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.

Transcript

Ep. 354 — Ordinary Heroes
 Host: Bernie Furshpan
 Guest: Dr. Philip Jacobs
 hmTv / Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center**

Bernie:
Hello, and thank you for joining me today.
I’m your host, Bernie Furshpan, and this podcast is a production of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.

On today’s episode of Ordinary Heroes on hmTv, my very special guest, Dr. Philip Jacobs — philanthropist, activist, and a well-known voice in the New York Jewish community — joins me for a powerful conversation.
Phil, thank you so much for being here.

Dr. Jacobs:
Thank you for having me, Bernie. It’s a privilege.

Bernie:
You and I have had several candid discussions off-mic, and I thought — this is exactly the kind of conversation that needs daylight.
Specifically, the parallels between the 1930s and today.

Let me set the stage: When Hitler rose to power, the radical ideology didn’t sweep Germany overnight. It seeped. It took years — twelve of them — to convince ordinary people to embrace a poisonous worldview.
 Most Germans weren’t stormtroopers. They were just people — shopkeepers, teachers, neighbors — who slowly disengaged from Jewish life.

Boycotts didn’t begin with soldiers; they began when neighbors stopped stepping into Jewish stores. Friendships died quietly. Invitations vanished. Greetings faded. Betrayals multiplied.

Phil — from what you’re seeing today, especially in New York City — what do you recognize as the most chilling parallel?

Dr. Jacobs:
As you said that, Bernie, I literally felt a chill — because something happened just days ago that drives this home.

The clearest parallel? We have a public figure — Mamdani — who openly and consistently pushes anti-Jewish, anti-Israel rhetoric. Not subtly. Not accidentally. Openly. Repeatedly. Proudly.

And when mobs howled for Jewish blood outside a synagogue, he refused to condemn it. In fact, he essentially blessed it.
 That moment — to me — is our Kristallnacht mirror.

Books aren’t burning yet. Windows aren’t smashed — yet.
 But the sanctioning of hate? It’s here. And that is chilling.

Now — here’s the difference. In Germany, people were truly suffering: hyperinflation, starvation, national humiliation after Versailles. Hitler weaponized real despair.

Here? We don’t have that. People complain about prices, but the world is literally risking their lives to come here. If it’s such a terrible place, why is everyone trying to get in?

So yes — we have a demagogue firing up resentment — but without actual societal collapse. That makes the hate less excusable and more terrifying.

And Bernie, the most disturbing thing? The Overton Window — the boundary of what’s socially acceptable — has widened to include open antisemitic language. That’s scary.

Bernie:
Exactly. We’re not in Weimar Germany where a dozen eggs cost billions.
But — would you agree — you can manufacture suffering?

If you tell people long enough that they’re oppressed, cheated, starving — they start believing it.

Dr. Jacobs:
That’s exactly what Goebbels said: “Repeat a lie often enough, and it becomes truth.”

But Bernie, I don’t want to focus only on Mamdani. There’s something deeper — ignorance. 75% of voters under 35 voted for him. Why? Because they don’t know anything. They don’t know history. They don’t know Jewish identity. They don’t recognize recycled hate dressed up as activism.

I’ll give you an example. Something happened to me in Manhattan.
 There’s a place — very public — that used to be proudly pro-Israel. Flags, Jewish stars, solidarity posters. I’ve taken visiting dignitaries there. It was a symbol of pride.

A few days ago, I walked past it — everything was gone.
 Why? The owner was intimidated. They stripped every sign of Jewish identity.

That isn’t theoretical — it happened on our streets.

Bernie:
And that is exactly why I keep saying: we cannot cower.

We helped build this city — its courts, hospitals, arts, commerce — just as Jews did in Germany.
 But the danger isn’t only in the loud extremists — it’s in the silent majority watching from their windows, saying nothing, doing nothing.

What I also see is a collective punishment of Jews around the world for Israel’s war — a war Israel didn’t start, but was forced to respond to in self-defense.
 Why the double standard?

Dr. Jacobs:
I do get it, Bernie — and here’s part of the painful truth: we are the most Jewishly illiterate generation in 2,000 years.
Kids don’t know Hebrew, history, holidays — they know bagels.

And when you have no grounding, no pride, no education — you internalize the accusations.
 Psychologically, it’s called identification with the aggressor — you believe the person who tells you you’re inferior.

Now — here’s the hopeful part:
 After October 7th, my wife and I flew to Israel to volunteer. It was transformational.

There was literally no state presence — everything was commandeered for defense.
But the people stepped in. Civilians ran supply chains. Volunteers distributed formula and diapers to refugees.

Leadership failed — people rose.

And Bernie — that is the lesson for American Jews.
 Our leadership has failed us. Period.
 Where were they when Park East was under siege? Where were the organizations? Silent until it became convenient.

So we have to do what Israelis did — step up ourselves.

I happen to have a three-point plan.

Bernie:
Phil — you can’t tease a plan and leave us hanging. Give us the highlights.

Dr. Jacobs:
Simple.

Point one: Go on offense — rhetorical offense.
Teach Jewish youth counter-arguments. Teach them why our narrative is right.

Point two: Physical self-defense.
We need Krav Maga, martial skill, situational awareness.

Point three: And this will upset some listeners — responsible weapons training for Jewish adults.
If Jews in Poland had known how to defend themselves, there wouldn’t be three million dead. That’s a truth people don’t want to face.

This isn’t about violence — it’s about knowing how to protect yourself responsibly.

Bernie:
Your honesty is fierce — but I can’t deny history.
If Jews thought this way in the 1930s, many more might have survived.

Are we in the same place? I don’t know. I hope not.

Dr. Jacobs:
We’re not — for one huge reason: Israel exists.

When we were kids, Israel was small, poor, fragile. Today, most Jews live there.
 For the first time in two millennia, the Zionist dream is reality.

We have a strong army. We have a homeland.
 But American Jews haven’t internalized that strength.

We’re shrinking numerically and psychologically — and we’re not leaning into the one advantage we never had before.

Everything begins with mindset.

Bernie:
So — your hope for the future?

Dr. Jacobs:
One thing: Jewish education.
Every Jewish child must learn Jewish history, identity, literacy.

Ignorance in, ignorance out.
 Learning doesn’t happen by osmosis.
 Buildings don’t make Jews — knowledge does.

Jewish education, Jewish education, Jewish education — that’s my answer.

Bernie:
Phil, your message is loud and clear — and deeply important.
I want to thank you for your honesty, your urgency, and your willingness to challenge us.

And yes — this is an open invitation. You’re coming back.

To our listeners — that is the heart of this conversation: free expression, equal voice, dignity without fear.

We cannot shrink back. We stand proudly — together.

Dr. Philip Jacobs, thank you for joining us from New York City.

To everyone listening — please subscribe, share, and stay connected for more engaging conversations.

Until next time — be well, be informed, and be brave.