host: Peter Suchmann | Series: hmTv at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance CenterWhen a rescued violin finds its perfect new home, two families discover they’ve been linked since 1939.In the first of a two-part conversation, Peter Suchmann sits down with 93-year-old Kindertransport survivor Manny Korman. Manny retraces an extraordinary chain of events that began with his father’s harrowing voyage on the St. Louis, continued through Manny’s own escape from Nazi-occupied Poland, and culminated in a trans-Atlantic reunion that rebuilt his family—and his life.You’ll hear:How one Kinderlink newsletter notice and a grandfather’s violin brought the Korman and Suchmann families together.The inside story of the St. Louis “Voyage of the Damned” and Manny’s father’s survival in Westerbork.Manny’s journey at age seven on the Kindertransport, the strangers who took him in, and the Christian family that sheltered his best friend.A remarkable reunion in rural England that turned into a community theater production 80 years later.The lasting power of kindness—from rescuing a single child to supporting whole communities across generations.It’s a testament to resilience, moral courage, and the quiet heroes who open their doors to strangers. Press play for an unforgettable firsthand account—and stay tuned for Part 2, where Manny shares how those experiences shaped a lifetime in education and Holocaust remembrance.Listen, subscribe, and share—because humanity matters.Support the show

Send us Fan MailRaised by Survivors: “Rabbi Anchelle Perl”How do you turn a family’s trauma into a lifetime of light? In this moving conversation, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with Rabbi Anchelle Perl, whose father survived Auschwitz and slave-labor camps before rebuilding his life—and his faith—in freedom. Rabbi Perl recounts that journey, the quiet heroism of keeping kosher in a death camp, and the steadfast refusal to hate that defined his childhood home.Now the spiritual leader of Chabad of Mineola, founder of Long Island’s Good Deed Awards for teens, and a newly appointed Nassau County Human Rights Commissioner, Rabbi Perl explains how those early lessons fuel his mission to spotlight kindness, confront antisemitism through education, and help every person recognize the spark of holiness within.Listen in for a testament to resilience, a blueprint for community leadership, and a reminder that the most powerful answer to darkness is a life devoted to bringing others hope.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 85 – Kinder People. Kindest People (Part 2): “Teaching the Legacy”In the conclusion of their two-part conversation, host Peter Suchmann welcomes back 93-year-old Kindertransport survivor Manny Korman for a deep dive into the life he built after rescue—and the lessons he’s devoted to passing on.🔹 From refugees to educators – Manny explains how he and his brother Gerhard both gravitated to teaching, with careers that spanned Queens classrooms and Cornell University.🔹 Crafting a survivor’s narrative – Hear how Manny’s presentations evolved from simple storytelling to multimedia programs that captivate sixth-graders, Mensa scholars, and Names, Not Numbers filmmakers alike.🔹 The power of listening – Manny describes the transformative impact of student-run oral-history projects and why a single question from a grieving audience member still shapes his talks today.🔹 Memory in the garden – Peter previews HMTC’s new Kindertransport memorial bench, where visitors can scan a QR code to hear survivors’ voices—including Manny’s.🔹 A return to Hamburg – Manny prepares to address his birthplace 85 years after exile, carrying a message of tolerance, democracy, and responsibility toward today’s refugees.Press play for an inspiring testament to resilience, education, and the simple truth that humanity matters—now more than ever.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 82: "A Life of Service, Faith, and Resilience" Ordinary Heroes on hmTv at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance CenterIn this inspiring and heartfelt episode of Ordinary Heroes, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes a longtime friend and extraordinary community leader, Rabbi Ron Csilag. Their conversation explores Ron’s remarkable journey — from chiropractor to rabbi, from volunteer at Ground Zero to advocate for Israeli hostages, and from the son of a Holocaust refugee to a voice for resilience, justice, and hope.Rabbi Ron shares the profound moments that shaped his life, including his early connection to Israel during Operation Solomon, his volunteer work adjusting rescue workers at Ground Zero after 9/11, and his ongoing mission to fight antisemitism and injustice today. With wisdom and humility, he recounts how his upbringing and experiences have fueled a lifelong commitment to serving others.The discussion dives into the challenges facing Jewish students on college campuses, the meaning of “Never Again” in today’s world, and the importance of speaking out boldly against hatred while maintaining optimism and hope. Rabbi Ron also reflects on the dangers of complacency, the blessings and responsibilities of living in America, and the urgent need for unity and mutual respect across a divided society.Blending humor, deep insight, and personal stories, this episode reminds us that true heroism lies not in grand gestures, but in the everyday acts of standing up, speaking out, and giving back.Join us for a powerful conversation about legacy, leadership, and the enduring impact one individual can make.Support the show