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Episode 91 — The Fog of War and Humanity (Part 1)
Guest: Dr. Bernie Furshpan | Host: Richard Acritelli | Series: hmTv

Brooklyn‑raised polymath Bernie Furshpan was born in Israel to two Holocaust survivors whose lives were torn apart—and ultimately reshaped—by the Nazi invasion of Poland. In this powerful opening to a two‑part conversation, Bernie traces the extraordinary journeys of his parents: his mother’s five‑year separation from her family after a desperate train escape, and his father’s three years of survival in a Ukrainian forest beginning at age ten.

Bernie explains how these wartime experiences forged the resilience, creativity, and compassion that later drove his own eclectic path—from pre‑med cartoonist to pioneering chiropractor and community leader at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center. You’ll hear stories of hidden courage: a Christian farmer’s split‑second decision that saved a boy’s life, a mother’s agonizing choice in the woods, and the precise craftsmanship that eventually brought Bernie’s father into John Lennon’s Dakota apartment.

Part 1 sets the historical stage, blending vivid personal anecdotes with insight into trauma, adaptation, and the quiet heroism of everyday people. Tune in for a deeply human reminder of why remembering the past is essential to shaping a more tolerant future—and stay with us for Part 2, where Bernie explores lessons learned, legacy, and the ongoing fight against hatred.