Toga or Torah - with Rachel Goldberg-Polin
Toga or Torah - with Rachel Goldberg-Polin  
Podcast: Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
Published On: Mon Dec 08 2025
Description: This episode was presented by UJA. Support UJA’s work at UJA.orgSubscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=insideGift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/giftsListen to What’s Your Number: lnk.to/GsOESPSubscribe to Amit Segal’s newsletter ‘It’s Noon in Israel’:arkmedia.org/amitsegal/Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastCheck out Ark Media’s other podcasts: For Heaven's Sake: https://lnk.to/rfGlrA‘What’s Your Number?’: https://lnk.to/rfGlrAFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorTo order Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdnToday’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 countingCREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive ProducerBRITTANY COHEN - Production ManagerMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS AND PATTRICIO SPADAVECCIA - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Associate ProducerGABE SILVERSTEIN - Community ManagementYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer