The Battle Over Jewish Storytelling: A Hanukkah Conversation with Dr. Tanya White (Part 2)

Dec 10, 2025
46 mins

Episode Description

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Book for the Jerusalem Marathon "Return, Reconnect, and Run for Resilience" tour: sababatravel.com


In Part 2 of The Battle Over Jewish Storytelling: A Hanukkah Conversation, Mijal sits down with Dr. Tanya White to explore the deeper meaning of Hanukkah—beyond the oil. Together they unpack the three major narratives of the holiday: the historical Maccabee revolt, the rabbinic miracle of the oil, and the Al Hanisim prayer that weaves together human courage and divine presence. Speaking from Israel after October 7, Tanya reflects on a new “renaissance of the spirit” and what Hanukkah can teach us today about Jewish resilience, covenant, and hope. This timely, inspiring conversation reframes Hanukkah as a story of agency, faith, and the light we create together.

Here is a link to Dr. Tanya White website, where you can learn more about her work and find links to her podcast.

https://www.tanyawhite.org/


We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here:

https://simchattorahchallenge.org/

https://www.sefaria.org/texts


Note: Noam Weissman will be back next week's episode .


Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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