Ep 602: Raised by Survivors with Bernie Furshpan and guest Silvia Fishbaum on hmTv

Ep 602: Raised by Survivors with Bernie Furshpan and guest Silvia Fishbaum on hmTv

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/fan_mail/new] In this moving episode of Raised by Survivors, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with Silvia Fishbaum, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, to explore memory, identity, art, and the responsibility of carrying history forward. Silvia reflects on growing up Jewish in postwar communist Czechoslovakia, the silence surrounding her father’s wartime experiences, and her eventual escape to the United States in 1979. She shares powerful memories of her father, who survived forced labor in Hungary, and speaks about the lasting impact of being raised in the shadow of Holocaust trauma. A central part of the conversation focuses on Silvia’s beloved art teacher, Holocaust survivor Ludovít Feld, a gifted artist and dwarf from Košice who was forced by Josef Mengele to draw his experiments in Auschwitz. Silvia discusses Feld’s extraordinary humanity, his haunting artwork, and the exhibit she brought to HMTC 14 years ago, which helped preserve his legacy and educate others through the emotional power of art. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/support]

Ep 601: The Butterfly Effect with Gilad Avrahami and Bernie Furshpan on hmTv

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/fan_mail/new] In this thought-provoking episode of The Butterfly Effect, hosts Gilad Avrahami and Bernie Furshpan explore the ethical implications of the multiverse and what the idea of endless possibilities can teach us about choice, responsibility, hope, and human connection. Together, they unpack how concepts from physics, philosophy, consciousness, and imagination can help us better understand the impact of our thoughts and actions. From parallel possibilities and time travel stories to prayer, hope, collective consciousness, and the power of positive vision, the conversation moves beyond science fiction into the deeply human question of how we shape the world around us. Gilad and Bernie also connect these ideas to the lessons of the Holocaust, resilience, antisemitism, and the responsibility to remain hopeful even in difficult times. They reflect on how envisioning a better future is not passive optimism, but an ethical act — one that can inspire courage, action, and the collective will to push back against hate. This episode is a reminder that every choice matters, every thought has power, and every act of hope can create a ripple far beyond what we can see. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/support]

Ep 600: Unmasked. Unfiltered. Unapologetic. with Bali Lerner and guest Mustapha Ezzarghani on hmTv

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/fan_mail/new] In this powerful milestone episode of Unmasked. Unfiltered. Unapologetic., host Bali Lerner sits down with author, peace activist, and mental health professional Mustapha Ezzarghani for a courageous and deeply honest conversation about identity, propaganda, antisemitism, and the urgent need for education. Born and raised in Marrakesh, Morocco, Mustapha shares how his early memories of Jewish neighbors and Moroccan Jewish history were later challenged by the powerful influence of Middle Eastern media, particularly Al Jazeera. He reflects on how propaganda can shape young minds, distort truth, and build entire identities around hatred of Israel and Jews. Together, Bali and Mustapha explore the aftermath of October 7th, the dangers of radicalization, the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, the misuse of democratic freedoms, and the importance of teaching facts over fiction. They also discuss the need for Arabic-language education about Jewish history, Israeli society, and the shared future that becomes possible when people choose truth, dignity, and bridge-building over blame and destruction. This episode is a call for moral courage, honest education, and the refusal to let hate define who we are. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/support]

Ep 599: Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and guest Robert Klein on hmTv

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/fan_mail/new] In this powerful episode of Ordinary Heroes, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes legendary comedian, actor, singer, writer, and storyteller Robert Klein for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, Jewish identity, history, memory, antisemitism, and the fragile state of democracy. Robert reflects on growing up in the Bronx as the son of Frieda and Benjamin Klein and the grandson of Hungarian Jewish immigrants. He shares how his early experiences in the Catskills introduced him to live stand-up comedy and to Holocaust survivors whose stories left a lasting impression on him. The conversation turns deeply historical as Robert discusses his extensive reading of Nuremberg testimony, the dangers of propaganda, the “Jewish problem” language used by antisemites, and the way ordinary people can be manipulated into silence, complicity, or cruelty. Bernie and Robert also explore the lessons of the Holocaust, the importance of museums and education, the rise of modern antisemitism, and the dangerous speed at which misinformation spreads today. With honesty, humor, and remarkable historical insight, Robert Klein reminds us that comedy can reveal truth, history must be remembered, and silence in the face of hate is never an option. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/support]

Ep 598: Raised by Survivors with Bernie Furshpan and guest Carla Wirth on hmTv

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/fan_mail/new] In this deeply personal episode of Raised by Survivors, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes longtime friend Carla Wirth for a moving conversation about legacy, inherited trauma, memory, and the sacred responsibility of keeping survivor stories alive. Carla shares the story of her father, a Holocaust survivor who was taken into the camps as a young teenager and survived Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. She reflects on growing up as the child of a survivor, the anxiety and survival instincts that shaped her childhood, and the emotional weight of carrying a story that was not originally hers — but became her duty to preserve. Together, Bernie and Carla discuss what it means to be 2G, the ways trauma can echo through generations, and how food, family rituals, faith, and artifacts connect children of survivors to the world their parents lost. Carla also shares treasured items from her father’s life, including Holocaust-era memorabilia, speeches, letters, medals, and the powerful story of a shofar connected to Bergen-Belsen. The conversation also turns to today’s rise in antisemitism, the danger of silence, and the urgent need to educate future generations before hate becomes normalized. Through grief, memory, humor, and cautious hope, this episode reminds us that survivor stories are not only history — they are warnings, responsibilities, and calls to conscience. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449781/support]