The Jewish Road Podcast

There is the practice of Tashlich, a deeply symbolic ceremony that resonates with believers of all backgrounds. As the sun sets and the day comes to an end, many Jewish people flock to rivers and streams, emptying their pockets or throwing pieces of bread into the water. This simple yet powerful act serves as a physical embodiment of letting go, a casting away of sins and burdens. For Christians,...

Central to the Days of Awe is what we call Shabbat Shuvah, or the "Sabbath of Return." Situated between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, this Shabbat holds a special significance. It serves as a momentary pause, a sacred interval for personal and communal reflection. In a season filled with introspection and repentance, Shabbat Shuvah invites us to come home - to return to the Lord with all our heart...

The human soul carries a deep yearning for atonement. In cultures around the world and across the broad expanse of religious thought, rituals and traditions abound, highlighting the lengths we go to find relief from the weight of our mistakes and misdeeds. The Jewish people are no different. As followers of Jesus, we know that our atonement not only covered our sins once for the next year, but als...

The concept of Tzedakah, often translated as “charity,” but more accurately understood as righteousness or justice. Giving isn't merely a charitable endeavor, but an ethical obligation. For Christians, this resonates deeply with the New Testament teachings on almsgiving and love for neighbor. Here, the idea of 'faith without works is dead' rings loud and clear.

These Days of Awe invite us into the heart of prayer, or Tefillah, in Hebrew. Prayer is a universal act, a meeting place between the human and the divine, and during these days, it takes on an even more profound significance. Tefilah is less about asking God for what we need, and more about aligning ourselves with God’s will. For Christians, the idea of interceding with Jesus as our mediator adds...

Let’s look into the essence of Teshuvah, which in Hebrew means "returning" or "repentance." While the word "repentance" might conjure up images of regret and shame, Teshuvah is about turning toward something as much as it's about turning away from something else. It's about re-aligning ourselves with God. The month preceding the High Holy Days, known as Elul, is traditionally a time to begin this...

The sound of the shofar (ram’s horn) calls us to something extraordinary - Yom Teruah, commonly known as the Day of Trumpets. This isn't just any call; it's an announcement, a heralding of something majestic. The trumpet's sound penetrates the soul, reminding us to awaken from our spiritual slumber. For Christians, the trumpets hold a dual meaning: they remind us of God's sovereignty and offer a g...

As the Days of Awe kick off, we find ourselves on the cusp of a deeply spiritual journey. It's a time to pause and reflect, to account for the year that's been and prepare for the one that's coming. The Jewish tradition teaches that during these Ten days, three books are opened in the heavenly courts: the Book of Life, the Book of Death, and the Book of the In-Between. Each person's fate for the c...

The human soul seems hardwired to long for atonement—a strong, sometimes desperate, desire for forgiveness and release. This is a sentiment that echoes across cultures and religious practices, revealing a shared yearning to be set right with God. We find in the story of the Akedah a vivid representation of how far God was willing to go to grant us that atonement. "God will provide for himself the...

Ever been on a hunt for your glasses just to find them perched on your head? Or searched for your phone while you're actually holding it? Sometimes the things we're looking for are right in front of us, hidden in plain sight. We wrote this guide with our Christian friends in mind for that very reason. You might think that the upcoming Jewish High Holy Days aren't for you, that they're exclusively...

Are you faced with a challenge that feels too big to handle? Do fear, anxiety, or worry keep you awake at night? In this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast, titled "Faith In The Midst Of Fear," we turn to one of the most well-known stories in the Bible: David vs. Goliath. But this episode isn’t just about a young boy and a giant man; it's about something deeper. What gave young David the courage t...

Ever felt like you're missing a piece of the puzzle in your faith journey? Or that there's more to the story of Jesus that remains unexplored? Or, as a Jew, have you grappled with the idea of embracing Jesus, feeling it might mean forsaking your cherished heritage? If this hits home for you, then this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast has your name on it. In "The Road Half Traveled," we invite yo...

Did you know that both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem - central to Jewish faith and history - were destroyed on same day, centuries apart? It's as if time stood still to mark a profound period of loss and mourning for the Jewish people. To put this in perspective, imagine if another event of the magnitude of September 11th happened again on the same date, but centuries later. The sheer...

In this third and final episode in our “Two Chosen People” series, we journey into understanding the role and identity of God's Commissioned People – the Church. As we have previously explored, God's chosen ones are two distinct, yet intimately connected groups – the Covenant People (Jews) and the Commissioned People (the Church made up of Jews and Gentiles). After having looked into the unique jo...

Genesis 12:1-3 — The verses that marked the start of an extraordinary covenant. Not by number, not by strength, but by divine decree – Israel, God's Covenant People. This episode unfolds the story of Israel, a nation marked by faith, struggle, and divine covenants. But what makes them 'God's Chosen People'? What does 'chosenness' mean, and why Israel? We start with a journey back in time, back to...

Prepare yourselves for a profound revelation that challenges our preconceived notions. Buckle up, for we are about to dive headfirst into an eye-opening journey through a new three-episode series: "The Unprecedented Union." In this series, we unveil a truth that might shatter your previous understanding: There are not one, but two chosen people of God! Now, stay with us as we unpack this concept o...

On this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast: We discuss the importance of remembering the Holocaust in the face of a history that is quickly being erased and how we are being threatened again as a people to be destroyed from the face of the earth. We begin by reflecting on the stories of Holocaust survivors and the Jewish people’s fierce determination to remember the names of those whose lives were...

We welcome Candyce Hyslip to discuss Biblical hospitality, specifically what it means to open your home and heart to strangers and foreigners. Throughout the conversation, we explore the concept of hospitality and its significance in both the Old and New Testaments, or what we like to call Act One and Two. We examine the story of Abraham and Sarah, who welcomed three strangers into their home and...

In this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast, we explore the significance of the Resurrection in Messianic theology. The Resurrection is not merely a Christian doctrine, but is rooted in Jewish scripture, foretold in the Tanakh. As Isaiah 53 prophesied, the Messiah would suffer and die as a sacrificial lamb, but also "see His offspring and prolong His days." Scholars have long debated how the Messia...

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...

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...

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, creatin...

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...

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...

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 Roa...