The Battle Over Jewish Identity: A Hanukkah Conversation with Sarah Hurwitz (Part 1)

In preparation for Hanukkah, Mijal sits down with her friend and bestselling author Sarah Hurwitz to rediscover the holiday’s deeper meaning. Together they explore the grown-up story of the Maccabees, the complexities of assimilation and resistance, and how Hanukkah’s themes echo the identity struggles facing Jews today. Drawing on insights from Here All Along and As a Jew, Sarah reflects on courage, community, and what it means to live proudly and unapologetically Jewish in 2025.

Here is Sarah Hurwitz's website with links to her books and bio:

sarahhurwitz.net

Here All Along (sarahhurwitz.net/books/here-all-along)

As a Jew (sarahhurwitz.net/books/as-a-jew)

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:

simchattorahchallenge.org

sefaria.org/texts

Note: Noam was traveling at the time of this recording.

Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (youtube.com/channel/UCU63EiU7Y-8xcRntPIRVrzA).

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