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Influential Origins | Ep. 656: Chuck Lavine: Civil Rights and Rising Antisemitism (Part 1) | HMTC

Growing up as one of the few Jewish children in small Midwestern communities taught Charles D. “Chuck” Lavine how to understand people, recognize danger, and navigate unfamiliar environments. Those early lessons would later become invaluable in the courtroom and the political arena.

In Part 1 of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel speaks with the New York State assemblymember and chair of the Judiciary Committee about his journey from Wisconsin and Michigan to New York Law School, criminal defense practice, local government, and the State Assembly.

Chuck recalls watching police dogs attack children during the civil rights movement and losing people from neighboring communities during the Vietnam War. Those experiences inspired him to become a lawyer and help build a fairer society. As a young public defender, he learned that the attorney’s responsibility is not to judge a client but to protect the integrity of the justice system.

The conversation also explores Jewish immigration, marriage equality, civil rights, American democracy, and the value of vigorous debate. Chuck connects Jewish traditions of questioning and argument with the American commitment to examining competing ideas and seeking consensus.

Alan and Chuck then confront the dramatic rise of antisemitism, the return of accusations questioning Jewish loyalty, and growing political divisions surrounding Israel. Chuck describes Jewish communities as “the canaries in the coal mine,” often recognizing early warning signs before hatred expands toward other groups.

The episode concludes with a candid discussion of criticism of Israel, the Democratic Socialists of America, the meaning many Jews associate with “From the river to the sea,” and the challenge political parties face when disagreement crosses into hostility. Part 2 will examine how both major parties respond when extremists gain influence within their ranks.

Influential Origins on hmTv | Host: Alan Mindel | Guest: New York State Assemblymember Charles D. “Chuck” Lavine

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

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🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781
▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Opening
0:18 Welcome and guest introduction
0:30 Growing up in Wisconsin and Michigan
1:20 Jewish identity in the Upper Midwest
2:43 Vietnam and the civil rights movement
3:52 From Wisconsin to New York City
4:34 Choosing a career in criminal law
5:52 Lessons from working as a public defender
6:54 From practicing laws to writing them
7:54 Democratic politics and civil-rights progress
9:02 Constitutional responsibility and American democracy
9:40 Jewish refugees and the promise of America
10:35 Marriage equality and a pluralistic society
11:24 Rising antisemitism in New York
13:46 Visible hatred and political extremism
16:18 Jews as the canaries in the coal mine
17:07 Torah, truth, and a tradition of argument
18:29 Debate and consensus in American democracy
20:08 Jewish Democrats and political belonging
21:38 Israel, dissent, and democratic criticism
22:58 The DSA, Israel, and troubling political slogans
24:54 The challenge facing both political parties
25:26 Closing and Part 2 preview

──────────────────

#InfluentialOrigins #ChuckLavine #CharlesLavine #NewYorkStateAssembly #CivilRights #Antisemitism #JewishIdentity #AmericanDemocracy #CriminalJustice #MarriageEquality #PublicService #HMTC

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The Fog of War and Humanity | Ep. 655: Keith Godwin: Recovery Through Laughter (Part 3) | HMTC

Keith Godwin was not expected to survive after his car overturned and caught fire in 2000. He lost several fingers, battled depression, and continued struggling with alcohol and drugs. Four years later, he entered recovery and began rebuilding his life one decision at a time.

In Part 3 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli concludes his conversation with United States Marine Corps veteran Keith Godwin. Keith reflects on more than 22 years of sobriety and the life-changing support he received from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including treatment, education, vocational rehabilitation, and a prosthetic hand.

After returning to school, Keith became a counselor and spent two decades helping veterans confront addiction, trauma, and personal struggles. He describes the powerful bond created when veterans share not only their pain, but also laughter, friendship, and hope.

The conversation also explores Keith’s career in comedy, from opening for Gilbert Gottfried and working with comedians Rich Vos and Tim Dillon to co-founding Comedy to Go. Through shows supporting veterans, first responders, recovery groups, and charitable causes, Keith discovered that laughter could become both a bridge and a form of healing.

Keith’s message to his son, fellow veterans, and anyone struggling with the past is simple: acknowledge your mistakes, accept responsibility, and do the next right thing. His journey proves that recovery is possible, laughter can restore quality of life, and surviving can become truly living.

The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv | Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Keith Godwin

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🌐 hmtcli.org
🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781
▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Introduction
0:19 Welcome and Part 2 recap
0:40 Living instead of merely existing
1:08 The fiery car crash that nearly took Keith’s life
1:54 Helping veterans through shared experience
2:39 More than 22 years clean and sober
2:50 How the VA helped Keith rebuild his life
3:25 Returning to the Northport VA
3:53 Humor therapy and veteran camaraderie
4:51 Finding confidence through comedy
5:08 Creating Comedy to Go
5:55 Performing with Rich Vos and Tim Dillon
6:39 The intelligence behind great comedy
7:14 Long Island’s legendary comedians
8:28 Connecting with veterans through shared humor
9:30 Opening for Gilbert Gottfried
10:07 Turning personal struggles into comedy
10:42 The healing power of laughter
11:05 Military comedy and Robin Williams
12:13 Producing comedy and helping others
13:22 Teaching his son to do the next right thing
14:02 How laughter transformed Keith’s life
14:28 Closing reflections
15:11 hmTv outro

──────────────────

#FogOfWarAndHumanity #KeithGodwin #USMarineCorps #MarineVeteran #AddictionRecovery #VeteranRecovery #HumorTherapy #ComedyHeals #DoTheNextRightThing #VeteranSupport #Sobriety #HMTC

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The Fog of War and Humanity | Ep. 654: Keith Godwin: A Marine Battles Addiction (Part 2) | HMTC

Marine Corps leaders did not always know whether Keith Godwin would return from liberty. Yet in the field, he was a skilled and dependable Marine. When senior communications personnel became unavailable during an exercise in Korea, Keith organized the unit’s entire communications operation. A colonel later called it the best setup he had seen.

In Part 2 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli continues his conversation with United States Marine Corps veteran Keith Godwin. Keith speaks candidly about using alcohol to socialize, becoming a functioning alcoholic, entering a military treatment program, and eventually progressing to harder drugs.

Despite his addiction, Keith took tremendous pride in his work as a field radio operator. He explains how Marines established secure communications, used encryption equipment, and trained alongside South Korean forces during the Cold War. He also shares stories from Camp Pendleton, Okinawa, the Philippines, Cherry Point, and a nighttime security incident involving an M60 machine gun loaded with blanks.

The conversation explores the military as a cultural melting pot, the lingering impact of World War II on Okinawa, the contrast between North and South Korea, and the lasting camaraderie among veterans. Keith reflects on visiting the National Museum of the Marine Corps with his son and the bond he shares with the Leathernecks motorcycle club.

Keith never experienced combat, but his service remained a defining part of his life. His story reminds us that military history belongs not only to those who fought in war. Every veteran served something larger than themselves, and every veteran has a story worth hearing.

The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv | Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Keith Godwin

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🌐 hmtcli.org
🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781
▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Introduction
0:19 Welcome and Part 1 recap
1:01 Camp Pendleton and finding trouble
1:23 The military as a cultural melting pot
3:17 Using alcohol to socialize
3:45 Heavy drinking and harder drugs
5:03 Entering a military treatment program
5:28 A functioning alcoholic and capable Marine
5:52 Leading communications during a field exercise
7:10 Pride in performing under pressure
7:32 Rebuilding the American military
9:02 Veteran camaraderie and the Leathernecks
9:47 Visiting the National Museum of the Marine Corps
10:32 The lifelong pride of becoming a Marine
11:45 Serving as a field radio operator
12:42 Size, fights, and being challenged
13:33 Okinawa’s history and tensions with American forces
15:06 The continuing danger of nuclear weapons
15:24 Missing Okinawa’s history for its nightlife
16:32 Rest and recreation in the Philippines
17:21 Returning to America as the Cold War ended
18:37 Field exercises, MREs, and camaraderie
19:55 Training with South Korean forces
20:41 A nighttime security incident with an M60
22:44 Working alongside South Korean troops
23:25 The contrast between North and South Korea
24:25 Every veteran has a military story
24:39 Closing and Part 3 preview
25:05 hmTv outro

──────────────────

#FogOfWarAndHumanity #KeithGodwin #USMarineCorps #MarineVeteran #AddictionRecovery #MilitaryService #Okinawa #SouthKorea #FieldRadioOperator #VeteransStories #MilitaryHistory #HMTC

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The Fog of War and Humanity | Ep. 653: Keith Godwin: From Troubled Teen to U.S. Marine (Part 1) | HMTC

An arrest nearly ended Keith Godwin’s military future before it began. Drawn to drugs, alcohol, fights, and chaos as a teenager, Keith was the person other parents warned their children to avoid. He was not heartless, but he was always searching for trouble.

In Part 1 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli speaks with United States Marine Corps veteran Keith Godwin about growing up in Uniondale and Levittown, barely graduating from high school, and becoming the only one among several friends to follow through on their plan to enter the Marines.

Keith recalls how his recruiter supported him in court, helping preserve his opportunity to enlist. After accepting an open contract, he became a field radio operator and served with units at Cherry Point, Okinawa, and Korea. At Parris Island, his belligerent attitude and resistance to authority nearly caused him to be removed from his platoon. One senior drill instructor saw potential in him and gave him another chance.

The conversation also explores military drinking culture, Keith’s escalating problems with alcohol and drugs, and the reckless fights that followed him overseas. Beneath the humor and unfiltered stories is a deeper transformation. The young man who once resisted discipline eventually became profoundly proud of earning the title of Marine.

Keith later received life-changing support from the Department of Veterans Affairs, returned to school, became a therapist, and began using his experiences to help veterans and others struggling with addiction. Part 1 lays the foundation for his continuing journey from chaos to recovery and service.

The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv | Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Keith Godwin

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🌐 hmtcli.org
🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781
▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Introduction
0:19 Welcome and guest introduction
1:03 Growing up in Uniondale and Levittown
2:11 Family struggles and childhood independence
3:06 High school, drugs, and three circles of friends
4:03 Discovering photography and athletics
5:20 Ronald Reagan visits Parris Island
5:50 Meeting Presidents Reagan and Clinton
8:54 Remembering more than one mistake
10:06 Barely graduating from high school
11:12 An arrest threatens Keith’s military future
12:42 Searching for trouble and chaos
13:49 Determined to become a Marine
15:04 Accepting an open contract
15:23 Becoming a field radio operator
16:12 Discipline and trouble at Parris Island
17:34 The permanent digging crew
18:16 A drill instructor offers another chance
18:48 The pride of becoming a Marine
19:38 How the VA helped save Keith’s life
20:18 Alcohol, drugs, and military culture
21:55 Addiction as a coping mechanism
22:41 Fighting in Okinawa
23:51 Overseas service and more legal trouble
24:45 Closing and Part 2 preview
25:15 hmTv outro

──────────────────

#FogOfWarAndHumanity #KeithGodwin #USMarineCorps #MarineVeteran #Veterans #MilitaryService #ParrisIsland #Okinawa #AddictionRecovery #VeteranSupport #MilitaryLife #HMTC

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The Fog of War and Humanity | Ep. 652: Mark Drexler: D-Day at Omaha Beach (Part 3) | HMTC

Leon Drexler had trained for months to become a Sherman tank gunner. Yet as his unit approached Omaha Beach, his knees shook with fear. Surrounded by explosions and chaos, he climbed into his tank and began firing shell after shell, sometimes without knowing precisely where or what he was firing at.

In Part 3 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli continues his conversation with educator and military historian Mark Drexler about his father’s World War II service. Mark recounts the final preparations for Operation Overlord, the weather delay that changed history, the Allied deception campaign centered on General George Patton, and the rough Channel crossing that left soldiers violently seasick.

The conversation examines the disastrous loss of amphibious Sherman tanks from the 741st Tank Battalion and the urgent deployment of additional armored support from Leon’s 745th Tank Battalion. At Easy Red, German artillery and machine-gun positions remained operational, American infantrymen were pinned down, and the dead and wounded covered the beach.

As Leon’s tank moved forward, the crew provided covering fire while carefully trying to avoid wounded American soldiers. Mark’s research and his father’s memories reveal the terror, confusion, courage, and split-second decisions behind one of the most consequential military operations in history.

The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv | Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Mark Drexler

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🌐 hmtcli.org
🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781
▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Introduction
0:19 Welcome and Part 2 recap
0:57 Leon Drexler’s voyage and training in England
2:07 Invasion secrecy and the buildup to Normandy
4:33 The mindset of a young World War II soldier
6:13 Loading the tanks and the weather delay
8:20 Patton’s phantom army and the Allied deception
9:48 Omaha Beach, Easy Red, and failed bombardments
11:30 The desperate battle to escape the beach
12:18 Amphibious Sherman tanks and Eisenhower’s decision
13:19 The 745th Tank Battalion approaches Omaha
14:29 German defenses and the loss of armored support
16:05 Delayed German armored reserves
16:41 The 745th Tank Battalion enters the fighting
17:53 Leon’s fear and first combat experience
18:50 The dead and wounded along Omaha Beach
19:50 Tanks provide cover for the infantry
21:04 Establishing a foothold and advancing inland
22:40 Leon’s journey continues beyond Normandy
23:17 Liberating Europe and confronting Nazi crimes
23:32 Closing reflections
24:12 hmTv outro

──────────────────

#FogOfWarAndHumanity #MarkDrexler #LeonDrexler #DDay #OmahaBeach #EasyRed #ShermanTank #745thTankBattalion #FirstInfantryDivision #WorldWarII #MilitaryHistory #HMTC

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The Fog of War and Humanity | Ep. 651: Mark Drexler: Preparing for D-Day (Part 2) | HMTC

Before Leon Drexler ever fired the cannon of a Sherman tank in combat, he crossed an Atlantic patrolled by German submarines and arrived in England as Allied forces prepared for the largest amphibious invasion in history.

In Part 2 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli continues his conversation with educator and military historian Mark Drexler about his father’s World War II service. Mark explains how Germany’s blitzkrieg victories created an image of an unbeatable military while the United States raced to transform its small, unprepared army into a global fighting force.

The conversation follows Leon from Fort Hood to England, where millions of personnel and enormous amounts of equipment were assembled for Operation Overlord. Mark and Richard discuss the dangerous live-fire exercises that killed hundreds of American servicemen, the leadership of George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower, and the monumental challenge of organizing the Normandy invasion.

Mark also shares the wartime experiences of Leon’s two brothers, including a devastating grenade-training accident that nearly cost his uncle an arm. Their mother displayed a service flag with three blue stars, one for each son serving during the war.

From a Brooklyn diamond cutter to a Sherman tank gunner, Leon represented the citizen-soldiers who left ordinary lives to confront Nazi Germany. A family photograph of a young Jewish soldier leading German prisoners captures the reversal of Nazi propaganda and the humanity behind the history.

The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv | Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Mark Drexler

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🌐 hmtcli.org
🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781
▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Introduction
0:19 Welcome and Part 1 recap
1:03 America’s unprepared military and Germany’s blitzkrieg
4:36 Isolationism and the America First movement
5:25 Leon’s journey from Fort Hood to Europe
6:27 The 745th Tank Battalion and Alpha Company
7:29 Crossing the submarine-patrolled Atlantic
7:58 England becomes the staging ground for D-Day
8:35 Deadly training exercises before Normandy
10:55 Eisenhower, Marshall, and Allied leadership
14:14 Leon’s experiences in wartime England
16:28 Three Drexler brothers enter military service
17:33 A devastating grenade-training accident
18:58 Three blue stars in a Brooklyn window
20:10 Sixteen million Americans answer the call
20:47 The 745th Tank Battalion and the Big Red One
22:25 From diamond cutter to Sherman tank gunner
23:48 A Jewish soldier leads German prisoners
24:56 African American soldiers and segregated service
25:28 Closing and Part 3 preview
25:54 hmTv outro

──────────────────

#FogOfWarAndHumanity #MarkDrexler #LeonDrexler #DDay #OperationOverlord #ShermanTank #745thTankBattalion #WorldWarII #CitizenSoldiers #JewishVeterans #MilitaryHistory #HMTC

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The Fog of War and Humanity | Ep. 650: Mark Drexler: Inside a Sherman Tank (Part 1) | HMTC

Three Sherman tanks were destroyed beneath Leon Drexler during 11 months of combat. Each time, the young Jewish soldier from Borough Park escaped and returned to battle as Allied forces advanced across Europe during World War II.

In Part 1 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli speaks with Leon’s son, educator and military historian Mark Drexler. Mark describes growing up among veterans, restoring his father’s wartime photograph album, and researching the 745th Tank Battalion, which served alongside the 1st Infantry Division, known as the Big Red One.

The conversation explores Leon’s decision to volunteer after Pearl Harbor, the antisemitic harassment that contributed to his transfer into the armored forces, and his transformation into an expert marksman and Sherman tank gunner. Mark explains the tank’s five-man crew, Leon’s responsibility for selecting ammunition and engaging targets within seconds, and the advantages and vulnerabilities of the M4 Sherman against German Panther and Tiger tanks.

Mark also shares how research and archival footage confirmed stories he once found difficult to believe, including soldiers wearing tuxedos and top hats in a liberated European town. His father’s experiences reveal both the terror of armored combat and the humor that helped young soldiers preserve their humanity during war.

The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv | Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Mark Drexler

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🌐 hmtcli.org
🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781
▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Introduction
0:19 Welcome and guest introduction
1:05 Mark Drexler’s career in education and love of history
2:15 Leon Drexler volunteers after Pearl Harbor
3:22 Growing up among World War II veterans
4:56 Reconstructing Leon’s military service
5:35 The tuxedos and top hats story confirmed
7:52 Humor and humanity during war
8:37 Antisemitic harassment and joining a tank crew
9:41 Surviving three destroyed Sherman tanks
13:19 Operation Cobra and the Allied advance
13:40 The 745th Tank Battalion and the Big Red One
15:10 Tank training and expert marksmanship
15:59 Inside a five-man Sherman tank crew
18:30 The split-second decisions of a tank gunner
20:53 From Brooklyn civilian to combat soldier
21:38 Planning Operation Overlord
23:00 Allied deception and the Atlantic Wall
24:36 Preparing for D-Day and Part 2 preview
25:49 hmTv outro

──────────────────

#FogOfWarAndHumanity #MarkDrexler #LeonDrexler #ShermanTank #WorldWarII #Normandy #DDay #OperationOverlord #745thTankBattalion #BigRedOne #JewishVeterans #HMTC

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Ordinary Heroes | Ep. 649: Theresa Cannistraci Farrell: Comedy Connects and Heals | HMTC

With only two pints of blood remaining in her body, Theresa Cannistraci Farrell was rushed into critical care. Even after receiving 22 pounds of fluid, platelets, and plasma, she found a punchline. Humor was not minimizing the danger. It was helping her survive it.

On Ordinary Heroes, host Bernie Furshpan speaks with his longtime friend, actress, producer, comedian, improviser, and Tea Time host Theresa Cannistraci Farrell. Theresa recalls stepping onto a stage at four years old, being rejected from The Godfather because she did not “look Italian,” performing in theater and comedy clubs, pausing her career to raise her daughter, and eventually returning to entertainment.

The conversation explores Theresa’s brain tumor, multiple surgeries, serious car accidents, internal bleeding, and the family members who helped save her life. Through every crisis, she has relied on faith, gratitude, family, and laughter. She believes she survived for a reason: to entertain people and put smiles on their faces.

Bernie and Theresa also discuss Jewish and Italian family traditions, comedy’s ability to confront prejudice, the unifying power of the arts, and Theresa’s childhood group of friends from Italian, Greek, Polish, Jewish, and Puerto Rican backgrounds. Her message is simple: life is short, appreciate people while they are still here, and never give up on the work you love.

Ordinary Heroes on hmTv | Host: Bernie Furshpan | Guest: Theresa Cannistraci Farrell

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🌐 hmtcli.org
🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781
▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Introduction
0:17 Welcome and guest introduction
1:19 Why artists must support one another
2:28 Performing from four years old
3:54 Rejected from The Godfather
5:38 The Weight of Memory and Jewish-Italian family bonds
6:51 Life is short, appreciate people now
8:15 Laughter as medicine and a bridge
10:02 Using comedy to confront antisemitism
11:48 Theresa’s comedy career and return to performing
12:45 Brain surgery and life-threatening medical crises
15:46 Finding purpose through entertainment
16:31 How comedy and the arts unite people
17:54 The childhood friends who became “the United Nations”
19:00 Influencers and the changing entertainment industry
22:04 Tea Time, perseverance, and never giving up
25:22 A final joke from Theresa
26:26 Closing reflections
27:06 hmTv outro

──────────────────

#OrdinaryHeroes #TheresaCannistraciFarrell #Comedy #StandUpComedy #HealingThroughHumor #Resilience #LaughterHeals #Entertainment #HumanConnection #Perseverance #TeaTime #HMTC

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The UN, Society, and Antisemitism | Ep. 648: Ugoji Eze: Confronting Antisemitism at the UN | HMTC

As a child caught in the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War, Dr. Ugoji A. Eze became a refugee and later endured ridicule in a London school. Sitting in that classroom, she made a decision that would shape her life: she would become a lawyer and make a difference in the world.

On The UN, Society, and Antisemitism, host Dr. Susanne Seperson speaks with the international human rights lawyer about her journey from Biafra to London, the United States, and the United Nations. Dr. Eze reflects on the influence of her parents, the transformative power of education, and her commitment to refugees, displaced people, women, children, and communities affected by war.

The conversation examines antisemitism within the United Nations, the disproportionate scrutiny directed at Israel, and the need to recognize antisemitism as a threat to international peace and security. Dr. Eze shares how she resisted political pressure, organized a major UN program with Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor, and continued speaking out despite warnings that her advocacy could marginalize her.

She also discusses building dialogue between Israeli and Nigerian leaders, challenging negative perceptions, educating young people, and preventing prejudice from taking root. Guided by the principle of tikkun olam, Dr. Eze calls upon individuals, institutions, and governments to help heal a fractured world through courage, education, and meaningful engagement.

The UN, Society, and Antisemitism on hmTv | Host: Dr. Susanne Seperson | Guest: Dr. Ugoji A. Eze, Esq.

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

🌐 hmtcli.org
🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781
▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Introduction and guest biography
3:06 From Biafra to life as a refugee
4:33 School bullying and choosing to become a lawyer
7:12 Family, education, and rebuilding a life
8:46 Refugee labels and survivor identity
9:52 Journey to the United States and United Nations
10:42 Education as a gateway to opportunity
13:42 Family legacy and support for Israel
16:08 From UNHCR intern to UN advocate
18:42 Antisemitism as a threat to international peace
20:58 UN bias against Israel and the need for action
22:57 Educating the next generation
23:54 Israel, political criticism, and antisemitism
25:42 Preventing hatred and healing a fractured world
27:24 Building dialogue between Israel and Nigeria
29:48 Faith, peacebuilding, and tikkun olam
30:16 Closing reflections
31:04 hmTv outro

──────────────────

#UNSocietyAndAntisemitism #UgojiEze #Antisemitism #UnitedNations #HumanRights #Israel #Refugees #Peacebuilding #TikkunOlam #Education #MoralCourage #HMTC

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The Dana Download | Ep. 647: Talin Esh: Finding Wisdom Within the Wounds | HMTC

At seven years old, Talin Esh Sarraf felt unseen. English was her second language, she struggled in school, and life at home was difficult. Then a teacher introduced her to poetry. For the first time, Talin felt that she existed, belonged, and had found a language for everything she carried inside.

On The Dana Download, host Dana Arschin Kraslow speaks with the Iranian-born American poet, author, and artist about her collection, I Am Here. Talin explains how poetry became a refuge, how motherhood transformed her life, and how she learned to embrace identity as an “and,” not an “or”: Jewish, Persian, and American.

The conversation explores heartbreak, grief, faith, creativity, authenticity, artificial intelligence, and the importance of living in the present. Talin also reads the title poem, “I Am Here,” and describes writing as a spiritual download that allows her to receive words rather than simply create them.

Reflecting on her mother’s mental illness, her father’s death, broken relationships, and family conflict, Talin shares the philosophy that now guides her life: finding wisdom within her wounds. Her journey reveals how pain can become poetry, identity can become strength, and faith can emerge from life’s most difficult moments.

The Dana Download on hmTv | Host: Dana Arschin Kraslow | Guest: Talin Esh Sarraf

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

Explore I Am Here by Talin Esh:
🌐 https://www.lulu.com/shop/talin-esh/iamhere/paperback/product-m2kdw9d.html

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▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc

─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Opening
0:18 Welcome and guest introduction
1:23 A mutual connection and building community
3:11 Persian Jewish geography and family heritage
4:01 Discovering poetry at seven years old
6:22 Finding community and belonging
7:43 Motherhood, art, writing, and many full-time roles
9:15 Identity as an “and,” not an “or”
11:22 Talin reads “I Am Here”
12:37 Writing as a spiritual download
14:43 Becoming a published author
16:08 Living in the present and remaining authentic
18:17 Doing, trying, and letting go of perfection
19:42 The Messianic era, AI, and human fulfillment
21:48 Finding wisdom within life’s wounds
23:30 Faith, Jewish heritage, and purpose
25:00 Closing reflections
25:36 hmTv outro

──────────────────

#TheDanaDownload #TalinEsh #IAmHere #Poetry #PersianJewish #JewishIdentity #IranianAmerican #Motherhood #Healing #Faith #FindingPurpose #HMTC

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