Me & Bernard

Podcast by Jonathan Ornstein

English

History & religion

Limited Offer

2 months for 19 kr.

Then 99 kr. / monthCancel anytime.

20 hours of audiobooks / month
Podcasts only on Podimo
All free podcasts

Get Started

About Me & Bernard

Join host Jonathan Ornstein, CEO of the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow, in an exclusive podcast series featuring in-depth conversations with his friend Bernard Offen, 96, a Holocaust Survivor from Krakow, Poland who survived five concentration camps. In this series, Bernard shares his powerful life story, detailing his experiences growing up Jewish in pre-war Poland and his fascinating life after the war.Interview by Jonanthan Ornstein with guest Bernard OffenMusic by Lynda Kraar and Jaime ValentineProduction help from Benjamin Lorch at The Berlin School of PodcastingAbout Jonathan OrnsteinSince its opening in April 2008 by King Charles III, Jonathan has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow, Poland, an organization devoted to rebuilding Jewish life in Krakow. The JCC boasts over 1,000 Jewish members, welcomes 10,000 visitors a month and is one of Poland’s most visible signs of Jewish revival. He created Ride For The Living and Holocaust Survivor Day, two global initiatives with tens of thousands of participants. Prior to the JCC’s opening, he taught Modern Hebrew at Krakow’s Jagiellonian University Department of Jewish Studies for 6 years and founded the “Gesher” association for Polish-Israeli dialogue. A native of New York City, Jonathan moved to Israel in 1994, living for 7 years on a kibbutz in the Negev desert and served in a combat unit in the I.D.F. before moving to Poland in 2001. He is a founding member of the Krakow Association of Christians and Jews where he serves as vice president. He also serves on the boards of the Krakow branch of the Child Survivors of the Holocaust organization, Hillel Poland, JCC Global, and the Abraham Global Peace Initiative. Jonathan, a primary architect of Poland’s contemporary Jewish rebirth, is a frequent international speaker and media contributor on issues relating to Jewish Poland, and an activist for Holocaust survivors.About Bernard OffenBernard was born on April 17, 1929, in Krakow. He is a survivor of Plaszow, Julag, Mauthausen, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Dachau concentration camps, and now tells his story as an educator and filmmaker. It took Bernard many years to return to Krakow after the war and confront his demons. The Krakow Jewish community is honored that he now chooses to spend so much time with us as an active JCC Krakow member.About JCC KrakowEstablished and opened by His Majesty King Charles in 2008, JCC Krakow now boasts 1,100 Jewish members including 58 Holocaust survivors, and is the beating heart of Krakow’s growing, vibrant Jewish community. Our bright, colorful center with over 60 full time staff and a volunteer team numbering close to 150, welcomes local Jews and non-Jews with innovative, inclusive programming 7 days a week and hosts 100,000+ visitors a year. In 2023, we continued to rebuild Jewish life in Krakow with weekly Shabbat dinners, celebration of Jewish holidays and dedicated programming for the entire range of our community from preschool kids to Holocaust Survivors. Our reborn Jewish community, always mindful of the Jewish idea of “Tikkun Olam” or repairing the world, continued to support Ukraine by directly feeding, housing and providing psychosocial support to approximately 400,000 Ukrainian refugees, 98% of whom were not Jewish. On October 7, after the brutal Hamas led attack, we opened an “Israeli Safe Space” in our center and welcomed and helped dozens of Israeli families seeking support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All episodes

15 episodes

Me & Bernard LIVE Special

During Ride For The Living, we treated our riders and walkers to a LIVE taping of the season finale of our podcast, Me & Bernard, capping off a lifetime’s worth of stories from 96-years-young Survivor Bernard Offen. Now, we’re excited to announce that our live taping of Me & Bernard is now available to stream wherever you listen to podcasts! In this special episode, Jonathan and Bernard unpack some of season one’s most interesting and poignant moments, alongside our guest host and pod executive producer, Benjamin Lorch. If you haven’t been keeping up with the podcast, this is a great time to jump in. If you’ve been an avid listener, thanks for your support! Tune into this episode to relive some of the best moments from our first 13 episodes. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

17 Jul 2025 - 47 min

Me & Bernard - Episode 13

Thirteen episodes (plus a royal bonus!) of Me & Bernard now available! Your favorite podcast has crossed the threshold of Jewish maturity. Fittingly, in this episode, JCC Krakow CEO Jonathan Ornstein concludes his hours-long biographical interview with Polish-American-Polish Holocaust survivor Bernard Offen. After discussing Bernard’s past couple decades and return to his hometown, they speculate about the future of the show, where witty banter, topical musings, and entertaining guests will enliven your podcast libraries for many more episodes to come. Mazel tov, Me & Bernard! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

12 Jun 2025 - 23 min

Me & Bernard - Episode 12

In episode 12, the dynamic duo discuss Bernard’s return to Poland in the 1990s as part of his “self-confrontation in the process of healing.” A filmmaker himself, Bernard reflects on meeting Steven Spielberg, watching the production of Schindler’s List, and creating his own cinematic oeuvre. Bernard sheds insights into the themes and images central to his prior filmography while also divulging information about his plans for future projects! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

22 May 2025 - 37 min

Me & Bernard - Episode 11

Like any pair of good friends, CEO Jonathan and Bernard have a podcast together. Oh, and it’s really, really good! Tune in today for episode 11, newly released in honor of the birthday festivities. This dynamic duo continues their chronological recounting of Bernard’s incredible life—with plenty of hilarious digressions! This time, they offer an unflinching account of the ‘70s, from marital malaise and activist awakenings to hippie happenings and Israel trips (literally: including rabbinically administered LSD in Jerusalem!). Learn about the origins of Bernard’s film passion and bold decision to spend years in a mobile camper. You just might be convinced to drop everything and start pursuing your own dreams… ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

17 Apr 2025 - 38 min

Me & Bernard - Episode 10

“Me & Bernard” featuring JCC Krakow CEO Jonathan Ornstein and 95 year-young Holocaust Bernard Offen discussing Bernard’s fascinating life just hit 10 episodes! What stories does Bernie hold for us to celebrate this milestone? Well you just have to click to find out… (also - don’t forget to subscribe to get notifications on upcoming episodes!) ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

27 Mar 2025 - 36 min

En fantastisk app med et enormt stort udvalg af spændende podcasts. Podimo formår virkelig at lave godt indhold, der takler de lidt mere svære emner. At der så også er lydbøger oveni til en billig pris, gør at det er blevet min favorit app.

Rigtig god tjeneste med gode eksklusive podcasts og derudover et kæmpe udvalg af podcasts og lydbøger. Kan varmt anbefales, om ikke andet så udelukkende pga Dårligdommerne, Klovn podcast, Hakkedrengene og Han duo 😁 👍

Podimo er blevet uundværlig! Til lange bilture, hverdagen, rengøringen og i det hele taget, når man trænger til lidt adspredelse.

Choose your subscription