hmTv at HMTC Podcasts

Send us Fan Mail

In Episode 489 of Unmasked. Unfiltered. Unapologetic. on hmTv, host Bali Lerner, Executive Director of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, welcomes Maya Bentwich for a powerful and urgent conversation from Israel.

Maya, an Israeli advocate, former IDF officer, reservist, and high-tech professional, shares her firsthand perspective on life in Israel since October 7, the reality of living under constant threat, and the emotional toll of repeated sirens, shelter runs, and ongoing reserve duty for loved ones on the front lines. She reflects on her work in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, where she guided world leaders and public figures through the devastated communities attacked on October 7 and became a leading voice in the fight against misinformation and propaganda.

Together, Bali and Maya discuss the deeper meaning of Zionism, the danger of social media-driven indoctrination, the persistence of antisemitism in new forms, and the importance of standing proudly and truthfully in defense of Israel and Jewish identity. They also explore Israel’s democratic values, its diversity, its role as a global leader in innovation, and the responsibility of Jews and allies in the diaspora to speak up, share facts, and challenge lies.

This episode is a passionate call to action and a reminder that the battle for truth is not only fought on the battlefield, but in classrooms, on campuses, online, and in everyday conversations.

Tune in for a fearless, fact-based, and deeply moving discussion about resilience, advocacy, identity, and the urgent need to confront hatred with courage and clarity.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In Episode 488 of Legacy Chronicles on hmTv, host Donna Rosenblum welcomes educator, author, and second-generation Holocaust survivor Elaine Culbertson for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation about family legacy, inherited trauma, and the responsibility to remember.

Elaine reflects on her parents’ survival during the Holocaust, their lives in Poland, and the painful losses that shaped her family’s story. She shares what it was like growing up in a home shaped by Yiddish language, survivor memories, and the unspoken divide between life inside the house and the outside American world. Through moving stories from her childhood, Elaine offers powerful insight into the second-generation experience and the lasting impact of being raised by survivor parents.

The conversation also explores Elaine’s path into Holocaust education, from her years as an English teacher in Philadelphia to her work helping develop Holocaust curriculum and her connection to the groundbreaking teachings of Vladka Meed. Together, Donna and Elaine discuss the importance of spiritual resistance, the persistence of antisemitism, and why Holocaust education remains as urgent as ever.

This episode is a moving reminder that memory is not only about the past. It is a living legacy carried forward through stories, teaching, and the courage to speak.

Tune in for an honest and powerful discussion about survival, identity, education, and the enduring responsibility to honor the past.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In Episode 487 of Education in Motion on hmTv, host Zachary Graulich, Assistant Director of Education at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, sits down with Dr. Janet Brill, bestselling author and researcher, for a powerful conversation about memory, resilience, and the responsibility to bear witness.

Dr. Brill shares the extraordinary story behind her book Little Edna’s War, which recounts the remarkable survival of her mother-in-law, Edna. Born in Warsaw in 1934, Edna endured the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto, survived on the Aryan side under a false Catholic identity, and joined the Polish Home Army as a courier, fighting the Nazis at just nine years old.

Drawing from extensive historical research and testimony recorded by the USC Shoah Foundation, Dr. Brill wrote the memoir in Edna’s voice to ensure that her story would never be lost.

In this moving episode, Zachary and Janet explore the power of personal testimony in Holocaust education, the importance of confronting hate and indifference, and the responsibility of future generations to continue telling these stories. Through Edna’s remarkable courage and the life she built after the war, listeners are reminded that resilience, gratitude, and moral courage can shape history.

Tune in for an unforgettable conversation about survival, legacy, and why remembering the past is essential to protecting the future.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Ep 486
Voices Illuminated with Judy Liman featuring Freida Rothman | hmTv

In this inspiring episode of Voices Illuminated on hmTv, host Judy Liman welcomes celebrated jewelry designer and entrepreneur Freida Rothman for a powerful conversation about creativity, identity, resilience, and purpose.

Freida shares the remarkable story behind building her globally recognized luxury jewelry brand, rooted in her upbringing in Brooklyn and inspired by the vibrant spirit of New York City. She reflects on how her heritage, family values, and personal experiences shaped both her artistic vision and her commitment to empowering women.

Throughout the conversation, Judy and Freida explore the intersection of art, culture, and perseverance, discussing the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of authenticity, and how meaningful design can tell stories that connect people across generations.

This episode shines a light on how passion, courage, and creativity can transform ideas into impact while reminding us that the most powerful voices are those that stay true to who they are.

A thoughtful and uplifting conversation about innovation, heritage, and the power of purpose.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Ep 485: Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and guest Vivace Maxvictor

In this powerful episode of Ordinary Heroes on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with Vivace Maxvictor to explore an extraordinary story of resilience, healing, and transformation.

Born into a Jewish family in Iran, Vivace grew up in an environment marked by fear, violence, and profound personal trauma. Despite these early hardships, she pursued a career in medicine and worked for twelve years as a surgical physician assistant. Yet professional success did not bring the fulfillment she longed for, prompting a deep personal reckoning about purpose, identity, and the true meaning of achievement.

In this candid conversation, Vivace shares how she confronted painful memories, navigated periods of deep despair, and ultimately discovered the power of self-awareness, personal responsibility, and inner grace. She discusses the difference between post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth, the importance of validating pain without surrendering to it, and the idea that each of us carries a “treasure box” of potential waiting to be opened.

Through honesty and reflection, Vivace offers an inspiring reminder that even the most difficult experiences can become the foundation for strength, purpose, and compassion.

This episode of Ordinary Heroes is a moving testament to the human capacity to transform pain into power and to live authentically with courage and hope.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In Episode 484 of Raised by Survivors on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes his longtime friend Eti Znamirowski LeMoullec for a moving and deeply personal conversation about growing up as the daughter of two Holocaust survivors. Eti shares how Holocaust stories were part of everyday life in her home from her earliest memories, told not through fear, but through love, resilience, and the message that her parents had survived and built a family, making them the winners.

Together, Bernie and Eti reflect on the values passed down by survivor parents, including gratitude, family devotion, hard work, optimism, tzedakah, and the importance of never taking anything for granted. Eti recounts remarkable stories of her parents’ survival, including her father’s escape from Auschwitz, his role helping refugees after the war, and the extraordinary way her parents’ lives became intertwined through fate and courage.

The episode also explores how memory is carried forward across generations, the emotional impact of returning to Poland with survivor parents, and the lasting lessons young people can learn from those who endured unthinkable loss yet built lives rooted in love, generosity, and hope. With warmth, humor, and heartfelt remembrance, this episode is a tribute to survivor legacy and the enduring strength of family.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In Part 2 of "Inheriting Memory," host Rebecca Saparacio continues her conversation with Degi Ruben, a third-generation Holocaust descendant. Degi shares how the legacy of her grandparents’ survival, as well as her mother’s experiences as a child of survivors, has shaped her worldview, sense of responsibility, and commitment to Jewish education. They discuss how inherited trauma can subtly shape parenting, why teaching the Holocaust in its specificity remains crucial, and what gives her hope for preserving this history. With a focus on embracing Judaism as a living, joyful experience, Degi offers a heartfelt message on how to combat hate by actively celebrating and passing down Jewish identity. This episode is an inspiring reflection on resilience, legacy, and the power of education.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Ep 482: Inheriting Memory (Part 1)
Host: Rebecca Saparacio
Guest: Degi Ruben

In this episode of Inheriting Memory on hmTv, host Rebecca Saparacio speaks with Degi Ruben about what it means to grow up as a third-generation descendant of Holocaust survivors and how family history continues to shape identity across generations.

Born in Israel and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Degi shares the story of her family’s journey, beginning with her mother, a second-generation daughter of Holocaust survivors, and the powerful legacy passed down through their family. She reflects on growing up in a household where the Holocaust was openly discussed yet woven naturally into everyday life.

Degi recounts the remarkable stories of her grandparents, including her grandmother’s survival in a brutal slave labor camp where she courageously attempted to sabotage bullets being manufactured for the Nazi war effort. Through these stories, listeners gain insight into the resilience, courage, and determination that allowed survivors to rebuild their lives after the war.

Part one of this conversation explores how memory is inherited through family stories, humor, openness, and education, and how these experiences shaped Degi’s understanding of history, identity, and responsibility.

A thoughtful and moving discussion about generational memory, resilience, and the enduring impact of Holocaust history on families today.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Ep 481: Putting the Brakes on Bullying
Host: Samantha Sosnik
Guests: Allan and Janice Katz

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Putting the Brakes on Bullying on hmTv, host Samantha Sosnik welcomes Allan and Janice Katz for an extraordinary conversation about resilience, gratitude, and the life-changing impact of human kindness.

Allan shares his remarkable journey of surviving pancreatic cancer and later receiving a life-saving kidney transplant. Together, Allan and Janice recount the emotional and complex experience surrounding the transplant, including the profound generosity of an organ donor and the powerful moment they met the donor’s family.

Beyond survival, this experience reshaped their lives. Allan transitioned from a high-level career on Wall Street to working with the Hanley Foundation, helping people struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. Janice, inspired by her own experiences and the support she received through therapy, returned to school to become a mental health counselor.

This episode is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the incredible impact that compassion, generosity, and purpose can have on others. Through their story, Allan and Janice remind us that even in the darkest moments, kindness and connection can lead to hope, healing, and a renewed commitment to helping others.

A powerful conversation about gratitude, perspective, and why choosing kindness can change lives.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Ep 480: Raised by Survivors with Bernie Furshpan and guest Sandy Pensak

In this deeply personal episode of Raised by Survivors on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with fellow second-generation Holocaust survivor Sandy Pensak to reflect on what it was like growing up as the child of parents who endured the unimaginable.

Sandy shares the story of her parents, who survived multiple forced labor camps during the Holocaust and later rebuilt their lives in America, operating a small luncheonette in Queens while raising their family. Like many children of survivors, Sandy explains that the trauma of the Holocaust was rarely spoken about during her early years, yet it shaped her childhood in powerful and lasting ways.

The conversation explores the quiet signals that revealed their parents’ past, the moment Sandy’s mother first spoke openly about her experiences for a school project interview with her granddaughter, and the emotional legacy carried by the second generation. Bernie and Sandy also reflect on the values instilled by their survivor parents: resilience, gratitude for life’s simplest blessings, and a deep commitment to education.

As a longtime educator and former school principal, Sandy discusses the importance of Holocaust education in today’s world and the responsibility of younger generations to continue remembering and teaching these stories. Together, Bernie and Sandy honor the lives of their parents while emphasizing why the lessons of the Holocaust remain urgently relevant.

This moving conversation is a tribute to the strength of survivors, the gratitude of their children, and the enduring hope that education and remembrance can help build a more compassionate future.

Support the show