Send us Fan Mail

Voices Illuminated | Ep. 690: Marc Karimzadeh - Fashion, Memory and Jewish Pride | HMTC

Marc Karimzadeh once read fashion magazines under his duvet with a flashlight. That private teenage passion in Hamburg became a career chronicling and shaping American fashion.

On Voices Illuminated, host Judy Liman speaks with the CFDA’s Senior Director of Content and Communications about his Persian and Ashkenazi Jewish roots, journalism career, and work confronting antisemitism within the fashion industry. Marc describes the CFDA initiative “We Need to Talk About Antisemitism” and Shabbat dinners that invite fashion leaders to encounter Jewish culture through celebration and conversation.

He also reflects on his mother and grandmother’s Holocaust survival, Jewish designers’ influence on American fashion, Persian family traditions, and the freedom he found by living honestly. From meeting Spanx founder Sara Blakely before the brand became famous to interviewing Karl Lagerfeld about Choupette, Marc shows how storytelling can recognize creativity, preserve memory, and turn professional influence into meaningful action.

Voices Illuminated on hmTv | Host: Judy Liman | Guest: Marc Karimzadeh
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
1:36 The CFDA’s mission and Marc’s role
2:55 Persian and Ashkenazi roots in Hamburg
5:42 A teenage passion for fashion
6:41 We Need to Talk About Antisemitism
9:41 Shabbat dinners build understanding
11:13 Art, accountability, and John Galliano
15:14 Holocaust memory in Marc’s family
18:10 Why Marc speaks out against hate
19:03 Jewish contributions to American fashion
20:39 Tahdig and Persian family traditions
22:34 Marriage, honesty, and identity
24:10 Spanx, Karl Lagerfeld, and Choupette
27:55 Closing

HASHTAGS

#VoicesIlluminated #Antisemitism #JewishPride #Fashion #HMTC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Influential Origins | Ep. 689: Michael Trager - Cara’s Legacy and a Call for Safety | 

After 47 years of marriage, Michael Trager lost his wife, Cara Sellinger Trager, in a fatal traffic collision while they were walking home together in Queens.

On Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel speaks with Michael about Cara’s life as a journalist, mother, grandmother, proud Jew, and devoted community member. Michael recalls their first meeting, marriage at Temple Torah, raising Eric and Rachel, and Cara’s ability to build a successful writing career while remaining deeply present for her family.

He also recounts the collision that killed Cara and injured him, the unresolved questions surrounding it, and his continuing pursuit of justice, public safety, and accountability. Rather than allowing grief to end Cara’s story, Michael is turning loss into advocacy. His message reaches beyond one family or faith: communities need the rule of law, mutual respect, and leaders willing to protect every person’s right to live safely.

Influential Origins on hmTv | Host: Alan Mindel | Guest: Michael Trager
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
0:45 Growing up Jewish in Queens
4:29 Meeting Cara Sellinger
8:22 Raising Eric and Rachel
11:04 Cara’s career as a writer and mother
14:20 A changing climate in New York
19:04 The day that changed Michael’s life
23:26 Losing Cara in a fatal collision
25:19 Good Samaritans respond
29:12 Due process, justice, and community safety
31:07 A community confronting fear and division
34:23 The legal process and unanswered questions
42:16 Cara’s Jewish identity and legacy
45:26 Closing

HASHTAGS

#InfluentialOrigins #Legacy #CommunitySafety #MutualRespect #HMTC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Raised by Survivors | Ep. 688: Matilde Broder - Greek Jewish Survival and Legacy | HMTC

After Auschwitz, two Greek Jewish survivors made their way to Paris, met in a holding camp, and began the family the Nazis had tried to erase.

On Raised by Survivors, Bernie Furshpan speaks with Matilde Broder about her parents, Sephardic Jews whose families had lived in Greece for generations. Matilde recounts her mother’s will to live, her father’s forced labor, acts of courage that saved lives, and the kindness that sustained liberated survivors on their journey to Paris.

She also traces the family’s path from France to Argentina and finally New York, reflecting on Ladino heritage, childhood as the daughter of survivors, and the photographs, documents, and memorial book that preserve those who were lost. Now a mother of two and grandmother of four, Matilde offers living proof that survival created new generations. Her testimony protects memory, confronts denial, and reminds us where unchecked hatred can lead.

Raised by Survivors on hmTv | Host: Bernie Furshpan | Guest: Matilde Broder
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
2:13 Sephardic roots, Ladino, and Argentina
4:02 Jewish life in Greece before the Holocaust
5:42 Greek Christians who protected Jewish families
6:30 The destruction of Greek Jewish communities
9:07 Samuel Castro’s Auschwitz record
9:31 Matilde’s mother and the will to live
10:04 Forced labor and a life-saving act
12:00 Liberation and the journey to Paris
13:19 Argentina and a new beginning
14:20 Growing up as the child of survivors
17:38 Preserving photographs, documents, and memory
21:10 Children, grandchildren, and survival
24:32 Closing

HASHTAGS

#RaisedBySurvivors #HolocaustEducation #GreekJewry #Testimony #HMTC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Legacy Chronicles | Ep. 687: Sophie Weisz - Carrying Holocaust Memory Forward | HMTC

One school project about Anne Frank opened Sophie Weisz’s path into her own family’s Holocaust history. Today, as a fourth-generation descendant of survivors, she is helping shape how memory will be carried forward.

On Legacy Chronicles, Zachary Graulich speaks with Sophie about leading her school’s Holocaust Remembrance Day program and interning at HMTC. She reflects on survivor Rosalie Simon’s testimony, student-led discussions, collaborative art, and the confidence she gained by helping classmates connect history to courage and responsibility.

Sophie also shares her work developing Seeds of Courage, an HMTC program for scouting groups that combines Holocaust education with hands-on service and community action. As firsthand survivor testimony becomes less available, she believes descendants, educators, and students must preserve these stories. Her call is direct: ask difficult questions, research your family history, use your voice, and never underestimate your power to make a positive difference.

Legacy Chronicles on hmTv | Host: Zachary Graulich | Guest: Sophie Weisz
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
0:42 Discovering family history through Anne Frank
2:23 Holocaust Remembrance Day at school
3:31 Testimony, discussion, and collaborative art
6:39 Building confidence as a student leader
7:59 Learning from Rosalie Simon and classmates
9:34 An internship at HMTC
11:56 Connecting with descendants and docents
14:00 Who will carry survivor stories forward?
15:49 Introducing Seeds of Courage
17:34 Holocaust education through scouting and service
21:43 Empowering young people to take action
25:07 Preserving family history as a 4G
30:04 Closing

HASHTAGS

#LegacyChronicles #HolocaustEducation #YouthLeadership #Remembrance #HMTC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Education in Motion | Ep. 686: Howard Merims — From Principal to Holocaust Educator | HMTC

After 43 years in public education, Howard “Howie” Merims found a new classroom at HMTC. Donna Rosenblum welcomes the retired teacher, assistant principal, and principal to discuss why he chose Holocaust education as his next chapter.

Howie reflects on the school communities that shaped his career and the survivor testimony that inspired him to give back. As he trains to become an HMTC docent, he studies the different styles of experienced educators, accompanies Holocaust survivors into schools, and learns how personal stories help students connect history to their own lives.

Donna and Howie examine the importance of respecting each school’s needs, building genuine partnerships with educators, and teaching through testimony, artifacts, and family memory. They also discuss antisemitism, social media, missing context, and the need for critical thinking. Their conversation affirms that education, empathy, truth, and human dignity remain essential tools for helping young people reject hatred and recognize their responsibility to one another.

Education in Motion on hmTv | Host: Donna Rosenblum | Guest: Howard Merims
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
0:45 A 43-Year Career in Education
2:00 Why HMTC Became the Next Chapter
4:40 Learning from HMTC Docents
6:11 Building Partnerships with Schools
8:25 Meeting Each School’s Needs
9:54 Learning from Holocaust Survivors
11:24 Teaching Through Personal Testimony
13:51 Connecting History to Family
15:24 Choosing Meaningful Work in Retirement
16:40 Family History and a Call to Educate
19:21 Human Dignity and Teaching Against Hate
21:07 Media Literacy and Student Connections
24:35 Closing

HASHTAGS

#EducationInMotion #HolocaustEducation #Testimony #MediaLiteracy #HMTC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

It’s All About the Children | Ep. 685: Dan Cohen — From Awakening to Purpose, Part 2 | HMTC

DESCRIPTION

A father’s unexpected return to clarity becomes the beginning of a mission. In Part 2, Carin Bail and Sami Steigmann continue their conversation with author, podcaster, and storyteller Dan Cohen about love, memory, resilience, and the choices that shape a life.

Dan describes the two days when his father, deep in dementia, suddenly spoke with clarity, recalled family milestones, and expressed gratitude simply to be alive. That awakening inspired Dan’s book and podcast, Awakenings in Real Life, where he shares stories of people transformed by adversity, connection, and purpose.

The conversation turns to Sami’s Holocaust experience, the validation of his history, and his EMET mission to educate, motivate, empower upstanders, and teach tolerance. Dan also discusses plans for a documentary about Sami. Together, they offer a hopeful message for every generation: accept people where they are, include them in life, and remember that we are defined not only by what happens to us, but by what we choose to become.

It’s All About the Children on hmTv | Hosts: Carin Bail and Sami Steigmann | Guest: Dan Cohen
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
0:31 A Father’s Unexpected Awakening
3:15 Memory Beneath Dementia
5:10 The Human Spirit and Inclusion
6:13 Lessons for the Next Generation
8:28 The Words That Changed Dan’s Life
14:53 How Dan and Sami Met
15:33 Sami’s Awakening
17:42 EMET: Truth and Responsibility
19:35 Why Sami’s Story Still Matters
21:54 Researching and Preserving Testimony
23:02 Friendship and Chosen Family
25:33 I Am What I Choose to Be
27:25 Closing

HASHTAGS

#ItsAllAboutTheChildren #Upstander #Testimony #Resilience #HMTC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

It’s All About the Children | Ep. 684: Dan Cohen — A Father’s Awakening, Part 1 | HMTC

A son’s memory of his father becomes a lesson in love, perspective, and inclusion. Carin Bail and Sami Steigmann welcome entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and storyteller Dan Cohen for Part 1 of a deeply personal conversation.

Dan recalls the unconditional encouragement he received from his father, Herbie, and the realization that each member of his family experienced that love through a different lens. He explains why people should offer a “living eulogy,” sharing gratitude and affection while loved ones can still hear it.

When Herbie developed dementia after a stroke, Dan learned to accept him as he was, meet him where he was, and continue including him in family life. A joyful day at the racetrack revealed that the loving person Dan remembered was still present. Together, Carin, Sami, and Dan explore empathy, caregiving, resilience, and the lasting power of helping every person feel seen and valued.

It’s All About the Children on hmTv | Hosts: Carin Bail and Sami Steigmann | Guest: Dan Cohen
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
2:18 Dan Cohen’s “Part Two” Journey
3:01 His Father’s Unconditional Love
8:19 Perspective, Words, and Empathy
9:32 A Living Eulogy
12:02 A Family’s Experience with Dementia
14:58 Sami’s Story of His Mother
16:06 Meeting Loved Ones Where They Are
19:16 Finding Joy in Repeated Moments
20:25 The Importance of Inclusion
23:28 One Unforgettable Day at the Track
25:22 Closing

HASHTAGS

#ItsAllAboutTheChildren #Empathy #Resilience #Legacy #HMTC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Raised by Survivors | Ep. 683: Ronit Lapid — Yemenite and Sephardic Jewish Heritage | HMTC

A childhood friendship becomes a journey through Jewish memory, culture, and belonging. Bernie Furshpan reconnects with Ronit Lapid, whose family story links Brooklyn, Yemen, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Jerusalem.

Ronit shares how her maternal great-grandmother made the difficult journey from Yemen to Israel before Operation Magic Carpet and how her father’s Sephardic family preserved deep roots in Jerusalem. She reflects on the Meyuchas family legacy, Ladino, beloved recipes, Jewish education, and the choices parents make to keep heritage alive across generations.

Their conversation also honors the friendship between their immigrant fathers, the resilience shaped by family history, and the responsibility to recognize antisemitism without surrendering hope. Through personal memories and inherited traditions, Bernie and Ronit show how understanding where we come from can strengthen identity, deepen empathy, and help future generations carry Jewish life forward with pride and purpose.

Raised by Survivors on hmTv | Host: Bernie Furshpan | Guest: Ronit Lapid
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
0:58 Childhood in Brooklyn
2:32 Their Fathers’ Friendship
4:24 Tracing a Family History
6:28 Journey from Yemen to Israel
9:23 Sephardic Roots and the Meyuchas Legacy
13:41 Food, Ladino, and Tradition
15:25 Preserving Culture in the Diaspora
16:48 An Israeli Identity in America
17:47 Antisemitism and Historical Memory
23:30 Identity, Education, and Responsibility
26:34 Communities Within Israeli Society
29:32 Hope for the Future
31:18 Closing

HASHTAGS

#RaisedBySurvivors #JewishPride #Identity #Resilience #HMTC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Kibitz with Keren | Ep. 682: Doron Keren — What Are We Teaching Our Children? | HMTC

DESCRIPTION

“What you teach your kids is what the future is.” That sentence leads Doron Keren to ask whether the challenges facing young American Jews begin long before college.

On this host-only installment of Kibitz with Keren, Doron examines how K–12 Jewish education can give students the history, identity, critical-thinking skills, and confidence to enter difficult conversations without fear. He considers the roles of Jewish texts, Zionism, American history, classical education, philanthropy, and higher education in shaping thoughtful young adults.

His argument is not to shield students from disagreement or tell them what to think. It is to prepare them to listen, question, build evidence-based arguments, and understand their own inheritance before engaging with someone else’s. The future, he suggests, begins upstream with what families, schools, and communities teach children before they reach campus.

Kibitz with Keren on hmTv | Host: Doron Keren
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
1:21 What we teach becomes the future
2:33 Jewish education and institutional investment
4:08 Questions about higher education
7:51 Why preparation begins before college
10:13 Teaching students how to think
11:36 Building a complete Jewish education
14:06 Which institutions deserve our students?
16:39 An educational pipeline for confidence
17:51 Preparing students for disagreement
19:22 The upstream question
20:26 Questions for future conversations
21:40 Closing

HASHTAGS

#KibitzWithKeren #JewishIdentity #Education #CriticalThinking #HMTC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Education in Motion | Ep. 681: C.J. Burtnick — Teaching the Holocaust Through Stories | HMTC

DESCRIPTION

After sharing lunch with a Holocaust survivor, C.J. Burtnick’s students stand, take an upstander pledge, and explain what they learned. Their words tell her the history has become personal.

On Education in Motion, host Zachary Graulich speaks with the New Jersey social studies teacher about transforming a limited literature unit into a broader Holocaust education program built on testimony, primary sources, museum partnerships, and personal histories. They discuss antisemitism at school, online denial and misinformation, and why the Holocaust should not be a student’s first introduction to Jewish life.

C.J. also reflects on teaching prewar communities, slowing down with artifacts, and showing that no single book or testimony represents every experience. Her former students still return years later to say the Holocaust unit stayed with them, evidence that careful education can build resilience, empathy, and the courage to become an upstander.

Education in Motion on hmTv | Host: Zachary Graulich | Guest: C.J. Burtnick
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🎧
hmtcli.org

📺
buzzsprout.com/2449781
youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
1:10 Choosing a career in education
1:53 Learning across faiths and cultures
3:38 From a novel unit to deeper Holocaust education
5:58 Teaching through testimony and personal histories
8:40 Online misinformation and Holocaust denial
11:23 Teaching students to be human
12:44 When students become upstanders
16:11 Educators remain lifelong learners
17:07 Teaching Jewish life before the Holocaust
19:42 Slowing down with artifacts
23:13 No single story represents every experience
25:00 Reassurance about Holocaust education
27:52 Closing

HASHTAGS

#EducationInMotion #HolocaustEducation #Testimony #MediaLiteracy #HMTC

Support the show