Ep 665: Putting the Brakes on Bullying with Samantha Sosnik and guest Dan Grunfeld on hmTv

Send us Fan MailPutting the Brakes on Bullying | Ep. 665: Dan Grunfeld: Holocaust, Bullying and Basketball | HMTCErnie Grunfeld arrived in America at age nine without speaking English. Bullied because of his accent and immigrant background, he transformed adversity into determination, becoming an Olympic gold medalist, NBA star, and respected basketball executive. Just as importantly, he became a man who treated others with the kindness he had once been denied.In Episode 665 of Putting the Brakes on Bullying, host Samantha Sosnik welcomes former professional basketball player and author Dan Grunfeld for a powerful conversation about Holocaust survival, inherited memory, antisemitism, bullying, resilience, and the unifying power of sports.Dan shares the remarkable story of his grandparents, who survived the Holocaust in Hungary. His grandfather endured a forced labor camp, while his grandmother survived on the run, was saved twice by Raoul Wallenberg, and was imprisoned in the Budapest ghetto. Now 101 years old, she remains the heart of the Grunfeld family and a daily presence in Dan’s life.The conversation explores Ernie Grunfeld’s journey from communist Romania to Queens and his extraordinary friendship with basketball legend Bernard King. Known together as the “Ernie and Bernie Show,” the Jewish immigrant from Queens and the Black athlete from Brooklyn became one of college basketball’s greatest duos, later playing together for the New York Knicks. Their friendship demonstrates how shared purpose can overcome cultural and social divisions.Dan also reflects on playing basketball at Stanford, competing in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, acknowledging the privilege of growing up as an NBA player’s son, and learning that opportunity means little without discipline, effort, and performance.One of the episode’s most moving moments comes when Dan recalls receiving an offer to play professionally in Germany. Before accepting, he asked his grandmother for permission. Her response, “Sons are not responsible for the sins of their fathers,” opened the door to a meaningful experience of friendship, understanding, and healing across generations.Dan discusses his acclaimed book, By the Grace of the Game, which connects his family’s Holocaust history with basketball, immigration, mental health, identity, and the opportunities made possible by survival. He also confirms that a documentary adaptation is now in development.This multigenerational story demonstrates how people can transform trauma and bullying into purpose. The Grunfeld family’s legacy is not defined only by what they survived, but by what they built through perseverance, honesty, compassion, and the grace of the game.Putting the Brakes on Bullying on hmTv | Host: Samantha Sosnik | Guest: Dan GrunfeldExecutive Producer and Director: Bernie FurshpanA production of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County🌐 hmtcli.org🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc─── CHAPTERS ───0:00 Opening0:18 Welcome and guest introduction1:19 Discovering the Grunfeld family story2:45 Dan’s Holocaust-survivor grandparents4:15 A special bond with his 101-year-old grandmother5:42 Rising antisemitism and warnings from a survivor6:53 “Never Again” and generational trauma8:19 Israel as a refuge for the Jewish people9:13 Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King9:52 The “Ernie and Bernie Show”11:45 Privilege, hard work, and proving yourself13:59 The significance of number 1814:24 The Maccabiah Games and Dan’s first visit to Israel16:40 Honoring opportunities denied to earlier generations17:52 Carrying survivors’ stories forward19:51 Basketball as an entry point to Holocaust history20:57 Asking permission to play in Germany21:13 “Sons are not responsible for the sins of their fathers”22:17 Healing and responsibility across generations23:53 Turning criticism into motivation26:23 Ernie’s childhood experience with bullying26:54 Transforming pain into achievement and kindness29:32 Why surviving trauma can deepen compassion31:03 Writing By the Grace of the Game with honesty33:06 Celebrating a Knicks championship35:11 A documentary adaptation in development36:21 Bringing Dan’s story to students37:42 A final call to kindness37:54 hmTv outro──────────────────#PuttingTheBrakesOnBullying #DanGrunfeld #ByTheGraceOfTheGame #ErnieGrunfeld #HolocaustSurvivors #BasketballHistory #JewishIdentity #Antisemitism #BullyingPrevention #InheritedMemory #Resilience #HMTCSupport the show