hmTv at HMTC Podcasts

Send us a textEpisode 64: Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and Guest Martin HausvaterIn this powerful episode of Ordinary Heroes on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with author Martin Hausvater to explore the extraordinary legacy of his family’s survival, resistance, and resilience spanning three generations and multiple countries. From a poverty-stricken childhood in Romania to apprenticeship in Hungary, military heroism in World War I, secret currency operations, and ultimately escape from Nazi persecution—Martin’s grandfather lived a life shaped by faith, ingenuity, and unyielding strength.Martin shares riveting, often harrowing stories handed down through his family: how his Orthodox grandfather upheld his Jewish traditions even while imprisoned in Italy; how he outwitted police in Hungary; and how his family funneled the equivalent of $120 million to support the Jewish underground during WWII. The episode also highlights the courage of Martin’s father, a U.S. Navy sailor who stood tall against antisemitism, and Martin’s own reflections on inherited strength in the face of hatred.A moving reminder of the Jewish spirit to survive and fight back, this episode is a tribute to the unsung heroes in our families—and a call to action in the face of rising antisemitism today.Now streaming on all major podcast platforms. Martin Hausvater’s book “Hausvater” is available on Amazon Kindle and soon in hardcover. #OrdinaryHeroes #hmTv #HolocaustEducation #JewishHistory #Resistance #SurvivorStoriesSupport the show

Send us a textEpisode 62: The Choices We Make Define Us Featuring Sandi Cooper and Lori Cooper on hmTvIn this powerful and heartfelt episode of hmTv, co-hosts Sandi Cooper and Lori Cooper—no relation, just a shared passion—introduce their transformative Holocaust education program, The Choices We Make Define Us: Learning and Looking at Hate Through the Lens of the Holocaust. Together, they explore how teaching young students—from kindergarten through eighth grade—about identity, empathy, and the power of choice can shape more inclusive and compassionate communities.Sandi and Lori discuss the intentional design of their scaffolded curriculum, which integrates Holocaust education with social-emotional learning, relevant literature, and age-appropriate discussions on hate, tolerance, and responsibility. They reflect on the power of words like resist, cooperate, and collaborate, and how these ideas empower students to become upstanders in their everyday lives.With moving classroom stories, practical insights, and a deep belief in children’s intuitive goodness, this episode highlights how Holocaust education can plant seeds of hope, unity, and courage—not only in schools but across entire communities.Tune in to hear how small choices can make a world of difference.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 61: Kinder People. Kindest People. with Peter Suchmann and guest Rochelle SrokaIn this deeply moving episode of Kinder People. Kindest People. on hmTv, host Peter Suchmann sits down with Rochelle "Relle" Sroka, daughter of Holocaust survivor Larry Gotchman. Relle shares her powerful journey of growing up with a parent who survived the Holocaust and how a high school social studies project became the spark for preserving her family's extraordinary history.From uncovering archival ship manifests and microfilm records to discovering a 15-second newsreel video of her family arriving in America, Relle has become the family historian—dedicated to documenting, preserving, and sharing her father's legacy. She speaks candidly about intergenerational trauma, the strength of Jewish identity, and her family's deep-rooted connection to Israel.Listeners will be inspired by Relle’s efforts to educate future generations through customized Holocaust curriculum, school presentations, and her father’s ongoing mission to speak with students even at age 97. This episode is a heartfelt testament to memory, resilience, and the enduring importance of sharing survivor stories while we still can.Tune in for a conversation filled with history, heritage, and hope.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 60 Kinder People. Kindest People. with Peter Suchmann and guest Larry Gochman “Surviving the Forest: A Boy's Resistance During the Holocaust”In this powerful episode of Kinder People. Kindest People., host Peter Suchmann sits down with Holocaust survivor Larry Gochman, who recounts his harrowing yet inspiring journey from a small Jewish town in Poland to the frozen forests where he hid and fought for survival during World War II.Larry shares vivid memories of a joyful childhood disrupted by the Nazi invasion, his family’s decision to flee the ghettos, and the unimaginable hardships endured in the forest for over two years. At just 13, he was declared a man and became part of a network of partisans resisting German occupation. From makeshift bar mitzvahs in the woods to narrowly escaping death, Larry's story is one of resilience, faith, and the unbreakable human spirit.He also speaks about his postwar life in America, the importance of the State of Israel, and his work with survivor groups like Holocaust Heroes and Live to Tell, ensuring that the next generation never forgets.This is an unforgettable episode that honors memory, survival, and the enduring light of humanity in history’s darkest times.Listen now on hmTv.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 59 of Legacy Chronicles on hmTv Guest: Arnie Newfield | Host: Donna RosenblumIn this deeply moving episode of Legacy Chronicles, host Donna Rosenblum sits down with Holocaust survivor Arnie Newfield to explore his family's harrowing journey of survival, separation, and resilience during one of history’s darkest chapters. From pre-war life in Vienna to the horrors of Kristallnacht, deportation to Westerbork and Ravensbrück, and liberation at Bergen-Belsen, Arnie shares powerful memories—some his own, many passed down from his extraordinary mother—of the impossible choices they faced and the miracles that sustained them.This episode reveals the strength of a mother’s love, the haunting legacy of trauma, and the unshakable will to live. Arnie recounts moments of unspeakable fear, unexpected kindness, and enduring faith. He honors the memory of his family, including a father who found spiritual survival through the Talmud even in the depths of Buchenwald, and a mother whose instincts saved her children time and time again.A story of survival, sacrifice, and strength, Episode 59 is a testament to the human spirit and a reminder of why these stories must never be forgotten.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 58: Legacy Chronicles with Donna Rosenblum and guest Janet GanesIn this powerful episode of Legacy Chronicles on hmTv, host Donna Rosenblum sits down with artist and educator Janet Lust Ganes, a second-generation Holocaust survivor, to explore how personal history, memory, and art converge to preserve the past and inspire future generations. Janet shares her journey as an artist and teacher, reflecting on how her mother’s courageous acts of resistance during the Holocaust became the inspiration behind a series of deeply moving etchings.Through stories of resilience—from her mother’s defiance of Nazi soldiers to the haunting survival of Ethel Bower Catz—Janet illustrates how art can bear witness to truth, challenge denial, and create empathy across generations. She also discusses her impactful work with students through the Adopt a Survivor program and how her classroom became a space for transformative Holocaust education.Together, Donna and Janet reflect on the rising importance of Holocaust memory in today's climate of growing antisemitism, the unique role of student-created art in countering hate, and the enduring power of storytelling through visual expression.Don’t miss this emotionally resonant and inspiring episode that reminds us all: art remembers what history must never forget.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 57 (Part 2) of Influential Origins with Alan Mindel and guest Michelle Ahdoot hmTvIn this powerful continuation of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel is joined once again by activist and advocate Michelle Ahdoot, who shares her compelling journey from community volunteer to a national leader in Jewish civil rights. In this episode, Michelle details the founding of the End Jew Hatred movement, born out of her work with the Lawfare Project and fueled by a growing wave of antisemitism on college campuses and city streets across America.With personal anecdotes, urgent warnings, and clear-eyed analysis, Michelle and Alan dive into the disturbing rise in hatred and misinformation that has threatened Jewish students and communities—particularly in the wake of October 7, 2023. From exposing the dangers behind slogans like “From the River to the Sea” to mobilizing digital activism and rallying in the streets, Michelle lays out how End Jew Hatred is confronting these threats head-on.This episode is not only a call to action—it’s a testament to resilience, unity, and the power of standing up against intolerance. A must-listen for anyone committed to justice, truth, and protecting civil rights for all.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 56 of Influential Origins Title: From Iran to Great Neck: A Story of Perseverance and Pride Host: Alan Mindel | Guest: Michelle AhdootIn this powerful first part of a two-episode conversation, host Alan Mindel sits down with Michelle Ahdoot to explore the extraordinary story of her family’s journey from Iran to America. Michelle shares the inspiring path of her father, who left Iran in the post-Holocaust era to study medicine in Germany, and her mother, whose family had the foresight to immigrate to Queens in the 1940s.Together, they discuss the evolution of the Iranian Jewish experience, the dramatic changes brought by the 1979 revolution, and the resilience of a community forced to rebuild in a new land. Michelle reflects on growing up in Great Neck, the cultural crossroads of Iranian and American identity, and the strength of women rising against oppression—both in Iran and abroad.From early involvement with Birthright Israel to passionate advocacy with Friends of the IDF and leadership in the Great Neck school system, Michelle’s story is one of identity, perseverance, and generational pride.Tune in to hear how one woman’s influential origins shaped not only her family, but her community—and how those roots continue to grow in the next generation.Part Two continues with a look at the evolving experience of Jewish students on college campuses and Michelle’s growing role as a voice for Jewish pride and empowerment.Tags: #InfluentialOrigins #IranianJewishHistory #Zionism #Birthright #GreatNeck #JewishPride #FIDF #ImmigrantVoices #JewishWomen #Israel #CommunityLeadership #FamilyLegacy #hmTvSupport the show

Send us a textEpisode 53: “History Repeats” — The End of War, The Beginning of Memory Host: Liam Carballal Guest: Richard Acritelli Produced by: hmTvIn this powerful and deeply reflective episode, host Liam Carballal sits down with historian Richard Acritelli to discuss the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe and the haunting liberation of Nazi concentration camps. Through vivid historical detail and personal testimony, Acritelli revisits the emotional impact on American soldiers who witnessed firsthand the horrors of the Holocaust.Drawing from scenes in Band of Brothers, wartime accounts, and the evolving awareness of the atrocities, this episode examines the questions of responsibility, delayed justice, and the moral legacy of the liberators. From General Patton’s fury to the tragedy of missed rescue opportunities, this conversation exposes how the fog of war gave way to the stark reality of genocide—and how memory remains a battlefield of its own.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 55: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Owen McCaffrey (Part 2)In this powerful and emotional continuation of Episode 55 on The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli speaks with retired NYPD Emergency Services Unit Lieutenant Owen McCaffrey about the heroic legacy of his close friend, Sergeant Michael Curtain, and the unforgettable aftermath of September 11th, 2001.Lieutenant McCaffrey shares firsthand accounts of Curtain’s bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to never leave anyone behind—a decision that ultimately cost him his life. Through deeply personal recollections, listeners gain rare insight into the camaraderie, chaos, and courage experienced at Ground Zero. McCaffrey details the rescue of the last two survivors from the wreckage, the painstaking recovery of fallen officers, and the solemn moments of closure provided to grieving families.This episode honors the legacy of those lost, the strength of those who remained, and the continued mission to remember and educate future generations. It is a tribute to service, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood forged in the darkest hours of American history.Support the show