hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 354: Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and Phillip Jacobs on hmTv
Ep. 354: Ordinary Heroes
Host: Bernie Furshpan
Guest: Dr. Philip Jacobs
hmTv / Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center
In this gripping and unfiltered episode of Ordinary Heroes, Bernie Furshpan welcomes Dr. Philip Jacobs — philanthropist, activist, and outspoken Jewish community leader — for a conversation that pulls no punches.
Together they explore one of the most unsettling questions facing Jewish life today:
Are we witnessing echoes of the 1930s — and are we prepared to confront them?
From rising intimidation in New York City to the widening social acceptance of antisemitic rhetoric, Dr. Jacobs draws chilling parallels to pre-war Germany while also reminding listeners of the extraordinary difference that exists today — a strong, sovereign Israel and the untapped resilience of Jewish communities.
The episode dives into:
• How ordinary people became bystanders in 1930s Germany — and what that silence looks like now
• The danger of ignorance among young Jews and the erosion of identity
• Why intimidation is forcing Jews to hide, even in America’s cultural capitals
• The call for agency, courage, Jewish pride, and self-defense
• Dr. Jacobs’ provocative “three-point plan” for Jewish survival and empowerment
• The transformative power of Jewish education — the antidote to fear and vulnerability
This is not a polite or comfortable dialogue — it is a wake-up call.
With conviction, urgency, and hope, Bernie and Dr. Jacobs challenge the Jewish world to stand tall, stop cowering, and reclaim the strength that history demanded but too often denied.
Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.
Because silence isn’t an option — not anymore.