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Send us a textEp 235 — Disrupting Hate with Bert BrodskySerial entrepreneur and philanthropist Bert Brodsky joins host Ken Schachter for a straight-talk masterclass on building things that actually help people. From scrappy bottle-return hustles to pioneering electronic claims, EVV timekeeping, and a top PBM, Bert maps a career spent fixing gnarly problems at the intersection of health care, policy, and tech. He recalls investing in early MRI, founding Mobile Health, scaling Sandata, and why reading the fine print (yes, the manual) is a superpower. On the philanthropic front, Bert opens up about starting the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, hands-on support for FIDF IMPACT! scholars, and steering a continuum-of-care senior campus—plus a candid look at antisemitism and how to keep humanity in the conversation. It’s pragmatic optimism with receipts—and a blueprint for young builders who want to ship real impact, not just slide decks.You’ll learn:How “read the manual” becomes a business edgeWhy telemedicine + AI will drive the next care revolutionThe origin story of EVV and its taxpayer impactWhat families really need in the Alzheimer’s journeyA no-nonsense approach to disrupting hate—person to personCall to action: Subscribe, share, and pass this episode to a problem-solver who’s ready to build.Support the show

Send us a textHabits of a Whole Heart (Ep. 233, Part 2)In Part Two of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz continues his heartfelt dialogue with Rabbi Levi Paltiel about the inner essence of Judaism and the practical ways it transforms daily life.Together, they explore how mitzvot like tefillin and Shabbat can shift from feeling like obligations to becoming sources of freedom, energy, and deeper purpose. Rabbi Levi shares parables from Chassidic teachings and family stories—like the “horse and rider” metaphor—that illuminate the eternal struggle between the godly soul and the animal soul, and how even small steps of connection can unlock tremendous growth.As the High Holidays approach, Arnie and Rabbi Levi discuss what it means to awaken to your core essence, discover the soul beyond the mind, and embrace the truth that God never gives us a challenge we cannot handle.This powerful episode is a reminder that Judaism isn’t something imposed from the outside—it’s a gift waiting to be awakened from within, guiding us to live with wholeness, joy, and purpose.Support the show

Send us a textHabits of a Whole Heart (Ep. 234, Part 3)In the third installment of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz and Rabbi Levi Paltiel continue their heartfelt exploration of Jewish wisdom, daily discipline, and the deeper meaning of the High Holidays.Together they discuss how to carry inspiration from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur into everyday life, turning fleeting spiritual sparks into lasting habits. From the imagery of the “King in the field,” to the rodeo parable about celebrating small victories, to the powerful message that God is our partner, this episode is both practical and uplifting.Arnie also shares his own near-death experience that reshaped his priorities, while Rabbi Levi emphasizes that every mitzvah—every act of goodness—is like a Divine “like” that moves the mission of creation forward.This powerful close to the three-part series is a reminder that Judaism is not about guilt or perfection, but about building habits of the heart that anchor us in joy, discipline, and purpose throughout the year.Support the show

Send us a textHabits of a Whole Heart (Ep. 232, Part 1)In this episode of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz sits down with his longtime friend and teacher, Rabbi Levi Paltiel, for a conversation about purpose, wholeness, and the power of daily habits.Together, they explore timeless Chassidic teachings from the Tanya, the meaning of unity, and how to see life’s inconsistencies as part of a greater plan. Rabbi Levi shares wisdom on serving God with joy, being the “CEO of your own life,” and finding purpose at any age or stage. Arnie reflects on his own late-in-life connection to Judaism, and how even missed years can become springboards for growth and service.As they approach the High Holidays, the discussion turns to Elul—the month when “the King is in the field”—and how to experience God’s closeness in a deeply personal way. The episode closes with a candid exchange on overcoming negative experiences of religion and discovering authentic, life-giving spirituality.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation that blends warmth, humor, and deep insight—an invitation to taste the wholeness of living with a whole heart.Support the show

Send us a textLegacy Chronicles – Ep. 231: “Second Generation, First Principles” Director of Education Donna Rosenblum sits down with HMTC docent Herb Grubman to explore what it means to be Second Generation—and why testimony can’t stop with the survivors. Through the lives of Herb’s parents—from Dęblin and Biała Podlaska to Siberian imprisonment, DP camps, and rebuilding in the Bronx—this episode traces trauma, resilience, and the quiet heroics of starting over. Expect vivid family stories (coal cars at age 12, the First Polish Army fighting to Berlin, summers in Far Rockaway rooming houses) and a candid look at raising children under the long shadow of war.Along the way, Donna and Herb dig into why authentic, primary-source storytelling matters now—amid misinformation, rising antisemitism, and curriculum overload—and how Second Gen voices can keep history accurate, human, and usable.Support the show

Send us a textEchoes of the Past – Ep. 230: “Day One: Reading 9/1/39” Assistant Director of Education Zachary Graulich sits down with longtime HMTC volunteer and second-generation survivor Meryl Menashe to unpack a powerful artifact she recently donated: a fragile Kansas City Times front page dated September 1, 1939—the day Germany invaded Poland. Through this single newspaper, they trace the lightning-fast timeline from the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact to the fall of Warsaw, explore how propaganda framed “living space” and “ethnic German protection,” and connect those headlines to lived experience—including Meryl’s father, Leon Beck, a Polish soldier captured, shot, and later imprisoned by the Soviets. It’s history in real time, and a masterclass in using primary sources to teach nuance, perspective, and media literacy.Along the way, Zach and Meryl examine the roles of perpetrators, victims, collaborators, and bystanders; the early terror from the Luftwaffe and precursors to Einsatzgruppen killings; and the jarring coexistence of war news with everyday ads, comics, and weather—then and now. If you teach, parent, or simply care about truth in an age of information overload, this episode hands you a ready-to-use lens for the classroom and beyond.In this episode you’ll learn:How a single 1939 newspaper captures the start of WWII and American perceptions that dayWhy the pact with the USSR made Poland a two-front tragedy—and how Blitzkrieg overwhelmed it in weeksA second-generation perspective: Leon Beck’s Polish Army service, capture, escape, and Soviet imprisonmentHow to use artifacts to teach source evaluation and competing narratives (then vs. now)The scale and distinction of suffering among Jews and Polish civilians, without flattening the historyPerfect for: educators, students, museum-goers, and anyone building critical thinking around history and media.Support the show

Send us a textEp 229 – Disrupting Hate with Ellen Kennedy and Bernie Furshpan On this episode of Disrupting Hate on hmTv, host Ken Schachter and co-host Bernie Furshpan sit down with Dr. Ellen Kennedy, founder and CEO of World Without Genocide. From her earliest childhood experiences of being “othered” to her groundbreaking work in human rights law, Ellen shares the journey that led her to build an organization dedicated to preventing genocide and protecting vulnerable communities.The conversation explores how the definition of genocide has evolved since 1948, the critical distinctions between genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and the impact of climate change as a force multiplier of violence. Ellen offers insights into international justice, the dangers of politicizing the word “genocide,” and the urgent need for grassroots action—starting in our neighborhoods—to disrupt discrimination and hate before it escalates.This episode is both sobering and hopeful, challenging us to recognize the interconnectedness of our world and inspiring us to envision what a true “world without genocide” could look like.Listen in to learn how each of us has the power to confront hate, foster empathy, and push humanity closer toward universal human rights.Support the show

Send us a textEp 228: Legacy Chronicles – Courage Untold: Jewish Resistance at AuschwitzIn this powerful episode of Legacy Chronicles on hmTv, host Donna Rosenblum sits down with Susan Katz, author of the play Courage Untold, and Allan E. Mallenbaum, founder of the Rosa Robota Foundation, to uncover a little-known story of Jewish resistance at Auschwitz.Together, they explore the bravery of Rosa Robota and three other young women who risked everything to smuggle gunpowder for the October 7, 1944 uprising—the only successful revolt inside Auschwitz. Allan shares his personal connection as Rosa’s cousin, while Susan reflects on her journey to bring the story to life on stage through interviews with survivors and witnesses.The conversation also highlights a new educational initiative developed by HMTC, Susan, and Allan: a curriculum package built around Courage Untold that brings Rosa’s story to AP Global classrooms across New York and beyond.This episode is a moving reminder that resistance during the Holocaust took many forms—armed, spiritual, and cultural—and that even in the darkest times, courage refused to be silenced.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 226 (Part 2) – The Fog of War and Humanity with Marcelle LeisIn Part Two of this moving conversation, host Richard Acritelli continues with Marcelle Leis, a 24-year veteran of the Air National Guard and Suffolk County Veterans Services leader.Marcelle shares her experience deploying to Kuwait in the immediate aftermath of 9/11—one of the first groups of American service members sent overseas. She reflects on the numbness the nation felt, the challenges of leaving family behind, and the realities of serving under Force Protection Delta lockdown with limited communication and supplies.As First Sergeant, Marcelle focused on morale, checking on airmen who were still processing the trauma of 9/11 while adjusting to a new era of military service. She recalls the powerful support of her community back home, from her young children drawing daily flags to local schools sending messages of gratitude.This episode explores not only the shift in America’s military mission after 9/11, but also the enduring bond between service members, veterans, and first responders—and the way communities came together in the face of tragedy.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 227 (Part 3) – The Fog of War and Humanity with Marcelle LeisIn the third part of this powerful series, host Richard Acritelli continues his conversation with Marcelle Leis, a 24-year veteran of the Air National Guard and current Director of the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency.Marcelle shares how the Joseph Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project inspired her post-military career and explains why peer-to-peer connections are life-saving for veterans struggling with trauma, PTSD, and reintegration. She reflects on the silence of past generations—from World War II to Vietnam—and the cultural shift now underway to view asking for help as a sign of strength, not weakness.The discussion also explores the challenges veterans face with the VA system, the impact of toxic exposures from Agent Orange to burn pits, and the importance of filing claims not only for individual care but to strengthen entire communities. With compassion and clarity, Marcelle emphasizes how local engagement, education, and advocacy can transform lives—and save them.This episode highlights both the ongoing struggles and the hope that comes when veterans are supported by those who understand their journey.Support the show