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Influential Origins | Ep. 712: Kim Keiserman, Leadership and Public Service, Part 3 | HMTC

What does responsible leadership look like when affordability, public safety, antisemitism, and community trust all demand attention?

In Part 3 of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel speaks with New York State Assembly candidate Kim Keiserman about challenges facing Long Island’s North Shore. They examine housing, utility and health care costs, local planning, infrastructure, water protection, and the pressures affecting seniors, young families, and working people.

The conversation also addresses consent laws, campus safety, free speech, the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and the responsibility to protect every community from hatred and collective blame. Kim describes an approach to leadership grounded in precise language, evidence, dialogue, and accountability. She also responds to campaign attacks and explains why using accusations of antisemitism as a political weapon can weaken the fight against genuine hate.

The series concludes with a challenge for public officials: listen across differences, defend human dignity, pursue practical solutions, and become upstanders when courage carries a political cost.

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

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
0:47 Long Island’s Affordability Crisis
3:27 Housing Diversity and Local Planning
9:26 Utility Costs and Data Centers
12:24 Health Care Costs and Access
17:25 Consent and Legal Protections
23:47 The IHRA Definition and Antisemitism
34:28 Precise Language and Constructive Dialogue
41:45 Education Against Hate and Harassment
47:55 Jewish Voters and Local Politics
54:59 Water, Infrastructure, and the Aquifer
56:41 Campaign Attacks and Antisemitism
1:01:28 The Responsibility of Upstander Leadership
1:05:20 Closing

HASHTAGS

#InfluentialOrigins #KimKeiserman #PublicService #Antisemitism #HMTC

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Influential Origins | Ep. 711: Kim Keiserman, Teaching History After 9/11, Part 2 | HMTC

Kim Keiserman had lived in Port Washington for only two months when September 11 changed her new community forever.

In Part 2 of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel continues his conversation with Kim about moving from the South to New York, embracing cultural and religious diversity, and finding a home in Port Washington’s vibrant civic life.

Kim recalls starting a new teaching position two days before the attacks and discovering her community through grief, first responders, and families whose lives were permanently changed. Alan shares the story of firefighter and musician Christopher Pickford, who died after running into the second tower.

Their conversation asks how schools should teach September 11 and other difficult histories. Kim advocates rigorous, age-appropriate instruction centered on facts, courage, and multiple perspectives while rejecting victim-blaming and collective blame. She explains how media literacy, critical thinking, project-based learning, and respectful collaboration can help students recognize misinformation, resist hatred, and translate historical understanding into civic responsibility.

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

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
1:22 From the South to New York
3:36 Faith and Cultural Diversity
6:48 Civic Life in Port Washington
9:12 A Newcomer Experiences September 11
10:28 First Responders and the Lasting Impact
14:42 Remembering Christopher Pickford
16:23 How Should Schools Teach September 11?
19:21 Misinformation and Media Literacy
20:51 Rejecting Collective Blame
23:56 Teaching History and Ideology
25:13 Leadership After September 11
29:08 Rigorous History and Student-Centered Learning
31:24 Closing

HASHTAGS

#InfluentialOrigins #KimKeiserman #September11 #MediaLiteracy #HMTC

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Influential Origins | Ep. 710: Kim Keiserman, Education and Civic Responsibility, Part 1 | HMTC

Moving between ten addresses and eight schools before graduation taught Kim Keiserman how deeply community, education, and belonging shape a young person’s life.

On Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel welcomes educator and community leader Kim Keiserman for Part 1 of a conversation about the experiences that shaped her commitment to public education and civic responsibility. Kim traces her journey from studying government and history at William & Mary to teaching social studies at St. Peter’s Prep, developing curricula, and leading service projects.

She explains how literature, faith, family conversations, and exposure to different communities strengthened her belief in freedom of conscience, critical thinking, and democratic participation. Kim also describes designing classrooms around “respectful curiosity” and helping students learn across differences. Their conversation closes with a vital lesson: people can learn to become perpetrators or bystanders, but through education and action, they can also learn altruism, courage, and responsibility for others.

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

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
0:57 Childhood Across Ten Addresses
1:53 Government, History, and Civic Engagement
3:46 How Moving Shaped Connection and Curiosity
6:06 Public Education and Community Support
9:35 Faith, Human Dignity, and the Golden Rule
12:24 Freedom of Conscience and Democracy
14:21 A William & Mary Family Story
16:24 Choosing Education and Public Service
18:03 Teaching at St. Peter’s Prep
22:19 Service Learning in Practice
23:33 Curriculum Design and Respectful Curiosity
25:19 Perpetrators, Bystanders, and Rescuers
28:03 Closing

HASHTAGS

#InfluentialOrigins #KimKeiserman #PublicEducation #CivicEngagement #HMTC

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The UN, Society, and Antisemitism | Ep. 709: Ofir Dayan, Reclaiming the Narrative | HMTC

Why did Israel shift in the Western imagination from vulnerable underdog to alleged oppressor?

On The UN, Society, and Antisemitism, host Dr. Susanne Seperson speaks with Israeli researcher and author Ofir Dayan about her new book, Intifada Globalized: Why Young Westerners Are Turning Away from Israel.

Drawing on her service in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, five years at Columbia University, and current research on antisemitism and the delegitimization of Israel, Ofir examines how campus activism, social media, political polarization, and distorted historical narratives shape attitudes toward Israel and Jewish identity.

She argues that the Jewish community must reclaim the right to define Zionism, unite around a coherent story of Indigenous return and self-determination, and build stronger representation across universities, civil society, media, and government. Her central message is practical and hopeful: everyone can contribute, publicly or privately, and there is a place for every person willing to act.

The UN, Society, and Antisemitism on hmTv | Host: Dr. Susanne Seperson | Guest: Ofir Dayan
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
1:42 From the IDF to Columbia University
4:46 Growing Up in Ma’ale Shomron
7:34 Yad Vashem and Holocaust Inversion
10:25 Reclaiming the Zionist Narrative
15:30 Betar, Identity, and Jewish Belonging
17:46 Columbia After October 7
20:44 Unity Around Jewish Self-Determination
22:26 Why Israel Stopped Being the Underdog
28:06 Politics and University Leadership
30:56 Title VI and Institutional Accountability
35:53 Organizing for the Next Five Years
38:07 A Place for Every Person to Contribute
39:29 Closing

HASHTAGS

#TheUNSocietyAndAntisemitism #OfirDayan #CampusAntisemitism #JewishIdentity #HMTC

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It's All About the Children | Ep. 708: Sheikh Musa Drammeh, Building Bridges, Part 2 | HMTC

In Part 2, Sheikh Musa Drammeh challenges extremist interpretations of Islam and explains why he believes the Quran affirms religious freedom, shared Abrahamic traditions, and the Jewish connection to the Holy Land.

Carin Bail and Sami Steigmann continue their conversation with the educator and interfaith leader, tracing the path from the Muslim school he and his wife opened in the Bronx on September 11, 2001, to a curriculum built around peacebuilding.

Sheikh Musa introduces STEM’d Up, an educational model combining science, technology, engineering, mathematics, financial literacy, diversity, unity, and peace. He describes programs that bring Muslim and Jewish children together to learn, socialize, and challenge prejudice before hatred takes root.

The discussion also addresses October 7, antisemitism, political leadership, and the responsibility to educate young people. His central argument is clear: strong academic preparation must be matched by humanity, moral courage, and sustained relationships across communities.

It's All About the Children on hmTv | Hosts: Carin Bail and Sami Steigmann | Guest: Sheikh Musa Drammeh
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
0:26 Religious Freedom and Islamic Interpretation
2:26 How Religious Beliefs Become Distorted
2:54 Hadith, Politics, and Extremism
6:40 Shared Abrahamic Foundations
9:56 Introducing STEM’d Up
11:14 Opening a Muslim School on September 11
18:54 Interfaith Education Through Children
19:13 Teaching October 7
22:18 Why Young People Must Be Educated
22:35 Leadership and Civic Responsibility
23:42 Expanding STEM’d Up in Schools
26:40 Closing

HASHTAGS

#ItsAllAboutTheChildren #InterfaithDialogue #PeaceEducation #STEMEducation #HMTC

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How can we teach children to respect one another, take responsibility, and challenge hatred? It begins with the example we set and the conversations we are willing to have.

In Part 1 of this conversation, hosts Carin Bail and Holocaust survivor Sami Steigman welcome educator, imam, and community organizer Sheikh Musa Drammeh. Born in The Gambia and raised in Senegal, Sheikh Musa shares his journey to New York in 1986 and the commitment to service that has shaped his life.

His story begins at age nine, when he organized a neighborhood cleanup to put his religious values into practice. Years later, helping fellow West African immigrants find housing led him into real estate. A desire to expand financial opportunities for his community brought him to Wall Street, where he built a career and met his future wife.

Throughout the conversation, one principle stands out: when you see a problem, take responsibility for helping solve it.

Reflecting on his participation in the March of the Living at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Sheikh Musa recalls a challenge that continues to guide his work: after witnessing the worst of humanity, return home and demonstrate its best.

Sami explains why Holocaust education must extend beyond remembrance to teach what hatred can do to a person, a community, a nation, and the world. He calls for interfaith dialogue that brings Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Holocaust survivors together to listen, learn, and disagree respectfully.

The discussion also explores Sheikh Musa’s Sufi upbringing, cultural identity, civic engagement, and access to services for people with disabilities. In the closing minutes, he shares his perspective on cultural dress and the connections among Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions, beginning a discussion of religious interpretation that continues in Part 2.

Topics include:

• Turning personal values into community action
• Immigration, opportunity, and civic responsibility
• Holocaust education and the consequences of hatred
• Teaching young people accountability and respect
• Understanding cultural and religious differences
• Building relationships through interfaith dialogue

Join us for Part 2 as Carin, Sami, and Sheikh Musa continue the conversation.

hmTv at HMTC | Humanity Matters
Produced at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.

Explore. Listen. Engage. Subscribe and share to help these conversations reach more people.

#hmTv #HMTC #HumanityMatters #ItsAllAboutTheChildren #SheikhMusaDrammeh #HolocaustEducation #InterfaithDialogue #CommunityLeadership

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The UN, Society and Antisemitism | Ep. 706: Itay Ken-Tor, Preserving October 7 Testimony | HMTC

DESCRIPTION

Two days after the October 7, 2023 attacks, filmmaker Itay Ken-Tor began helping survivors preserve their firsthand accounts. The result is Edut 710, an archive containing more than 2,100 filmed testimonies created with trauma-informed listening, ethical safeguards, and future generations in mind.

On The UN, Society and Antisemitism, host Dr. Susanne Seperson speaks with Itay about the documentary work that prepared him for this mission, including productions for Yad Vashem and A Film Unfinished, an examination of manipulated Nazi footage from the Warsaw Ghetto.

They explore how visual media constructs narratives, why truth requires multiple perspectives and corroborating sources, and how artificial intelligence makes media literacy increasingly urgent.

Itay also explains Edut 710’s searchable digital archive and its commitment to making full testimony accessible. His closing message is both practical and deeply human: listen carefully, question sources, seek different perspectives, and preserve authentic voices before they are lost.

The UN, Society and Antisemitism on hmTv | Host: Dr. Susanne Seperson | Guest: Itay Ken-Tor
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🔗
Explore the testimony archive at edut710.org.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
2:17 Itay’s Path to Documentary Filmmaking
3:32 Founding Edut 710 After October 7
7:48 The Meaning of Edut 710
9:28 Trauma-Informed Listening and Testimony
13:10 Preservation, Tradition, and Progress
15:48 A Film Unfinished and Visual Manipulation
20:02 Facts, Memory, and Multiple Perspectives
23:37 Testimony in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
27:00 Trust, Ethics, and the Viewer
28:07 Preserving Memory Amid Current Events
30:20 Social Media, Education, and Antisemitism
33:05 The Essential Takeaway: Listen
34:31 Closing

HASHTAGS

#TheUNSocietyAndAntisemitism #Edut710 #October7Testimony #MediaLiteracy #HMTC

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Kibitz with Keren | Ep. 705: Sadie Herz, A Witness to a Witness | HMTC

Sadie Herz entered UJA’s Witness Project expecting to learn from a Holocaust survivor. After hearing Christine Keren’s testimony, she realized that learning was not enough. She had become responsible for carrying the story forward.

On Kibitz with Keren, host Doron Keren speaks with the high school senior who was paired with his mother through the program. Sadie explains why survivor testimony creates both intellectual and emotional connections, and why her generation must become “witnesses to a witness.”

The conversation explores Jewish identity, Holocaust education, leadership, work ethic, campus safety, and Sadie’s ambitions in applied mathematics and astrophysics. She also describes experiencing antisemitic harassment at school and how questioning hatred strengthened her determination to educate others.

Through research, teaching, advocacy, and an unapologetic sense of self, Sadie represents a generation prepared to remember, speak, and act. Her message is clear: the future changes only when people choose to change it.

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

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youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
3:51 What Gives Sadie Hope?
4:45 Turning Learning Into Education
5:36 Carrying Christine Keren’s Story
7:54 Why Survivor Testimony Changes Learning
9:23 Becoming a Witness to a Witness
10:05 Identity Before College
12:45 Work and the Value of Money
14:55 Choosing a Supportive College
17:22 Astrophysics and Future Ambitions
19:04 A Strong Jewish Woman in STEM
20:08 Facing Antisemitism at School
23:21 Questioning Hatred and Standing Proud
24:36 Closing

HASHTAGS

#KibitzWithKeren #HolocaustEducation #JewishIdentity #Upstander #HMTC

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Ordinary Heroes | Ep. 704: Julie Budd, From Brooklyn to Sinatra and Beyond | HMTC

At 15, Julie Budd walked into a Las Vegas rehearsal and discovered that the person blowing kisses from the wings was Frank Sinatra. He had personally chosen her to open his show and later asked her to keep the American Songbook alive.

On Ordinary Heroes, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes his friend for a conversation spanning her Brooklyn childhood, Jewish upbringing, early television career, legendary collaborators, and performances at the Metropolitan Room.

Julie explains how family, faith, discipline, and a strong sense of identity protected her while growing up in show business. She also shares her grandmother’s heartbreaking family letters from Europe, memories of Holocaust survivors, and the lesson her mother taught her: be kind because you never know what someone is facing.

Bernie and Julie reflect on antisemitism, misinformation, empathy, critical thinking, and the responsibility to resist cruelty. Through every chapter of her life, Julie returns to optimism, gratitude, and the belief that humanity can still choose a better path.

Ordinary Heroes on hmTv | Host: Bernie Furshpan | Guest: Julie Budd
A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

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youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
3:17 Brooklyn Roots and Jewish Identity
6:09 A Childhood Career in Show Business
9:43 Meeting Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas
13:49 The Metropolitan Room and Lifelong Friendship
15:05 Julie’s Family and Holocaust Memory
22:41 Understanding Trauma and Survival
23:21 A Mother’s Lesson in Empathy
25:04 Compassion for People Seeking Safety
27:34 Antisemitism and Religious Freedom
29:24 Social Media, Misinformation, and Hate
34:47 Education, Critical Thinking, and Moral Clarity
40:03 Choosing Optimism and Moving Forward
42:53 Closing

HASHTAGS

#OrdinaryHeroes #JulieBudd #JewishIdentity #Empathy #HMTC

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