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Send us a textEp. 334The Israeli Bond with Gal Swisa Cohen Guest: Liana Meirom Asif**In this powerful and eye-opening episode of The Israeli Bond, host Gal Swisa Cohen sits down with educator, community leader, and social innovator Liana Meirom Asif for an intimate conversation about Arab-Jewish identity—what it means, how it was shaped, and why it matters now more than ever.Liana shares her remarkable family story, beginning in the Jewish communities of Aleppo and Baghdad, where her grandparents lived as part of the Middle East long before the modern State of Israel. Through personal memories, historical context, and deeply moving reflections, she explores the complexity of being an “Arab Jew,” the cultural erasure many Mizrahi families experienced upon arriving in Israel, and the emotional journey of reclaiming pride in heritage.From her grandfather’s daring escape to Israel at age ten, to her mother’s struggle with cultural shame, to Liana’s own mission to restore dignity, tradition, and nuance to the Jewish story—this episode digs into identity, belonging, resilience, and the hidden chapters of Israeli society.Liana also discusses her leadership as Head of the Jewish Agency’s New York Delegation, where she worked to introduce American communities to the full tapestry of Israeli diversity, from Ethiopian traditions to Mizrahi culture and beyond.This episode is heartfelt, insightful, and unforgettable—an essential listen for anyone interested in Jewish history, Middle Eastern identity, and the complex mosaic of modern Israel.Tune in, learn, and connect with a story that challenges assumptions and celebrates the beauty of heritage.Support the show

Send us a textEp. 333 • The Israeli Bond with Gal Swisa Cohen & Guest Lauren ChiznerIn this powerful episode of The Israeli Bond on hmTv, host Gal Swisa Cohen sits down with longtime Jewish educator Lauren Chizner, Director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Sid Jacobson JCC. With nearly three decades of experience in synagogues, camps, and community leadership, Lauren offers a candid look at how Jewish education in America has evolved, the realities facing today’s families, and why nurturing Jewish identity, pride, and a meaningful connection to Israel is more essential than ever.Gal and Lauren dive into the big questions shaping Jewish life today:Why has after-school Jewish education shifted so dramatically?How do we build Jewish pride when kids only meet two hours a week?Can you have a strong Jewish identity without a connection to Israel?How did October 7th transform students, parents, and educators alike?From “flags and falafel” childhood memories to the complex conversations kids are now asking about war, hostages, and rising antisemitism, Lauren speaks honestly about the challenges—and the opportunities—facing the next generation.The episode closes with grounded, practical guidance for parents and caregivers seeking to help their children form a deeper bond with Israel, whether through travel, meaningful relationships, thoughtful media consumption, or community programs.This is an episode filled with insight, heart, and real talk about who we are as Jews—and how we pass that identity forward.Tune in, share with your community, and keep strengthening the bond.Support the show

Send us a textEp 332: Putting the Brakes on BullyingIn this powerful and eye-opening episode of Putting the Brakes on Bullying, host Samantha Sosnik sits down with Bernie Furshpan for an unflinching conversation about the rising tide of cyberbullying and the real-world damage it leaves behind.Samantha shares disturbing recent stories involving body shaming, antisemitic harassment, and the targeting of students with special needs—all carried out behind the false safety of a screen. Bernie dives into the deeper issues: why young people feel emboldened online, how hateful language fuels real-world harm, and why silence from bystanders is often the most dangerous part of all.Together, they explore accountability, digital footprints, the failure of empathy, and the urgent need for parents, schools, and communities to step up. They also lay out practical steps for teens and adults to become upstanders, protect victims, and interrupt cycles of cruelty before they escalate.This is a candid, heartfelt, and at times blunt conversation—one that every parent, educator, and young person should hear. If you care about creating safer schools, healthier online spaces, and a future grounded in respect, this episode delivers both the wake-up call and the roadmap.Listen, learn, and take action. Even one good deed can change someone’s day—and maybe even their life.Support the show

Send us a textEp. 331The Dana Download with Dana Arschin Guests: Arnie Podgorsky & Laura BakstIn this powerful and deeply personal episode, Dana sits down with two dear friends — attorney and 3G author Laura Bakst (The Shoemaker’s Son) and Masorti Foundation chair Arnie Podgorsky — to unpack their emotional return trip to Poland and the article they co-wrote for Moment Magazine: “Travel and Teshuva: Our Tour Through Poland’s Contradictions.”Together, they explore the complex legacy of Jewish history in Poland, the meaning of teshuva as a spiritual return, and the tension between inherited trauma and modern reconciliation efforts. With honesty, vulnerability, and a surprising amount of laughter, the trio dives into what it means for 3G descendants to walk the same streets their families fled — and how to hold space for both heartbreak and hope.You’ll also hear the lighter side of their journey: airport reunions, unexpected water-hose ambushes, Star-of-David fashion statements in Krakow, and the joy of encountering Jewish life flourishing in places once marked only by loss.A conversation about history, healing, courage, and the power of shared stories — this episode is a reminder that even the heaviest journeys can be carried together.Support the show

Send us a textEp. 330Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz Guest: Joy D’Andrea — Part 2In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Arnie Herz and healer Joy D’Andrea dive even deeper into what it means to reclaim inner unity in a world that feels increasingly chaotic and divided. Building on the themes of episode one, Joy unpacks the difference between judgment and discernment, and shows how projections, fear, and child-conscious reactions shape how we experience conflict—both globally and in our closest relationships.Arnie brings real, raw examples to the table, including the emotional impact of campus antisemitism and rising hostility in public discourse. Joy guides him through the process of slowing down, turning inward, and uncovering what lies beneath the anger—fear, sadness, and the longing for connection. What unfolds is a remarkable shift from agitation to clarity, demonstrating how inner transformation fuels empowered, meaningful action in the world.Together, they explore:How judgment is a projection—and how to recognize itWhy discernment opens doors while judgment closes themThe link between “child consciousness” and emotional reactivityThe surprising power of slowing down, breathing, and sitting with uncomfortable feelingsHow unity, stillness, and presence ripple outward to affect othersWhy all spiritual traditions—from Torah to Eastern philosophy—point toward the same inner workHow strengthening inner alignment strengthens our ability to build bridges, heal divides, and create true impactThis episode is a grounded, heartfelt roadmap for anyone navigating fear, overwhelm, or fragmentation in today’s world. Joy’s insights and Arnie’s vulnerability combine to illuminate a simple truth: the world changes when we change—moment by moment, breath by breath, from the inside out.Tune in and strengthen your own practice of living with unity, clarity, and a whole heart.Support the show

Send us a textEp. 329Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz Guest: Joy D’Andrea — Part 1In this deeply insightful and timely episode, Arnie Herz sits down with longtime friend and healer Joy D’Andrea for a powerful exploration of unity, wholeness, and the inner work required to stay grounded in a world that feels increasingly divided.Joy shares her transformative approach to healing—one rooted in reconnecting with our internal resources, slowing down, and learning to meet fear, anxiety, and conflict with awareness rather than avoidance. Arnie opens up about his own struggles with the rise of antisemitism and how Joy’s method helps him move from overwhelm to clarity, from fear to inner alignment.Together, they unpack:What “unity” really means as a lived experienceHow duality, judgment, and projection pull us away from wholenessWhy slowing down is the first—and hardest—step toward emotional safetyThe difference between clear seeing and judgmentHow internal stillness empowers us to meet a chaotic world with strength and compassionThis is Part 1 of a two-episode conversation that cuts straight to the heart of what it means to stay human, present, and empowered in challenging times.If you’re seeking tools to navigate stress, fear, or the emotional weight of today’s world, this episode offers a grounded path back to yourself.Tune in, breathe, and begin the work of reconnecting with your whole heart.Support the show

Send us a textEp 328: The Israel iBond with Gal Swisa Cohen and Emily RahmilovIn this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of The Israel Bondi, host Gal Swisa Cohen sits down with Emily Rahmilov, a Shinshin from the Sid Jacobson JCC, whose life story spans the Caucasus, Ofakim, global Scout delegations, and now Long Island.Emily shares what it was like growing up in a city built by immigrant families, the challenges of living in Israel’s periphery, and how joining the Israeli Scouts opened doors she never imagined—from South Korea to an American summer camp in Oregon.Together, Gal and Emily explore the evolving relationship between Israeli and American Jews, the power of youth movements, the courage to step outside social “coolness,” and the responsibilities that come with choosing a year of service.It’s an inspiring, relatable conversation about identity, belonging, and the unbreakable bond between Israel and the Jewish diaspora—told through the voice of a young woman determined to build bridges that last.If you care about Israel, Jewish life, or the next generation of global leaders, this episode will stay with you long after the closing credits.Support the show

Send us a textPodcast Description – Ep. 327 of The Dana DownloadGuest: Yoel Levy, The Jewish Fitness CoachIn this powerful and uplifting episode, Dana sits down with global fitness coach and marathon runner Yoel Levy, known to hundreds of thousands as The Jewish Fitness Coach. From running some of the toughest marathons in the world to honoring the memory of the Bibas family, Yoel has transformed his athletic journey into a mission of Jewish pride, resilience, and human connection.Dana and Yoel dive into his unexpected rise on social media, the backlash he faced when he proudly embraced his Jewish identity, and the motivation behind his emotional marathon runs in memory of Kfir and Ariel Bibas. Yoel opens up about his friendship with the family, the iconic Batman costume that’s become part of his message, and how thousands of people around the world now learn their story because of his footsteps.The conversation also explores Yoel’s fitness philosophy, the impact of walking on physical and mental health, navigating a social-media-driven world, and the powerful lessons he’s learned from his sister with Down syndrome.Inspiration, humanity, humor, heartbreak, and hope — it’s all here. Tune in and feel your spirit lift.Support the show

Send us a textLegacy Chronicles – Episode 326: “Carrying the Legacy: A Second Generation Speaks” Hosted by Donna Rosenblum | Featuring Dinah Kramer Produced by the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center (hmTv)In this moving episode of Legacy Chronicles, host Donna Rosenblum sits down with Dinah Kramer, a second-generation Holocaust survivor, educator, and docent at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center.Dinah shares the remarkable and heartbreaking story of her parents — both born in Kielce, Poland — who endured the horrors of Nazi persecution, slave labor, and loss, yet built a new life of resilience and family after the war.Through intimate reflections, Dinah opens up about what it was like growing up as the child of survivors — the silence, the unspoken trauma, and the lasting impact of inherited memory. From her father’s tattoo to her mother’s courage, Dinah recounts how those experiences shaped her own life and her commitment to Holocaust education.Now a dedicated docent and storyteller, Dinah has found meaning in keeping her parents’ voices alive — ensuring that future generations not only learn history, but feel its human weight.This episode is a powerful testament to remembrance, identity, and the enduring strength of the second generation.Listen to hear:The hidden struggles of growing up as a child of Holocaust survivorsHow trauma and resilience were passed through generationsThe importance of storytelling in Holocaust educationDinah’s journey from daughter to educator and legacy bearer🎧 Legacy Chronicles is a podcast from the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center (hmTv) — honoring the past, educating the present, and shaping a more tolerant future.Support the show

Send us a textDisrupting Hate with Ken Schachter Guest: Scott Richman, Regional Director, ADL NY/NJ**In this unflinching episode of Disrupting Hate, host Ken Schachter sits down with Scott Richman, the Anti-Defamation League’s Regional Director for New York and New Jersey, for a wide-ranging conversation about the rising tide of antisemitism and extremist activity in America.Richman breaks down the ADL’s latest data—including the staggering 9,354 antisemitic incidents recorded in 2024, the highest number in U.S. history—and explains the rapid escalation after the October 7 attacks. He also addresses the politicization of hate, the controversy surrounding the ADL’s extremism glossary, and the organization’s challenge of “holding the center” in an increasingly polarized society.Ken and Scott examine social media’s role in fueling hate, the surge of incidents on college campuses, and the psychological whiplash experienced by students and administrators in the wake of global events. Richman also highlights the ADL’s proactive educational programs, from Echoes & Reflections to the nationwide No Place for Hate movement, which now reaches millions of students each year.This is a vital, deeply informative episode for anyone concerned about antisemitism, extremism, online hate, campus culture, and the future of civil discourse.Essential listening for educators, civic leaders, students, and anyone committed to disrupting hate—wherever it appears.Support the show