Toga or Torah - with Rachel Goldberg-Polin
Call Me Back - with Dan Senor8 Des 2025

Toga or Torah - with Rachel Goldberg-Polin

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

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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

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

BRITTANY COHEN - Production Manager

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS AND PATTRICIO SPADAVECCIA - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Associate Producer

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Community Management

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

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