Ep 599: Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and guest Robert Klein on hmTv

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Ordinary Heroes, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes legendary comedian, actor, singer, writer, and storyteller Robert Klein for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, Jewish identity, history, memory, antisemitism, and the fragile state of democracy.Robert reflects on growing up in the Bronx as the son of Frieda and Benjamin Klein and the grandson of Hungarian Jewish immigrants. He shares how his early experiences in the Catskills introduced him to live stand-up comedy and to Holocaust survivors whose stories left a lasting impression on him.The conversation turns deeply historical as Robert discusses his extensive reading of Nuremberg testimony, the dangers of propaganda, the “Jewish problem” language used by antisemites, and the way ordinary people can be manipulated into silence, complicity, or cruelty. Bernie and Robert also explore the lessons of the Holocaust, the importance of museums and education, the rise of modern antisemitism, and the dangerous speed at which misinformation spreads today.With honesty, humor, and remarkable historical insight, Robert Klein reminds us that comedy can reveal truth, history must be remembered, and silence in the face of hate is never an option.Support the show