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hmTv | Humanity Matters Series
Episode 449 – The Israeli Bond (Part 2)
Host: Gal Swisa Cohen
Guest: Amit Yaacov

In Part 2 of their in-depth discussion, Gal Swisa Cohen and IDF reserve captain Amit Yaacov move from history into reality: what actually happens when a Haredi soldier enters the Israeli army?

Why can’t Israel simply draft the Haredim and end the controversy? The answer, they explain, lies not only in politics but in culture and identity. Amit describes the Haredi way of life as a closed communal structure developed over centuries in the diaspora, designed to preserve religious practice and protect it from outside influence. The IDF, by contrast, is a shared national institution built on integration.

The conversation explores the accommodations the army has created — strict kosher standards, Torah study time, and gender-separate frameworks — and the limits of those efforts. From officer training to technical instruction, the structure of the military inevitably exposes soldiers to broader Israeli society, which many Haredi families fear could erode their religious lifestyle.

Part 2 reveals why the debate is so emotionally charged: the issue is not only equality of service, but the clash between a national army meant to unify citizens and a community determined to preserve its identity.

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hmTv | Humanity Matters Series
Episode 448 – The Israeli Bond (Part 1)
Host: Gal Swisa Cohen
Guest: Amit Yaacov

In this opening episode of the Israel Today mini-series, Gal Swisa Cohen sits down with IDF reserve captain and former Head of the Haredi Department in the Israeli Ground Forces, Amit Yaacov, to unpack one of the most explosive debates in Israel today: the Haredi draft.

Often called the conscription law, and by others the draft-dodging law, the issue reaches far beyond military policy. It touches religion, law, equality, coalition politics, and the very social contract of Israeli society. Why were yeshiva students originally exempted from service? How did a decision affecting 400 students in Israel’s early years grow into tens of thousands today? And why has the question returned now as a national crisis?

Together, Gal and Amit trace the history from David Ben-Gurion’s original compromise, through the Tal Law and Supreme Court rulings, to the current moment in which the legal framework has expired and the country is grappling with what fairness and shared responsibility really mean.

Part 1 lays the foundation for understanding the debate: not as a simple religious versus secular argument, but as a complicated balance between Torah study, national defense, and the principle that every citizen shares the burden of protecting the state.

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hmTv | Humanity Matters Series
Episode 447 – The Fog of War and Humanity (Part 3)
Host: Richard Acritelli
Guest: Mike Williams

In the concluding chapter of his story, Air Force veteran Mike Williams reflects on the war that followed him home.

After returning from Ubon Air Base in Thailand in 1970, Mike built a life, raised a family, and pursued education and a career, but the emotional impact of service did not disappear. Years later he came to recognize symptoms of PTSD, including anger, guilt, and recurring memories triggered by violence and blood. He recounts a haunting incident he witnessed overseas, an event that stayed with him for decades and shaped his understanding of trauma and survivor’s guilt.

Mike also speaks candidly about the long-term consequences of Agent Orange exposure, the health challenges faced by many Vietnam-era veterans and their families, and the struggle for recognition and care. Through counseling, veteran support groups, and his work as an American Legion chaplain, he has learned the importance of talking openly about mental health and supporting fellow veterans.

Part 3 completes Mike’s journey, from service in Southeast Asia to the lifelong process of healing and helping others. His story highlights a powerful truth: the war does not always end when a soldier comes home, but understanding, community, and compassion can make the difference in moving forward.

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hmTv | Humanity Matters Series
Episode 446 – The Fog of War and Humanity (Part 2)
Host: Richard Acritelli
Guest: Mike Williams

In Part 2 of his story, Air Force veteran Mike Williams moves from stateside service into the reality of the Vietnam War in Southeast Asia.

After building a life with his young wife while stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Mike receives orders sending him to Ubon Air Base in Thailand, near the Laotian border. What follows is culture shock, a 26-hour journey across the Pacific, and an immediate immersion into the heat, disease outbreaks, and operational intensity of a forward air base supporting combat operations over the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Mike describes the demanding pace of 12-hour shifts keeping F-4 fighters and AC-130 gunships mission-ready, the little-known use of early laser-guided bombs and trail sensors, and the constant awareness that even a base outside Vietnam was still a combat zone. He recounts enemy sapper attacks on the base, working under aircraft while gunfire erupted around him, and the reality that every service member on the installation was a target.

He also shares a sobering chapter many veterans recognize: exposure to Agent Orange. Sprayed regularly around the base perimeter for defoliation, the chemical left lasting health effects and a long struggle for recognition and care after the war.

This episode reveals the hidden side of the air war in Southeast Asia and the enduring physical and emotional impact carried home by those who served.

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Podcast Description – hmTv | Humanity Matters Series
Episode 445 – The Fog of War and Humanity (Part 1)
Host: Richard Acritelli
Guest: Mike Williams

In Part 1 of this new veteran series, Richard Acritelli sits down with Air Force veteran Mike Williams to trace the journey that led a Queens kid into the Vietnam era military.

Mike reflects on growing up in Ridgewood, New York, living in his mother’s storefront business, attending Catholic school with the Franciscan brothers, and learning early lessons about hardship, discipline, and responsibility. He shares vivid memories of a post-war immigrant neighborhood, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the move from city life to suburban Long Island just as the country was changing in the early 1960s.

As friends began receiving draft notices, reality set in. Rather than wait, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, beginning a path that took him from Fort Hamilton to basic training in Texas, technical school in Illinois, and eventually Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, a critical hub during the Vietnam War. He recounts the culture shock of military life, the discipline of training, and the sobering awareness of the war’s human cost at a base where fallen service members returned home.

This opening episode sets the foundation for Mike’s wartime story, exploring how ordinary young Americans moved from adolescence to responsibility almost overnight. It is a portrait of upbringing, service, and the life experiences that shaped a generation before they ever set foot near a battlefield.

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hmTv | Humanity Matters Series
Episode 444 – Habits of a Whole Heart
Host: Arnie Herz
Guest: Dr. Valentin Fuster

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Arnie Herz welcomes one of the most respected physicians in the world, legendary cardiologist Dr. Valentin Fuster. A global leader in cardiovascular research, prevention, and patient care, Dr. Fuster has spent decades studying not only how the heart functions, but how human behavior, stress, purpose, and relationships shape health and longevity.

The conversation moves far beyond medicine. Dr. Fuster explains why most heart disease is not primarily biological but behavioral, driven by lifestyle, sleep, stress, and daily choices. He challenges the modern culture of over-consumption and warns that technology and artificial intelligence, while valuable, must never replace empathy in the doctor-patient relationship. As he memorably puts it, physicians should treat people, not statistics.

Arnie also shares his own experience as Dr. Fuster’s patient and the life-changing decision to delay surgery, illustrating the importance of individualized care and thoughtful judgment over reflexive intervention.

The episode culminates in Dr. Fuster’s guiding philosophy for living a meaningful life, the “Four T’s”: time to reflect, talent to discover, transmit positivity, and tutoring through mentorship and listening. His message is clear: heart health begins in the mind, and a healthy society depends on compassion, education, and human connection.

This is not just a conversation about cardiology. It is a conversation about how to live well, care for others, and remain human in an increasingly technological world.

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hmTv
The UN, Society, and Antisemitism – Episode 443 (Part 2)
Host: Susanne Seperson
Guest: Elias Saratovsky

In Part 2 of The UN, Society, and Antisemitism, host Susanne Seperson continues her in-depth conversation with Elias Saratovsky, President and CEO of the Birthright Israel Foundation. The discussion moves from personal identity and education to some of today’s most difficult public debates, including campus hostility toward Jewish students, the influence of social media, and the growing politicization of attitudes toward Israel.

Saratovsky explains how Birthright Israel approaches participants who arrive with skepticism or challenging views, emphasizing that the program is not designed to impose opinions but to provide firsthand experience and understanding. The conversation examines how online misinformation, algorithms, and global narratives shape perceptions of Israel and contribute to rising antisemitism, particularly among younger generations.

Seperson and Saratovsky also address broader international issues, including reactions at the United Nations, accusations against Israel in the Gaza war, and the difference between military conflict and public opinion. They discuss whether the Jewish community should feel fear in the United States and explore practical responses, from civic engagement and education to immersive experiences and direct dialogue.

The episode concludes with a forward-looking message: strengthening Jewish identity through positive experiences, meaningful relationships, and real-world encounters may be the most effective long-term response to antisemitism. Part 2 offers a candid and thoughtful exchange about advocacy, perception, and the responsibility of individuals and institutions in shaping understanding for the next generation.

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The UN, Society, and Antisemitism – Episode 442 (Part 1)
Host: Susanne Seperson
Guest: Elias Saratovsky

In this opening installment of The UN, Society, and Antisemitism, host Susanne Seperson welcomes Elias Saratovsky, President and CEO of the Birthright Israel Foundation. Saratovsky shares his personal story as the grandson of Holocaust survivors and the child of Soviet Jewish immigrants who came to America seeking freedom and dignity. He reflects on growing up with a strong awareness of antisemitism but little formal Jewish practice, and how a last-minute acceptance onto one of the very first Birthright Israel trips in 1999 transformed his identity and life direction.

The conversation explores how firsthand experiences in Israel can shape Jewish identity, strengthen resilience, and counter rising antisemitism, particularly on college campuses. Saratovsky discusses the mission of Birthright Israel, its expanded programs including Onward internships and post-October 7 volunteer initiatives, and why immersive engagement may be more effective than classroom learning alone.

Seperson and Saratovsky also address difficult questions: the increase of anti-Jewish hostility in the United States, the role of education, misconceptions about Zionism, and the growing pressures faced by Jewish students. Together they examine whether today’s protests reflect criticism of policy or something deeper about Western values and Jewish belonging.

Part 1 sets the stage for a thoughtful and candid discussion about identity, history, and the challenges confronting Jewish communities today, while pointing toward practical ways individuals and institutions can respond.

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The Israeli Bond (hmTv)
Episode 441 | Part 2 – Gal Swisa Cohen with Rick Lewis

In Part 2 of The Israeli Bond, host Gal Swisa Cohen continues her powerful conversation with Rick Lewis, CEO of the Mid-Island YJCC and the Suffolk YJCC. Moving beyond headlines and into lived experience, Rick explains why Jewish institutions today cannot afford silence and why visibility, pride, and community engagement have become essential leadership responsibilities.

Rick reflects on hosting the UJA Shine a Light gatherings during a period of fear and rising antisemitism, sharing why he insisted the message be clear: the Jewish community will not hide. He discusses security, public courage, and the balance between protecting families and preserving identity in difficult times.

The conversation also explores his recent leadership delegation visit to Israel after October 7. Seeing damaged homes, border communities, and the Nova site firsthand reshaped his understanding of Israel and deepened his personal connection to Judaism. Rick opens up about how those experiences affected his family life, his Shabbat practices, and his outlook on Jewish continuity in America.

Gal and Rick address a difficult reality: community engagement surged after October 7 but is already beginning to fade. They discuss memorialization efforts, the responsibility of Jewish institutions, and how education, participation, and simple acts of Jewish pride can sustain connection for the next generation.

Rick’s message to American Jews is straightforward: get involved, learn, ask questions, and show up. Jewish identity is strengthened not only in crisis, but in everyday participation.

A candid, thoughtful, and often personal discussion about leadership, memory, Israel, and what it means to remain visible and proud in uncertain times.

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Podcast Description – The Israeli Bond (hmTv)
Episode 440 – Rick Lewis (Part 1)
Host: Gal Swisa Cohen

In this compelling first installment of The Israeli Bond, host Gal Swisa Cohen sits down with veteran Jewish community leader Rick Lewis, CEO of the Mid-Island YJCC and Suffolk YJCC. After more than four decades in Jewish communal service, Rick has built a reputation as a turnaround specialist who strengthens institutions and builds welcoming communities. But the events of October 7th changed his role, and his voice, in ways he never expected.

Rick shares how the JCCs transitioned from quietly expressing Jewish identity to openly advocating for Israel, educating the broader public, and supporting the hostages and their families. He reflects on the difficult decision to risk membership and public criticism in order to stand on principle, and explains why he believes Jewish organizations must sometimes lead rather than remain neutral.

The conversation also explores the powerful local impact of Long Island hostage Omer Neutra, the meaning of community solidarity, and the creation of the Long Island Jewish Coalition, an effort to unite Jewish institutions during a moment of crisis.

This episode is a candid look at leadership under pressure, the responsibilities of communal institutions, and how one executive chose conviction over comfort. Stay tuned for Part 2, where the discussion continues into antisemitism today and how the community is responding.

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