Call Me Back: The Untold Story of Hannah Senesh – with Matti Friedman

This episode of The Ricochet Superfeed explores the untold story of Hannah Senesh and the 1944 British-backed parachutist mission into Nazi-occupied Europe, a mission that failed militarily but became a foundational myth in Israeli identity. Host Dan Senor and guest Matti Friedman, author of *Out of the Sky*, delve into the complex motivations behind the mission, revealing that its true purpose was not to save Jews or defeat the Nazis, but to create a powerful narrative of Jewish heroism and resistance in the face of catastrophe. The parachutists—many of them young refugees from Europe—understood their mission was likely fatal, yet they acted to inspire future generations and shift the Jewish story from passivity to action. Drawing on diaries, letters, and archival material, Friedman shows how figures like Senesh, Enzo Sereni, and Zivia Lubetkin saw themselves as storytellers, crafting a legacy that would endure beyond the war. The episode resonates deeply in 2026, as Israel grapples with the aftermath of a prolonged and devastating war, confronting questions of sacrifice, meaning, and national purpose. The story challenges listeners to consider what it means to act in the face of overwhelming odds, not for immediate success, but for the long-term shaping of history and identity. The episode concludes with a powerful reflection on the enduring relevance of these figures. Despite their flaws and the tragic outcomes, their actions were driven by a profound belief in the power of narrative and moral courage. Friedman connects personally to their journey, seeing in them a mirror of his own immigrant experience and commitment to Israel. The story, he argues, is not just about the past—it’s a call to reclaim the humanistic, story-driven core of Zionism in a time when Israel risks losing its narrative clarity. As the nation mourns on Yom Hazikaron, the episode offers a poignant reminder: heroism isn’t always about winning—it’s about refusing to surrender to despair, about choosing to act even when the outcome is uncertain.