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Influential Origins | Ep. 656: Chuck Lavine: Civil Rights and Rising Antisemitism (Part 1) | HMTC

Growing up as one of the few Jewish children in small Midwestern communities taught Charles D. “Chuck” Lavine how to understand people, recognize danger, and navigate unfamiliar environments. Those early lessons would later become invaluable in the courtroom and the political arena.

In Part 1 of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel speaks with the New York State assemblymember and chair of the Judiciary Committee about his journey from Wisconsin and Michigan to New York Law School, criminal defense practice, local government, and the State Assembly.

Chuck recalls watching police dogs attack children during the civil rights movement and losing people from neighboring communities during the Vietnam War. Those experiences inspired him to become a lawyer and help build a fairer society. As a young public defender, he learned that the attorney’s responsibility is not to judge a client but to protect the integrity of the justice system.

The conversation also explores Jewish immigration, marriage equality, civil rights, American democracy, and the value of vigorous debate. Chuck connects Jewish traditions of questioning and argument with the American commitment to examining competing ideas and seeking consensus.

Alan and Chuck then confront the dramatic rise of antisemitism, the return of accusations questioning Jewish loyalty, and growing political divisions surrounding Israel. Chuck describes Jewish communities as “the canaries in the coal mine,” often recognizing early warning signs before hatred expands toward other groups.

The episode concludes with a candid discussion of criticism of Israel, the Democratic Socialists of America, the meaning many Jews associate with “From the river to the sea,” and the challenge political parties face when disagreement crosses into hostility. Part 2 will examine how both major parties respond when extremists gain influence within their ranks.

Influential Origins on hmTv | Host: Alan Mindel | Guest: New York State Assemblymember Charles D. “Chuck” Lavine

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

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─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Opening
0:18 Welcome and guest introduction
0:30 Growing up in Wisconsin and Michigan
1:20 Jewish identity in the Upper Midwest
2:43 Vietnam and the civil rights movement
3:52 From Wisconsin to New York City
4:34 Choosing a career in criminal law
5:52 Lessons from working as a public defender
6:54 From practicing laws to writing them
7:54 Democratic politics and civil-rights progress
9:02 Constitutional responsibility and American democracy
9:40 Jewish refugees and the promise of America
10:35 Marriage equality and a pluralistic society
11:24 Rising antisemitism in New York
13:46 Visible hatred and political extremism
16:18 Jews as the canaries in the coal mine
17:07 Torah, truth, and a tradition of argument
18:29 Debate and consensus in American democracy
20:08 Jewish Democrats and political belonging
21:38 Israel, dissent, and democratic criticism
22:58 The DSA, Israel, and troubling political slogans
24:54 The challenge facing both political parties
25:26 Closing and Part 2 preview

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#InfluentialOrigins #ChuckLavine #CharlesLavine #NewYorkStateAssembly #CivilRights #Antisemitism #JewishIdentity #AmericanDemocracy #CriminalJustice #MarriageEquality #PublicService #HMTC

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