Episode 146 - Still Chosen: Why Are So Many Christians Confused About Israel Right Now?
Christians are deconstructing - and Israel is getting left behind.
In this gripping episode, Matt and Ron Davis tackle a spiritual crisis erupting across the Church. As Christians deconstruct their faith, many are also unraveling their support for Israel.
But this isn’t just about politics or theology - it’s a battle for the narrative of God’s story.
Through honest reflection, cultural commentary, and biblical insight, the Davises unpack the subtle ways antisemitism creeps into pulpits and prayer rooms.
From the dangers of progressive ideology to the fear of social backlash, this conversation holds nothing back.
It’s not about taking sides. It’s about staying rooted.
Because if we lose Israel, we lose the plot.
Episode 145 - Building Friendship With the Jewish People (featuring Chris Byberg)
What happens when a quiet Canadian pastor steps into the rising tide of global antisemitism?
Chris Byberg isn’t looking to be a hero. He’s looking to be a friend.
A friend to rabbis. A friend to Jewish neighbors. A friend who refuses to stay silent.
In this gripping conversation, Chris shares his personal transformation - from growing up in a Jewish neighborhood to standing on the front lines of spiritual warfare in Parliament Hill.
He talks about the fear that silences pastors, the indifference that numbs the Church, and the quiet strength of showing up, again and again, in the name of love.
He reminds us that allyship isn’t found in hashtags. It’s forged in fire. In tears. In prayer.
In the kind of bold friendship that lays down comfort for covenant.
Episode 144 - The Heart of a Shepherd: Aliyah, Unity & The Spirit of Elijah (featuring Eitan Shishkoff)
What does it mean to stand in the land of Israel with the heart of a father?
In this episode, Messianic pastor and pioneer Eitan Shishkoff shares his journey from the Jesus Movement in California to planting communities of faith in the Galilee.
Through decades of ministry among Israeli Jews and returning immigrants (olim), Eitan has carried a consistent call: to embody the spirit of Elijah by turning hearts, building bridges, and preparing the way for the Messiah.
He shares the story behind Tents of Mercy, reflects on the struggles and beauty of aliyah, and casts a vision for unity between Jewish and Arab believers within Israel. With humility and hope, Eitan calls the global Church to recognize its connection to Israel - not as charity, but as family.
This isn’t just history. It’s prophecy in motion.
Episode 143 - Why Zionism Is Biblical, Not Political (featuring Dan Eshed)
What’s it like to live on the frontlines of biblical prophecy and modern warfare?
In this gripping conversation, we are joined by Dan Eshed, a third-generation Israeli and IDF soldier who shares firsthand what life is like just an hour from Gaza.
From serving in Gaza and Lebanon to navigating the heartbreak of hostages, Dan reveals the deeply human and spiritual layers of Israel’s ongoing fight for survival.
They discuss the challenges of distinguishing civilians from Hamas operatives, the global misunderstanding of Zionism, and the raw tension between justice, mercy, and truth.
Dan’s insights are both sobering and hopeful as he describes how solidarity, biblical identity, and divine calling shape Israel’s unshakable resilience - even under fire.
If you want to understand Israel beyond the headlines - from a biblical, historical, and personal lens - this episode will challenge and inspire you.
Episode 142 - The Ministry of Diapers: Knitting Together the Body in Israel (featuring Joshua Roberts)
Josh Roberts was a young Baptist pastor when he felt God whisper, “What about Israel?” That question changed everything.
In this episode, Josh shares how a simple Bible study in Romans 9–11 shattered his assumptions and led him to launch Qashar Ministries - a ministry focused on reconnecting the Church to the Jewish people, the Land of Israel, and the heart of God.
From confronting replacement theology to championing the One New Man, Josh unpacks why God’s covenant with Israel still matters, why the Church has drifted from its roots, and how unity between Jew and Gentile is key to unlocking the fullness of God’s plan.
This isn’t just about theology. It’s about awakening. It’s about identity. And it’s about preparing the Bride for Messiah’s return.
Episode 141 - From Black and White to Technicolor: Rediscovering the Bible’s Jewish Roots (featuring David Mack)
What if you’ve been reading the Bible in black and white… when it was meant to be in technicolor?
David Mack, founder of BLAC Ministries (Biblical Learning and Application Community), joins Matt and Ron to share how discovering the Jewishness of Jesus transformed his walk and his teaching.
From a life-changing encounter with Arnold Fruchtenbaum to building global discipleship resources translated into Swahili, Urdu, and Spanish, David’s journey is rooted in reclaiming the full biblical story.
They explore why Torah still matters, how modern churches often sideline Israel, and why a Star of David baseball cap stirred everything from conversations to controversy.
With humility and passion, David calls the Church to return to its Jewish foundation - not just for theological accuracy, but for spiritual vitality.
Episode 140 - The Importance of Israel (featuring Amir Mor)
Jerusalem isn’t just a city - it’s the heartbeat of history.
In this episode, recorded on the eve of Jerusalem Day, Amir Mor, a seasoned tour guide and native Israeli, walks us through the story of Jerusalem like few can.
From King David’s capital to Montefiore’s daring vision, from the Six-Day War to October 7th, Amir shares not only the triumphs but the traumas that have shaped Israel’s soul.
But this isn’t only about history. It’s about faith, resilience, and the question echoing across centuries: Where is God in the struggle?
Amir’s stories - personal, raw, and powerful - give us a window into Israel’s pain, its perseverance, and its unshakable hope.
As anti-Semitism rises worldwide, Amir reminds us that truth still matters. Evil is real. But so is redemption. And in the middle of war, prayer, and tears, there is a greater story unfolding.
Listen in, and let this journey through Jerusalem stir your heart for Israel, deepen your understanding of its history, and call you to stand for truth in a world upside down.
Episode 139 - Through the Eyes of a Watchman (featuring William Koenig)
From White House briefings to the streets of Jerusalem, William Koenig has seen prophecy and politics collide.
In this episode, he shares a front-row account of how world leaders unknowingly advance biblical timelines, the media’s war on Israel, and the spiritual battle shaping public opinion.
It’s a sweeping journey - spanning history, geopolitics, and the promises of God - that calls believers to watch, pray, and stand with Israel. Koenig’s perspective bridges the gap between breaking news and eternal truth, revealing patterns that echo the words of the prophets.
Whether you follow headlines or study Scripture, this conversation will equip you to see the times we’re living in with clarity and conviction.
Episode 138 - From the Frontlines to the Pulpit (featuring Pierre Altuna)
What happens when a boy grows up in the crossfire of Lebanon’s civil war, trains in Israel’s military camps, and survives a bomb blast by a miracle? Pastor Pierre Altunia’s life is a tapestry of danger, loss, and unexpected grace.
From being kidnapped by the PLO to fighting Hezbollah, his story is filled with moments where death seemed certain - until God intervened.
But this is more than a soldier’s memoir. It’s the journey of a man who knew “Christian” only as a label - until relentless love from his wife and a persistent pastor led him to surrender to Yeshua.
Now leading a vibrant Messianic congregation in northern Israel, Pierre stands as both shepherd and protector, guiding his flock through rockets, war, and the hope of reconciliation between Jew and Gentile.
This is faith forged in fire, hope born in the shadow of conflict, and a call to stand with Israel for the sake of God’s Kingdom.
Episode 137 - One New Man in a Divided Europe (featuring Sebastiaan van Wessem)
What happens when a Dutch pastor encounters the living heartbeat of Jerusalem?
Sebastiaan van Wessem shares his journey from a seminary-trained, Western lens to a Bible interpreted through first-century Jewish eyes.
From his first trip to Israel to the relaunch of KNGDM Alliance - with Jerusalem at its center - Sebastiaan has been on a mission to unite Jew and Gentile under Messiah.
But this vision unfolds in the shadow of rising antisemitism across Europe. From street protests to political battles over Israel’s right to defend itself, Sebastiaan exposes the spiritual forces at work and the cost of standing with God’s chosen people.
In this episode, you’ll hear how the One New Man isn’t theory - it’s a prophetic calling that challenges the Church to live as a united testimony before the Lord’s return.
Episode 136 - An Arab-Israeli Pastor Reaching Israel: The Gospel from Nazareth (featuring Rev. Dr. Saleem Shalash)
He once burned with hatred for Israel. Now, he’s rebuilding bridges from Nazareth to Jerusalem, from Arabs to Jews, and from division to divine reconciliation.
In this riveting episode, Dr. Rev. Saleem Shalash shares his extraordinary journey - raised as a Catholic Arab in Israel, hardened by bitterness, and unexpectedly wrecked by grace. A tragic accident. A voice from heaven. A Bible in his hands for the first time.
But this isn’t just a personal conversion story - it’s a call to the Church, to the nations, and to anyone willing to see beyond headlines and into the heart of God.
From confronting replacement theology to launching a humanitarian aid center that serves Jews and Arabs alike, Saleem is living proof that Jesus is still building bridges.
Episode 135 - Jesus Was Not a Christian (featuring Scott Volk)
Jesus wasn’t a Christian. He was a Jew. That truth alone is enough to unravel centuries of misunderstanding - and stir up the spiritual resistance of our age.
In this powerful episode, Scott Volk shares his deeply personal journey from being an "ignorant Jewish pastor" to leading a global ministry that blesses both Jews and Arabs in the name of Yeshua.
With passion and clarity, Scott dismantles replacement theology, calls the Church to awaken from its apathy, and reminds us that Israel holds the key to God’s redemptive plan for the world.
From heartfelt humor to prophetic fire, this is more than theology. It’s a wake-up call for the Church to embrace the Jewishness of Jesus, God’s eternal promises, and the unity He desires among all people.
Episode 134 - Is Israel Starving the Palestinians? (featuring Yair Pinto)
October 7 changed everything.
Sirens wailed. Missiles fell. Terrorists infiltrated. Yair Pinto, a Messianic Jewish IDF reservist, was thrust from his home into a war zone. But that was only the beginning.
As bombs exploded around him, a darker battle unfolded - one not of bullets and tanks, but of headlines and hashtags.
From the front lines of Gaza to the propaganda war online, Yair has been fighting for truth - armed with his Bible, his camera, and an unshakable faith in the God of Israel.
In this gripping conversation, he tears through the media lies, explains why aid is piling up unused in Gaza, and lays bare the spiritual war waged against the Jewish people.
But this isn’t just about geopolitics. It’s about promises. About faithfulness. About a God who hasn’t changed His mind - and a world that’s forgotten He ever made a promise to begin with.
If you care about truth, about Israel, and about the God who wrote the end from the beginning - you need to hear this.
Episode 133 - From the Bomb Shelter Capital of the World (featuring Michael Beener)
On October 7, 2023, the city of Sderot became one of the first places Hamas unleashed its brutal assault. But right there - in a city riddled with bullet holes, bomb shelters on every corner, and stories of terrorized children - there’s something unexpected: life.
In this gripping and emotional episode, we sit down with Pastor Michael, leader of City of Life Ministries, just steps from the rubble where terrorists stormed and slaughtered innocent police officers on that Shabbat morning.
He takes us into the chaos of those early hours, the miracle that spared his apartment building, and what it’s like to raise a family under rocket fire - with just 15 seconds to run for cover.
But this isn’t just a story of survival. It’s a story of spiritual resistance. Of staying. Of blessing. Of building a community that not only endures, but proclaims hope in Yeshua despite pressure, persecution, and war.
This episode reveals what the global headlines miss: how God is still writing His story in the land of Israel - even when the world wants to erase it.
Episode 132 - The Massacre In Syria No One’s Talking About (featuring Mansor Ashkar)
While global attention remains locked on Gaza, another atrocity is unfolding across the border in Syria - and almost no one is talking about it.
In this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast, Matt and Ron Davis speak with Mansor Ashkar, a prominent Israeli Druze leader, to expose the silent ethnic cleansing of the Druze people by radical Sunni factions.
These are Israel’s allies - men who serve in the IDF, who have bled and died protecting Jewish lives - now watching their extended families be slaughtered just across the border.
Some have taken matters into their own hands, crossing illegally into Syria in an attempt to rescue their relatives.
This episode is not only a wake-up call - it’s a moral reckoning. Why is the world silent? And what does this mean for Christians and Jews who claim to care about justice?
Episode 130 - Faith Under Fire (featuring Chaim Malespin)
We sat down at the Sea of Galilee with an Israeli special forces commander just hours after he returned from the front lines in Gaza. What followed wasn’t just a conversation - it was a collision of war, faith, and the kingdom of God.
In this powerful and emotional episode, we talk about everything from blowing up terror tunnels and rescuing hostages to the unseen spiritual battle raging behind the headlines.
Our guest, a Jewish believer and elite IDF soldier, shares how he’s been sustained through nearly 600 days of combat, what the Bible says about Gaza, and why the real hope for peace isn’t political - it’s prophetic.
You won’t hear this anywhere else.
Episode 129 - An Iranian Christian View of the Iran-Israel Conflicts
What happens when a Muslim from Iran meets Jesus in America - then watches his homeland go to war with Israel?
Shah Afshar was born and raised in Iran, shaped by a shame-based culture, a devout Muslim family, and the pressure to uphold family honor. But everything changed when he encountered a group of joyful American college students and heard the name of Jesus - not as a prophet, but as Savior.
In this episode, Shah shares his powerful journey from Islam to Christianity, the cultural weight of honor and shame, and what he sees unfolding in the Middle East today.
With a foot in both worlds, he gives insight few can offer: why 80% of Iranians quietly cheer when Israel strikes military targets…and why Persians and Jews have a deeper shared history than most realize.
Episode 128 - Is This the Spark? - Iran, Nukes, and the End of Negotiation
The ground is shaking beneath Israel. And most of the world isn’t paying attention.
Fresh off a 17-day trip through the land - along war-torn borders and ancient prophetic fault lines - we return with a warning: something is building.
The people are exhausted. The hostages are still missing. Iran is preparing for war. And while embassies evacuate, the Church scrolls past in silence.
This episode isn’t casual listening. It’s a wake-up call. The stage is being set. And if we’re not watching, praying, and standing with Israel, we’ll miss what God is doing right in front of us.
Episode 127 - Why Didn’t His Brothers Recognize Him? - The Story of Joseph, Through Jewish Eyes
Joseph was thrown into a pit. Sold into slavery. Locked in prison. But God had a plan - a plan bigger than anyone could see. A plan that would save his people.
Sound familiar?
Joseph isn’t just a historical figure - he’s a foreshadowing of the Messiah.
From his betrayal by his own brothers to his rise to power in Egypt, every detail points to something greater. His story echoes through time - straight to the life, death, and resurrection of Yeshua.
But here’s the real question: Why didn’t his brothers recognize him? And why don’t so many Jewish people recognize Jesus today?
In this episode, we uncover the hidden layers in Joseph’s story and how they connect to Israel’s ultimate redemption.
If you’ve ever wondered why the Jewishness of Jesus matters, this one’s for you.
Episode 126 - Silence Feeds Evil - The Story That Keeps Repeating
Silence has never stopped evil - it only fuels it.
We've seen it before. Nazi Germany. 9/11. Tehran, 1979.
And now, once again, the world is looking away. As thousands are slaughtered in Syria, as anti-Semitism spreads like wildfire, and as Israel faces existential threats, the silence is deafening.
In this episode, we unpack the ancient and modern battle against the Jewish people - and why the story of Esther, Mordecai, and Purim is more relevant than ever.
The enemy’s tactics haven’t changed. Neither has the need for bold voices to rise up.
Esther had a choice: speak up or stay silent. You have the same choice today.
Key Takeaways
Silence feeds evil. History shows that when the world stays quiet, the worst atrocities unfold.
Israel is under attack - again. The enemies of the Jewish people are always calling for annihilation, and today is no different.
The Book of Esther is about courage. God’s name is hidden, but His hand is clear - just like today.
Evil always overplays its hand. Haman thought he had won - until the tables turned.
This is your Esther moment. Will you speak out, or will you look away?
Chapter Markers
[00:05] - Welcome to The Jewish Road Podcast
[01:15] - Syria in Flames - And No One Is Talking About It
[06:42] - The Media’s Silence and the Rise of Anti-Semitism
[11:30] - History Repeats: The Enemies of Israel Have the Same Goal
[14:20] - The Story of Purim - A Battle Against Annihilation
[19:15] - Esther, Mordecai, and the Power of Speaking Up
[25:48] - The Chilling Words of Martin Niemöller - Why Silence Is Never Neutral
[30:55] - The Biblical Chiasm in Esther - God's Hidden Hand
[37:10] - Yarden Bebas’ Bold Stand in Gaza - “I Was Born a Jew, I Will Die a Jew”
[41:25] - The Call to Action - Will You Be Silent, or Will You Speak?
Stand With Israel. Speak the Truth.
This is no time for silence. The battle against the Jewish people is ancient, but the call remains the same: who will stand?
Learn more and stay engaged. Visit TheJewishRoad.com for resources, events, and ways to get involved.
Speak out. Share this episode. Tell the truth. Push back against the lies.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Evil thrives when good people do nothing. This is your time.
Because if we don’t speak now, who will?