The Avrum Rosensweig Show

BERNIE FARBER: A LIFETIME OF JEWISH LEADERSHIP (Audio)

On today’s episode, I’m excited to introduce Bernie M. Farber, an Ottawa-born writer, commentator, and tireless social activist. Bernie’s work spans across multiple causes, rooted deeply in his personal history as the son of a Holocaust survivor. He’s the former CEO of both the Canadian Jewish Congress and Veahavta, the Canadian Jewish humanitarian and relief committee. His commitment to human rights and social justice has seen him testify as an expert witness on hate crime, as well as serve as the CEO of the Mosaic Institute, a Canadian NGO dedicated to promoting pluralism, peace, and conflict resolution internationally. Bernie has also worked with the Paloma Foundation, focusing on homeless youth shelters, and his insights on human and civil rights have appeared in major outlets like the Huffington Post and the Canadian Jewish News. From 2018 to 2023, he chaired the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, and now serves as its founding chair emeritus. Bernie’s drive for activism is rooted in a simple yet profound lesson from his father, a Holocaust survivor, who told him to “open a mouth” in the fight for freedom. Ladies and gentlemen, Bernie Farber.

BERNIE FARBER: A LIFETIME OF JEWISH LEADERSHIP

On today’s episode, I’m excited to introduce Bernie M. Farber, an Ottawa-born writer, commentator, and tireless social activist. Bernie’s work spans across multiple causes, rooted deeply in his personal history as the son of a Holocaust survivor. He’s the former CEO of both the Canadian Jewish Congress and Veahavta, the Canadian Jewish humanitarian and relief committee. His commitment to human rights and social justice has seen him testify as an expert witness on hate crime, as well as serve as the CEO of the Mosaic Institute, a Canadian NGO dedicated to promoting pluralism, peace, and conflict resolution internationally. Bernie has also worked with the Paloma Foundation, focusing on homeless youth shelters, and his insights on human and civil rights have appeared in major outlets like the Huffington Post and the Canadian Jewish News. From 2018 to 2023, he chaired the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, and now serves as its founding chair emeritus. Bernie’s drive for activism is rooted in a simple yet profound lesson from his father, a Holocaust survivor, who told him to “open a mouth” in the fight for freedom. Ladies and gentlemen, Bernie Farber.

GADI MOZES: HIS SON YAIR, SPEAKS ABOUT THE 80-YEAR OLD ISRAELI FARMER RELEASED FROM GAZA (Audio)

Hear Yair Mozes, the son of Gadi Mozes, speak about his father who was held hostage by Hamas terrorists who abducted him during the October 7, 2023 assault on Kibbutz Nir Oz, when his wife, Efrat Katz was murdered on that day in their home. Gadi was a hostage for 482 days. While as a hostage, he was left alone the entire time; he paced seven kilometers a day in his two-square-meter room, counted the tiles on the floor and solved math problems to pass the time and keep his mind sharp. His glasses were broken during the kidnapping, but after two months he managed to get new ones from his captors and was able to read two books. Once every five days or so Mozes was given a bowl of tepid water to shower with, using a cup to pour the water over his head. He insisted on shaving himself, despite it being a messy and painful affair. This is a fascinating conversation with a son who loves and is devoted to his dad, a former hostage in Gaza. And by the way, while his father was imprisoned, Yair did not shave. Upon his return from Gaza, Gadi shaved his son's beard.

GADI MOZES: HIS SON YAIR, SPEAKS ABOUT THE 80-YEAR OLD ISRAELI FARMER RELEASED FROM GAZA (Audio/Visual)

Hear Yair Mozes, the son of Gadi Mozes, speak about his father who was held hostage by Hamas terrorists who abducted him during the October 7, 2023 assault on Kibbutz Nir Oz, when his wife, Efrat Katz was murdered on that day in their home. Gadi was a hostage for 482 days. As a hostage, Gadi was left alone the entire time; he paced seven kilometers a day in his two-square-meter room, counted the tiles on the floor and solved math problems to pass the time and keep his mind sharp. His glasses were broken during the kidnapping, but after two months he managed to get new ones from his captors and was able to read two books. Once every five days or so Mozes was given a bowl of tepid water to shower with, using a cup to pour the water over his head. He insisted on shaving himself, despite it being a messy and painful affair. This is a fascinating conversation with a son who loves and is devoted to his dad, a former hostage in Gaza. And by the way, while his father was imprisoned, Yair did not shave. Upon his return from Gaza, Gadi shaved his son's beard.

FRED MELAMED: MORE THAN A GREAT CHARACTER ACTOR (Audio)

Welcome to today’s episode with special guest, the incredibly talented Fred Melamed. Fred has had a remarkable career spanning decades, from his early work as a renowned voiceover artist to becoming one of Hollywood's most celebrated character actors. Known for his unforgettable performances in films like A Serious Man, Hail, Caesar!, and Shiva Baby, Fred has also had a long-standing collaboration with Woody Allen, appearing in seven of his films, including Radio Days, Husbands and Wives, and Crimes and Misdemeanors. On television, Fred has brought to life memorable characters like Bruce Ben-Bacharach in Lady Dynamite, Gumbald in Adventure Time, and Arthur Hart in WandaVision, earning him recognition as one of the greatest character actors working today. Plus, he’s a proud father of twin sons whom he speaks about in length. Join us as we dive into Fred's storied career, his experiences with some of the biggest names in film and TV, his Jewishness, on being adopted and what it’s like balancing fatherhood with life in the spotlight.

FRED MELAMED: MORE THAN A GREAT CHARACTER ACTOR (Audio/Video)

Welcome to today’s episode with special guest, the incredibly talented Fred Melamed. Fred has had a remarkable career spanning decades, from his early work as a renowned voiceover artist to becoming one of Hollywood's most celebrated character actors. Known for his unforgettable performances in films like A Serious Man, Hail, Caesar!, and Shiva Baby, Fred has also had a long-standing collaboration with Woody Allen, appearing in seven of his films, including Radio Days, Husbands and Wives, and Crimes and Misdemeanors. On television, Fred has brought to life memorable characters like Bruce Ben-Bacharach in Lady Dynamite, Gumbald in Adventure Time, and Arthur Hart in WandaVision, earning him recognition as one of the greatest character actors working today. Plus, he’s a proud father of twin sons whom he speaks about in length. Join us as we dive into Fred's storied career, his experiences with some of the biggest names in film and TV, his Jewishness, on being adopted and what it’s like balancing fatherhood with life in the spotlight.

MINDFUL SPIRIT: EXPLORING GERSHON MISKIN'S TRANSFORMATION (Audio)

In this episode, we’re joined by Gershon Miskin, a devoted husband, father of seven, as well as a successful businessman. Gershon’s life took a profound turn when he embarked on a spiritual journey that started in the framework of religious Judaism. His quest for deeper understanding led him beyond tradition into the realms of meditation, mindfulness, and past lives. Through these practices, Gershon discovered a new layer of self-awareness and inner peace that reshaped his life and perspective. Tune in to this fascinating discussion, as Gershon and I, explore how his journey transformed not only his own spiritual path but also his approach to family, business, and life as a whole.

MINDFUL SPIRIT: EXPLORING GERSHON MISKIN'S TRANFORMATION (Audio/Visual)

In this episode, we’re joined by Gershon Miskin, a devoted husband, father of seven, as well as a successful businessman. Gershon’s life took a profound turn when he embarked on a spiritual journey that started in the framework of religious Judaism. His quest for deeper understanding led him beyond tradition into the realms of meditation, mindfulness, and past lives. Through these practices, Gershon discovered a new layer of self-awareness and inner peace that reshaped his life and perspective. Tune in to this fascinating discussion, as Gershon and I, explore how his journey transformed not only his own spiritual path but also his approach to family, business, and life as a whole.

HENRY WOLFOND: HIS MAGNIFICENT SPACE FLIGHT IN JEFF BEZOS'S ROCKET FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM AND HATRED (Audio)

On November 22, 2024, Henry Wolfond, embarked on a historic mission to space aboard Jeff Bezos' New Shepard rocket, reaching an impressive altitude of 107 kilometers above Earth. The mission, which he described as a journey of peace, marked a personal milestone for Wolfond, who had long dreamed of becoming an astronaut. As the chairman and CEO of Bayshore Capital in Toronto, and the chair of the Confronting Antisemitism Committee of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Wolfond's accomplishments extend far beyond space. Upon returning to Earth, he was visibly moved, expressing his awe with the words, “We’re all one people, we’re all on this very fragile small planet. It’s amazing.” His passion for space exploration began in his youth, where he was captivated by every Gemini and Apollo mission, as well as the 1969 moon landing. As a child, he was also enthralled by the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he watched repeatedly, imagining a future where he would journey to the moon aboard a Pan Am rocket. Though he never became a fighter pilot due to vision limitations, Wolfond’s childhood love for space continued through his admiration for Star Trek and its iconic Captain Kirk and becoming a pilot at 17 years old. During his 12 minutes in space, Henry carried with him pictures of family members who had suffered in the Holocaust. Similarly, he carried pictures of his children and grandchildren.

HENRY WOLFOND: HIS MAGNIFICENT SPACE FLIGHT IN JEFF BEZOS'S ROCKET FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM AND HATRED (Audio/Visual)

On November 22, 2024, Henry Wolfond, embarked on a historic mission to space aboard Jeff Bezos' New Shepard rocket, reaching an impressive altitude of 107 kilometers above Earth. The mission, which he described as a journey of peace, marked a personal milestone for Wolfond, who had long dreamed of becoming an astronaut. As the chairman and CEO of Bayshore Capital in Toronto, and the chair of the Confronting Antisemitism Committee of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Wolfond's accomplishments extend far beyond space. Upon returning to Earth, he was visibly moved, expressing his awe with the words, “We’re all one people, we’re all on this very fragile small planet. It’s amazing.” His passion for space exploration began in his youth, where he was captivated by every Gemini and Apollo mission, as well as the 1969 moon landing. As a child, he was also enthralled by the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he watched repeatedly, imagining a future where he would journey to the moon aboard a Pan Am rocket. Though he never became a fighter pilot due to vision limitations, Wolfond’s childhood love for space continued through his admiration for Star Trek and its iconic Captain Kirk and becoming a pilot at 17 years old. During his 12 minutes in space, Henry carried with him pictures of family members who had suffered in the Holocaust. Similarly, he carried pictures of his children and grandchildren.