Ep 354: Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and Phillip Jacobs on hmTv

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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.

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 Because silence isn’t an option — not anymore.

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