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.

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.

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!

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.

Rosh Hashanah - Feast of Trumpets - Yom Teruah - Zikaron Teruah - the Jewish New Year. That's right, so many different names describing one holiday.

It is one of the biggest holidays on the Jewish calendar and is the start of the High Holy Days season. Synagogues are packed with Jewish people today, gathered to hear the blowing of the shofar and beginning 10 Days of Awe and repentance, hoping they will be inscribed in the Book of Life for one more year.

Yet, not one thing of all of that is found in Scripture. It is strictly tradition.

Maybe it's time we take a deeper look and rethink Rosh Hashanah.

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 two so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a moment as we take you "Back To The Catskills" and deliver some of our faves.

Also, check out our new announcement about how you can now submit your favorite jokes on a new site: Back To The Catskills! Maybe we'll read one of your jokes on an upcoming podcast!

When we look at Pentecost and Acts 2 we marvel and are amazed at the 3,000 who receive the Holy Spirit. We go to the next chapter and forget it's still Pentecost. Just six hours later, Peter and John are going up to the temple and a man who has been lame from birth is healed and the crowds are even more amazed.

Peter says, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?" Why do you marvel? This is the promised day that was spoken of by the prophet Joel. And in case you're still doubting, not only does Peter quote Joel, he applies it to what's happening right then and there. This is what was promised! The result? 5,000 were added that day.

The early church was filled with people who were steeped in Jewish culture, thought, and tradition. They were men of Israel who worshiped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And the message they preached was that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was promised in the Hebrew Scriptures. If you want to understand the early church, you need to understand its Jewish roots.

Join us on this episode of the Jewish Road podcast as we look into the events of the afternoon of the Pentecost and how they were a fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophet Joel from Act one, being brought to life in real time.

Somehow over the last 2,000 years, the followers of Jesus have morphed so much so that Christians today don't remotely resemble their spiritual ancestors. The church doesn't look all that Jewish. So much so, we get a surprised and perplexed look when people find out that we follow Jesus AND WE'RE JEWISH!

It's almost as if the two don't really go together. Go back 2,000 years and tables were completely turned the other way.

Our podcast series will explore the Jewish roots of the early church and how its founders were steeped in Jewish culture, thought, and tradition. They were...Jewish. We'll also see how this rich heritage has been lost over time and how we can reclaim it today.

In first-century Jerusalem, it's been 50 days since Passover, Jesus was crucified, rose again, and appeared to more than 500 followers over the course of 40 days.

Now, it's ten days after that and there is a gathering in Jerusalem waiting for the promised Helper. When the Holy Spirit descends on this gathering of Jewish followers, it would change the world. The beginnings were Jewish from its inception and would start a movement still prevalent today.

Let's dig in and look at Acts 2 from Act Two (see what we did there?), and of course, jump back to the roots of Pentecost, AKA Shavuot, from Act One.

Have you ever wondered about the biblical origins of Resurrection Sunday?

In this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we explore the Feast of First Fruits and how it ties into the story of Jesus’ resurrection. We bring context to the resurrection story by going back to Act One, the Old Testament, and working through the themes of Jesus being the second Adam, what the Apostle Paul would later call the firstfruits of all creation.

You won’t want to miss this in-depth exploration of an important holiday. This episode is packed with insights that will help you understand the resurrection in a whole new light.

“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-23).

Are you looking for a deeper understanding of Passover?

On this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we explore Exodus 12 and the command to Israel, and subsequent generations, to observe the Passover. We focus on the instructions concerning the lamb and the blood on the doorposts. This was the only means of salvation and would later point to Jesus, the Lamb of God, our only means of salvation.

You will gain a deeper understanding of one of Israel’s most important holidays. The podcast is filled with insightful commentary that will make you think about this holiday in a new way and give the background from the Old Testament (Act One) to set up as a precursor to the New Testament (Act Two).

Empires and Kingdoms.

A moment to contextualize the moment we find ourselves in, what’s happening in our world today. The stage is being set. The actors are taking their place. The classic battle between allegiance to empire or kingdom is being waged. As we have gone through history, we have seen the Pharaohs building their empire demanding total commitment through oppression against the backdrop of a God leading His people through the wilderness, like a shepherd leads His sheep. We have seen empire rear its ugly head: Nebuchadnezzar and the empire of Babylon, Herod and the empire of Rome, Hitler and the Third Reich.

This week we’ve seen Vladimir Putin demand allegiance to the Russian empire.

“Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

By their wit and wile – though behind the scenes orchestrated by God – Esther and Mordecai foiled Haman’s plot. Following Haman’s execution and the deliverance of the Jews, Esther and Mordecai established a feast for future generations to celebrate their people’s survival for “their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration” (Esther 9:22).

And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews… obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies… that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor. (Esther 9:20-22)

Are you looking for a good laugh? We have the perfect solution!

We have a bonus podcast episode for you. Our bonus episode is packed with some of our "best of" Jewish humor from season one. How is it possible that we have a "best of" already in the first season? You're asking too many questions!

If you want to finish out this tough year with some laughs, then our show is just what your Jewish doctor ordered. You’ll be laughing out loud in no time!

Sit back and relax as we take care of all your laughter needs for today! 

And if you missed any of our other episodes, this is the perfect time to check them out. 

See you for season TWO coming Spring 2022!

Are you looking for a way to celebrate Hanukkah with your family? Should you as a Christian even celebrate Hanukkah? Is it allowed?

The Jewish Road Podcast is here to help. We know that it can be difficult to find the right words and traditions, so we’re going to share some ideas on how you can make this holiday special. You might even discover something new about your faith in the process!

Celebrating Hanukkah has never been easier than it will be after listening to our podcast. This year, let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime. It’s time for your family tradition of Hanukkah to get a start, or an upgrade! Let us show you how easy it is by tuning into our podcast today!

Check out our Instagram account @thejewishroad for our Quick Guide To Celebrate Hanukkah At Home.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the Jewish people during that 400 year gap between the Old Testament and New Testament?

The story of Hanukkah is an incredible one. It’s a story of God working behind the scenes in faithfulness to His people, despite another ruler trying to wipe out the Jewish people and the promised seed of David.

This podcast tells this incredible story so you may know the WHOLE story! You won’t want to miss it! 

Have you ever heard of Simchat Torah? Nope, didn't think so.

This is a holiday that happens on the Jewish calendar that is unique. In the telling of this holiday lies an important truth: the centrality of the Torah in Jewish life.

This is one of the more unique holidays we celebrate as Jews. You won't see a section in Target with all of the latest "Simchat Torah Decor," though it could be fun, just not profitable.

There are some things that happen during this holiday that have a direct impact on how we live our lives as "people of the Book." And you don't have to be Jewish to appreciate and learn from this time.

This is an episode you don't want to miss if you're interested in what goes on inside the synagogue during this time of year or if you just want to learn more about Judaism and why we do what we do!

So grab your favorite vintage bottle of Manischewitz, sit back, relax and enjoy The Jewish Road Podcast - Episode #10 - "Joy of the Word."