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 you on an extraordinary journey that goes beyond the typical narratives heard in Sunday school or synagogue. As Messianic Jews ourselves, we're standing at the fascinating intersection of faith where Jewish tradition and Christian understanding meet.

Picture it as a two-act play, with Jewish and Christian communities each attending a different act and missing the full performance. We're here to guide you through the entire show, revealing the profound links between Act One and Two, the Old and New Testaments.

We tackle real struggles, like challenging dialogues with Jews intrigued about Jesus but anxious about losing their identity, or Christians seeking to uncover the Jewish roots of their faith but unsure where to start. 

So, whether you're a Christian keen to dive deeper into your faith's roots or a Jew wrestling with your view of Jesus, join us in this down-to-earth conversation. It's time to journey down the full length of The Jewish Road and unveil the captivating story that unites us all.

Are you ready? Pop in those earbuds, and let's journey on "The Road Half Traveled" together.

Did you know that both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem - central to Jewish faith and history - were destroyed on the exact 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 coincidence would be staggering, wouldn't it? This is the reality of Tisha B'Av, a day of deep mourning in Judaism.

But Tisha B'Av is not just about the past, it's also about resilience and hope for a better future.

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 journey of the Covenant People in our last episode, it's time to unpack the complexities of the Commissioned People – the Church.

From its birth at Shavuot, or Pentecost, the Church was initially entirely Jewish. Yet, it evolved, expanding to welcome the Gentiles, or the Nations, and turning into a vibrant blend of Jews and Gentiles. Paul's metaphor of Gentiles being grafted into Israel's tree beautifully illustrates this unity in diversity.

In this episode, we explore the divine calling of the Church – its mission to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, beginning with the Jewish people and extending to every corner of the globe. This divine commissioning is not just a task or responsibility, but a significant part of the Church's identity.

We also look into the implications of this divine commission, the struggles, and triumphs, the challenges, and victories experienced by the Church in carrying out this mission.

Join us as we celebrate this “Unprecedented Union” and God's plan for unity and mutual enrichment. Together, we look at how our roots intertwine and the wondrous ways God uses His Commissioned People to accomplish His divine will.

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 the genesis of the nation of Israel. We touch upon the pivotal figure of Abraham, his extraordinary faith, and the divine promise that would forever change the course of history. As we trace the lineage of Abraham to the twelve tribes of Israel, we examine the covenant, its implications, its conditionalities, and its everlasting nature.

Listen to our latest podcast episode, "Israel: God's Covenant People," as we continue the exploration of the question, "Are There Really Two Chosen People?"

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 of God's Covenant People and Commissioned People.

For centuries, we've believed that the Jewish people alone held the title of God's chosen people. And yes, they still do! But here's where we have to take a deep dive: God's chosen people also include the Commissioned People, which encompasses both Jews and Gentiles. 

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.

On this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast, we welcome Candyce Hyslip to discuss Biblical hospitality, specifically what it means to open your home and heart to strangers and foreigners. Hospitality not only blesses those who are welcomed, but also the ones who open their tent and table.

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 Messiah could both suffer and live on, with some suggesting that it is His moral teachings that "live on" after His death. However, we argue that the Resurrection is necessary for fulfilling this prophecy, and that Yeshua's physical resurrection is significant for all.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 her Groom!

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.

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!

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.

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.

It seems as though Jesus keeps showing up at the right time unless you're part of the crowd trying to keep the same old traditions unchanged. He shows up and brings a whole new meaning to an ancient feast.

The Feast of Booths, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It is a pilgrimage feast when Jews worldwide celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the earth's bounty.

In this episode of the Jewish Road podcast, we take a look at the Jewish High Holy Day of Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement.

This holiday has roots in both the Old and New Testaments, and its implications are still relevant to how we live today.