Call Me Back - with Dan Senor Toga or Torah - with Rachel Goldberg-Polin
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Dec 8, 2025 Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a Jewish educator known for her insights on Jewish history and identity, joins to discuss the true meaning of Hanukkah. She explores the holiday's roots in resistance against oppression, the significance of the oil miracle, and what it reveals about contemporary Jewish identity. Rachel emphasizes the lessons of unity and resilience in a polarized world while reflecting on the importance of Jewish rituals like counting, celebrating how even small acts can impact society. Tune in for a rich conversation on heritage and hope!
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Alexander Bowed To Simon The Righteous
- Alexander the Great famously bowed to Simon the Righteous, sparing Jerusalem from conquest.
- That encounter led to Alexander becoming a common Jewish name from 332 BCE onward.
First Targeted Religious Persecution
- Antiochus IV outlawed Jewish ritual and defiled the Temple, creating the first recorded religious persecution targeting practice.
- That persecution produced both martyrs and collaborators, sharpening communal divisions.
The Tiny Jar Of Oil That Lasted
- After the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple they found one sealed jar of oil that should have lasted one day.
- Miraculously, that oil burned for eight days while new oil was prepared.