hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 243: Raised by Survivors with Bernie Furshpan and guest Leslie Dreifus on hmTv
In this heartfelt episode of Raised by Survivors on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan reconnects with his longtime friend Dr. Leslie Dreifus to explore the powerful legacy of growing up as the child of Holocaust survivors. From Brooklyn childhood memories and synagogue life to stories of resilience, family values, and assimilation, Leslie shares his parents’ remarkable journey of survival—escaping Nazi Germany just before the war and starting anew in America.
Leslie’s father, once a young refugee sweeping floors in a Brooklyn bakery, went on to serve heroically as one of the famed Ritchie Boys, providing critical intelligence that helped win WWII. Decades later, Leslie retraced his family’s roots in Germany, encountering both the scars of history and the gestures of reconciliation that continue today.
This conversation weaves together memory, heritage, humor, and moral lessons—reminding us that resilience, education, and kindness are stronger than hate, and that every family story is part of our shared human story.