Toga or Torah - with Rachel Goldberg-Polin

2025-12-08

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This episode was presented by UJA. Support UJA’s work at UJA.org

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=inside

Gift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/gifts

Listen to What’s Your Number: lnk.to/GsOESP

Subscribe to Amit Segal’s newsletter ‘It’s Noon in Israel’:arkmedia.org/amitsegal/

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Today’s Episode:

We are less than a week away from the beginning of Hanukkah. Keeping with recent Call me Back tradition, Dan was joined by Rachel Goldberg-Polin to discuss the timeless meaning of the Hanukkah story. What does it say about the conflict Jews face today? Can the few really defeat the many? And why are Jews so obsessed with counting?

(00:00) Introduction

(04:20) Dedicating the episode to Ran Gvili

(06:59) Setting the stage for the story of Hanukkah

(15:17) How the Jews responded to Hellenization

(19:00) Toga or Torah: the purest form of religion persecution

(24:57) So what’s the real story…

(27:57) Hanukkah is a time for Jewish PDA

(33:24) Lighting the menorah throughout Jewish history

(39:46) The message of Hanukkah: we have to draw a line

(46:29) Jewish polarization and our obsession with counting

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor