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From the Holocaust to October 7: Why Moral Clarity Still Matters

The Joy of Living Podcast with Barry Shore

What makes an ordinary person risk everything for a stranger? In this stirring episode of The JOY of LIVING, host Barry Shore welcomes back author and historian Richard Hurowitz for a deeply moving conversation about courage, compassion, and the fragile state of moral clarity in our world today.

Drawing from his acclaimed book In the Garden of the Righteous, Richard shares stories of unsung heroes who saved Jews during the Holocaust — people who chose humanity over fear, often at great personal risk. Together, Barry and Richard explore the power of perspective, the danger of historical amnesia, and how language and ideology are being twisted in today’s discourse.

This is not just a history lesson — it’s a wake-up call. With rising antisemitism, cultural confusion, and deep political polarization, this episode invites listeners to rethink their values, recognize everyday miracles, and ultimately choose to go MAD — Make A Difference.

Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and uplifted.

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Show Notes:

[12.00] The Power of Perspective and Miracles

  • Barry Shore dives into the core purpose of the show: empowering YOU to live with joy, purpose, and positivity.
  • He reframes ordinary life through acronyms like SMILE (Seeing Miracles In Life Every day) and CREATE (Causing Rethinking Enabling All To Excel).
  • Through his personal story of sudden paralysis and long recovery, Barry shows how choosing joy transforms suffering.
  • He emphasizes that being alive and able to listen is already a miracle many don’t get.
  • Humor and joy are part of the medicine: “FUN” becomes “F U capital N capital N!”
  • Barry introduces key life fundamentals: life has purpose, go MAD (Make A Difference), and unlock power in everyday words.
  • He reminds listeners that choices, not chances, determine our destiny.

[18.15] Richard Hurowitz on the Seeds of His Book

  • Richard shares the emotional origin of his book after a college visit to the Holocaust Museum, particularly moved by the exhibit on rescuers.
  • The story of Sophie and Hans Scholl and the White Rose resistance ignites his passion to highlight moral courage.
  • His viral New York Times article revealed a public hunger for stories of bravery and compassion.
  • Richard realizes the rescuers’ stories offer a needed counter-narrative to tragedy and a way to teach resilience.
  • He notes these figures are rarely studied, despite embodying extraordinary moral heroism.
  • Richard began publishing more rescue stories, each met with widespread positive response.
  • He frames his book as a toolkit for compassion and moral clarity in a divided world.

[26.10] A Rising Tide of Antisemitism and Misunderstanding

  • Barry and Richard discuss the disturbing rise of antisemitism, particularly in elite academic circles post-October 7.
  • Richard explains the Marxist and post-colonial ideologies fueling hatred, often cloaked in moral righteousness.
  • He warns how genocide is being redefined in ways that erode historical truth and weaponize language.
  • There’s a stark contrast between the courage of historical rescuers and the ignorance driving today’s extremism.
  • Barry draws parallels to quicksand societies when civil discourse breaks down.
  • They explore the danger of valuing ideology over facts, and the fragility of historical memory.
  • The conversation calls for a return to nuance, education, and shared moral ground.

[34.20] The Sugihara Story: Kindness Amid Chaos

  • Barry and Richard unpack the stunning story of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who issued visas to Jews against orders.
  • Sugihara’s courage saved thousands, working tirelessly even from a train platform as he departed.
  • His empathy and moral clarity defied bureaucratic indifference and political risk.
  • The role of Curaçao visas and the Trans-Siberian Railway were part of a miraculous escape chain.
  • Despite being punished by his government post-war, Sugihara’s legacy endured through those he saved.
  • The story is a poignant example of quiet heroism and lasting impact through small, repeated acts.
  • Richard emphasizes that such stories ask us, “What would you do in that moment?”

[44.10] Honoring the Righteous and Reclaiming Our Values

  • Richard reflects on how we don’t reward decency or moral courage enough in modern society.
  • He sees education and family upbringing as essential to shaping future rescuers.
  • Barry draws connections to ancient wisdom and the persistence of Jewish learning as a target of evil regimes.
  • They mourn the disappearance of moral clarity and shared civic values across political lines.
  • Richard warns how historical ignorance fuels today’s extremism, calling for a revival of balanced education.
  • Both men express faith in individual goodness, reminding listeners that moral heroism still exists.
  • The episode closes on a call to action: go MAD (Make A Difference), value kindness, and remember to say “thank you.”

Insider Tips:

Nicole Iny is the Executive Director of Grants and Consumer Education at FAIR Health, a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. FAIR Health possesses the nation’s largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 47 billion claim records. It is dedicated to bringing transparency and integrity to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support.

Topics:

  • What is FAIR Health?
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  • What obstacles do older adults and family caregivers face when navigating the healthcare system, and what strategies can they use to find the services and support they need?
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About Richard Hurowitz

Richard Hurowitz is a writer, investor, and the publisher of The Octavian Report, the magazine of ideas, now on Substack. He is the chief executive officer of Octavian and Company LLC, an investment firm.

Richard’s writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Times of London, the Los Angeles Times, Time, the Daily Beast, the Boston Globe, USA Today, CNBC, the Weekly Standard, History Today and the Jerusalem Post. His book on Holocaust rescuers, In the Garden of the Righteous, was published by HarperCollins in January 2023, was nominated for the Wingate Prize and received positive reviews from such diverse outlets as the Wall Street Journal, PEOPLE, the New York Review of Books and the Christian Science Monitor.