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Influential Origins with Alan Mindel
Guest: Jake Blumencranz — Part 3
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In Part 3 of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel concludes his conversation with Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz with a powerful discussion about America, constitutional freedoms, redistricting, political extremism, free speech, media responsibility, and the future of civic life.

Alan opens with a personal story about his Holocaust survivor father’s deep love for America, despite its flaws, and the belief that the United States remains the greatest nation on earth because of its Constitution, protections, and ongoing struggle to form a more perfect union. Jake reflects on the importance of protecting both the federal and New York State constitutions, especially as debates over redistricting and gerrymandering threaten the principle that voters should choose their representatives — not the other way around.

The conversation explores how safe political districts empower the extremes, weaken the center, and reduce the voice of ordinary voters. Alan and Jake discuss the danger of losing centrist leadership, the rise of far-left and far-right movements, and the way antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric have become common ground for political extremists on both sides.

They also examine the meaning of free speech, freedom of religion, and public safety in a time when intimidation, blocked roads, online threats, and masked harassment are often defended as expression. Jake emphasizes the need to enforce existing laws, protect houses of worship, adopt clear definitions of antisemitism, and make sure communities can live peacefully and safely.

The episode closes with a timely conversation about propaganda, social media, the decline of traditional journalism, misinformation, bot farms, foreign influence, and the need to adapt to a new communications battlefield. Rather than longing for the past, Jake argues that communities must learn to fight for truth in the world as it exists today.

This final part of the conversation is a compelling call for civic responsibility, constitutional integrity, moral clarity, and renewed participation by the “missing middle” in American public life.

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Influential Origins with Alan Mindel
Guest: Jake Blumencranz — Part 2
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In Part 2 of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel continues his conversation with Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, focusing on the growing challenges facing New York, the future of families and businesses in the state, and the alarming rise of antisemitism in public life, education, and civic spaces.

Alan and Jake discuss whether the next generation will be able to build a future in New York, as families confront rising costs, population stagnation, political dysfunction, and questions about safety and belonging. Jake reflects on his belief that New York remains one of the greatest places to live, but warns that poor policy decisions are weakening the state’s promise.

The conversation turns deeply toward the Jewish community’s experience in New York today, including hate crimes, campus antisemitism, the Columbia University protests, and the failure of institutions and prosecutors to enforce laws equally. Jake explains the difference between “the streets” and “the dinner table” — the need to address public intimidation and violence through law enforcement while also confronting the deeper narratives being shaped in schools, online spaces, and community conversations.

Alan and Jake also explore Holocaust education, the misuse of language such as “genocide,” the blurring of moral clarity, and the growing attempts to distort Jewish history by recasting Jews as oppressors rather than as a historically targeted minority. They discuss why accurate Holocaust education remains essential, especially as younger generations are increasingly exposed to misinformation and dangerous ideological framing.

This episode is a frank and urgent conversation about antisemitism, public safety, education, leadership, and the responsibility of elected officials and community leaders to protect truth, law, and the future of New York.

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Ep. 604 — Influential Origins with Alan Mindel
Guest: Jake Blumencranz — Part 1
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In this episode of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel sits down with Jake Blumencranz for a thoughtful conversation about family legacy, public service, education, identity, and leadership.

Jake shares the multigenerational story of his family’s business roots, beginning with Lafayette Metal and Glass and evolving into a nearly century-long legacy in the insurance industry through NFP, an Aon company. He reflects on the influence of his grandfather’s philanthropy, including his longtime role in helping shape Northwell Health, and his father’s commitment to public safety through the Nassau County Police Foundation.

The conversation also explores Jake’s own journey growing up in Jericho, Long Island, his experience as a student with dyslexia and dyscalculia, and how those early challenges shaped his advocacy for children with learning differences. Jake discusses his education at Rice University and the London School of Economics, where his studies in public policy, religion, real estate, urban planning, and economic development helped shape the way he views communities, policy, and social change.

Alan and Jake also reflect on the impact of COVID-19, the divisions it exposed, the challenges facing New York, and Jake’s path into public service. As a member of the New York State Assembly, Jake discusses the importance of bipartisan work, common-sense leadership, and finding ways to deliver meaningful policy results even in a highly partisan environment.

This first part of the conversation offers an insightful look into the origins of Jake Blumencranz’s values, leadership, and commitment to serving Long Island and New York State.

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The Israeli Bond with Gal Swisa Cohen and guest Ofek Ron

In this episode of The Israeli Bond on hmTv, host Gal Swisa Cohen welcomes Ofek Ron, co-founder and CEO of Oshi, a pioneering Israeli food-tech company creating plant-based whole-cut fish fillets.

Ofek shares his journey from animal advocacy to entrepreneurship, explaining why he chose to focus on fish, one of the most over-harvested animals on the planet, and how Oshi is working to redefine the seafood industry with products that look, feel, and taste like real fish.

The conversation also explores the Israeli startup mindset, resilience under pressure, and how Ofek’s military service helped prepare him for the uncertainty of building a company. He shares the extraordinary story of launching Oshi in the United States while serving in the IDF after October 7th, managing investor calls from the field, and leading his team through one of the most difficult moments in Israel’s history.

Gal and Ofek discuss the impact of October 7th on Israeli businesses, the challenges and support Oshi has experienced in the U.S., the company’s expansion into restaurants and retail stores, and its plans to launch in Israel. Ofek also explains Oshi’s crowdfunding campaign, which allows everyday people to invest in the company and become part of its mission.

To learn more about Oshi, visit: www.oshi.com
To explore the crowdfunding campaign, visit: wefunder.com/oshi

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In this episode of Putting the Brakes on Bullying, host Samantha Sosnik welcomes Jeanine Driscoll, Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes and candidate for New York’s 4th Congressional District, for a thoughtful conversation about public service, leadership, family, bullying, and standing up for others.

Jeanine shares how her work helping Nassau County residents understand tax exemptions, assessment appeals, and financial resources has deepened her commitment to serving the community. She reflects on the importance of listening to people, especially seniors, veterans, working families, and those who feel unheard.

Samantha and Jeanine also discuss the emotional impact of bullying, the responsibility of parents and schools, and the need to protect children and vulnerable communities. The conversation expands into the rise of antisemitism, the importance of speaking out against hate, and why kindness, education, and moral courage must begin at home.

This episode is a reminder that leadership is not only about policy — it is about compassion, listening, service, and choosing to be an upstander when others need support.

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