The Jewish Road Podcast

What You Never Heard About Palm Sunday

As Palm Sunday approaches, the excitement and anticipation for the coming kingdom fill the air. But what the people don't know is that Jesus is not bringing the kingdom like they thought. In this episode of the Jewish Road podcast, we delve deep into the Passion Week narrative through Jewish eyes.
As we see the crowd cutting down palm branches and enacting the Feast of Tabernacles, we realize that they expected Rome to be overthrown and peace to reign. However, what Jesus knew as He rode into Jerusalem was that it was not time for the Feast of Tabernacles yet, but instead, a much different holiday, Yom Kippur, the sacrifice of the Lamb. In fact, the entire Holy Week was devoted to Jesus proving He was the Lamb, worthy to be slain for our sins.
Join us as we unpack the true meaning of the Passion Week and explore it through Jewish eyes. Come with us on a journey through the Jewish customs and traditions that inform this important event, and learn the significance of Jesus's sacrifice.

The Best Of Jewish Humor - Season 3

On this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast:
Times are tough and we need to laugh. When we started The Jewish Road Podcast, we knew we wanted to take the Word of God seriously, live urgently and be aware of the times we are in, and be sure to laugh a bit - because life is short.
So we tell our own brand of jokes, Jewish humor.
This episode gives you the best moments from season three so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a moment as we take you "Back To The Catskills" and deliver some of our faves.
We will also give you a brief sneak peek at what is to come for our Season Four series of podcasts, plus some other significant upcoming events.

Oy To The World

On this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast:
Hanukkah and Christmas for many American Jews can cause confusion about which holiday to celebrate and how. Hanukkah, specifically, has lost much of its original meaning, and the birth of the Messiah, Christmas, is no different.
Presents, decorations, and even the true meaning of Hanukkah have now been heavily intertwined with those of Christmas, creating a December dilemma for many.
To combat this, we need to return to the origin stories of both narratives. For Hanukkah, we need to remember a God who sustained a small tribe of people in their fight for religious freedom against those who wanted to oppress them. For Christmas, we need to remember a prophesied Messiah who would save the world not through His birth, but His death.
'Tis the season to get back to the roots of what matters and connect to a greater story.

If Only This Were The Past

Now more than ever is a time to celebrate Hanukkah and hold onto the light of hope that it provides us. In 1932, Anti-Semitism was on the rise in Europe and many Jewish families could personally feel evil making its way towards them.
Despite what they saw out their window everyday, those with menorahs kept those lights alight and celebrated this historical holiday that not only brought light into their homes but brought a sense of strength and courage as well.
On this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we dive into why we should find reason to celebrate Hanukkah today in a time when Anti-Semitism seems more persistent than ever: to provide strength, promise, and hope for the future - even in dark times.

The Biblical Backstory Of Hanukkah

We travel back into the timeline of the Bible to uncover a fascinating connection between the stories of Antiochus Epiphanes IV and Jesus.
While Hanukkah is widely known as the Festival of Lights, and is enjoyed by millions around the world each year, many are unaware of its Biblical backstory.
From the perspective of the Old Testament book of Daniel, we can draw a connection between Hanukkah and Antiochus Epiphanes IV, who, in 167 BCE, desecrated a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and attempted to ban their religious, cultural and civil practices. His oppressive rule acted as a trigger for the Maccabees, who eventually liberated the Jews from their oppressor.
Over two thousand years later, this brave stand still has an impact on us all—for although we may not change our circumstances overnight, we still must learn from them how to fight oppression and maintain our faith in ourselves against all odds.
This crucial link can help us think differently about the Festival of Lights, known as Hanukkah. We must remember that one day there will be another "Antiochus" to come onto the scene, so we must always remain vigilant and prepared for his arrival.
Through this episode, we can better understand Hanukkah's significance, and also discover why it is so important to be ready for another tumultuous time in Jewish history.

Missing The Messiah

I saw a show the other day where a famous musician put on a costume and showed up at a karaoke bar. This person who normally sells out arenas was on stage in front of thirty people. She started singing one of her songs and the people loved it, except they didn't know it was her. They missed it - until the end of the show and the big reveal. Then it all made sense.
On this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we'll be talking about how the Jews of Jesus' day missed the Messiah and how we can avoid missing Him when He comes again. Toward the end of His time on earth, Jesus wept over Jerusalem, knowing her destruction was imminent. Why?
He said, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation."
The Jews of Jesus' day missed their Messiah. They missed His birth, His life, and His death.
And they had everything they needed to expect His coming. And so do we.
We have all of the prophecies pointing to His first coming fulfilled in Him. And we have all of the prophecies pointing to His second coming on the cusp of being fulfilled right now as we speak.
From the opening words of the book of Genesis to the closing of the Old Testament, all signs pointed to Jesus, the Messiah. This episode is a reminder for us, especially in this season, to be watchful and prepared so that when He comes again, we will not miss Him but will be ready to welcome Him with open arms.

Waiting As A Bride

In John 14, Jesus tells His disciples of the image of many rooms in His father’s house - He gives an invitation to come and take up residence. This is more than just a dry statement of faith. Jesus speaks in metaphor, using the concept of a marriage to illustrate the human relationship with God. 
In first-century culture, men would often go away to prepare a ‘place’ for their bride - usually encountered for the first time at the wedding feast. In essence, Jesus both foretells and promises his return. He will come back for us like a groom coming for His bride. 
In waiting and preparation, our role is uniquely transformational: we live not in static uncertainty but in proactive anticipation of The Day when the Messiah returns as promised with all eagerly awaiting joy! 
As the world awaits this season to remember the birth of the Messiah in His first coming, let it also point us to His assured return. Waiting can be hard, especially in days like these. In this 50th episode of The Jewish Road Podcast, may you be encouraged and enlightened to gain a deeper understanding of an old passage made new. May this season be one where each of us draws closer to the Lord as we anticipate His coming again! Blessings in your journey as you wait upon Him like a Bride waiting for her Groom!

Repairing The World This Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving week, there is much to be grateful for. As Jews, we are familiar with the concept of "Tikkun Olam" - translated from Hebrew as “Repair The World” - to remind us that though brokenness abides in our world, we've been invited to partner with God to help repair it.
We don't do this work alone. God's own acts of restoration have reverberated throughout history and continue to make their presence known today. As we look forward in anticipation to the return of Jesus, the ultimate recourse for our broken world is clear: He came once and will come again, restoring a world far better than its current state.
Far beyond humanitarian acts or green initiatives, we are called to bring a greater repair, one that brings salvation through the Messiah. We do not do this on our own: ultimately, it is only through Jesus that perfect order shall be restored in the world one day soon! 
What an incredible gift to offer thanks for this Thanksgiving week!  Don't miss a rare shorter conversation and stay tuned until the end when we make some announcements about upcoming opportunities. Plus, in this podcast episode, we'll tell you why you shouldn't pray until after your Thanksgiving meal. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you have a wonderful day filled with love, food, family, friends...and plenty of hope for God's redeeming grace!

A Short History Of Anti-Semitism In The Church

The barriers preventing many Jewish people from believing in Jesus are numerous and deeply entrenched. Unfortunately, much of this is due to the history between the Jewish people and the church throughout history. From the early church fathers to the Crusades, and extending from Martin Luther to the Holocaust, in the mind of the Jewish people, there is a history of how Christians have caused pain and suffering for Jewish people.
This podcast episode recounts a short history of Anti-Semitism for those unaware of how deep the roots go. We also give some initial steps Christians can take to overcome these barriers and extend an olive branch to our Jewish brothers and sisters.

A Conversation About Jewish Holidays

On this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we sit down with our friend, Rich Ferreira, from GTI Tours on his podcast. We talked about everything from an overview of the Jewish holidays that take place in the Fall as well as our upcoming trip to Israel.
Rich has been a friend for years who is well-versed in all things Israel and living as a Christian immersed in the Jewish context of Scripture. We are so lucky to have him as a friend and resource. Together we walk through Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
And of course, we talk about Rich's company GTI Tours and our upcoming trip to Israel with them. This is truly a not-to-be-missed episode packed full of information, conversation, and laughter. So grab your favorite fall cup of something warm, get cozy, and join us on the Jewish Road.