(219) Why the Torah Portion Matters: How Weekly Scripture Shapes Jewish Life — and What Christians Can Learn from It

In this thoughtful and accessible episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed explore one of the defining rhythms of Jewish life: the weekly Torah portion. What is the parsha, where did it come from, and why has it unified Jewish communities across centuries and continents? Pesach explains how the annual cycle of fifty four readings structures Jewish spiritual time, shapes synagogue life, and keeps the Five Books of Moses at the center of Jewish consciousness. Along the way, the conversation touches on the Ten Commandments and their unique (yet not hierarchical) place within Jewish law, including the surprising history of why Jews once recited them daily and why that practice was discontinued. Pesach also reflects on how the Torah's communal rhythm compares to Christian liturgical seasons like Christmas and Easter. Before diving into Scripture, the two hosts briefly address the current U.S.–Iran negotiations under the Trump administration, offering a clear-eyed take on what is at stake for Israel and the region. This is a rich blend of Bible, history, theology, and contemporary geopolitics — all told in the warm, candid "one Bible, two voices" style that defines Shoulder to Shoulder.

In this gripping episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed sit down with Dr. Tuvia Book, the oldest combat medic to serve in the IDF during the Swords of Iron war. Book offers a raw, first-person account of returning to service at age 55, racing into Gaza under fire with Israel's elite Palmar medical extraction unit, and witnessing both the devastation of October 7 and the extraordinary courage of Israeli soldiers and medics. Beyond the battlefield, Book describes how Israeli innovation transformed combat medicine, saving lives in minutes that once would have been lost. He reflects on faith, duty, and what it means to "walk the walk" in a moment of national crisis, while also sharing the remarkable story of how the final hostage, Rav Gvili, was located and brought home. This is a conversation about trauma and healing, darkness and light, and why the struggle in Gaza is not only Israel's war, but a global battle between civilization and a death cult. To learn more about Tuvia or to get in touch with him, go to his website today.

As Iran's regime faces unprecedented internal revolt, the Middle East may be approaching a historic turning point. In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed are joined by foreign policy expert Dr. David Wurmser to examine what is truly at stake — not only for Israel and Iran, but for Western civilization itself. From the legacy of the 1979 Iranian Revolution to the ideological roots of Islamism, from Gaza and Syria to the rise of Sunni radicalism, this wide-ranging conversation explores why material incentives fail in the Middle East, why ideas matter more than economics, and why the coming struggle may determine the future alignment of the world.

As Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders in Jerusalem publicly denounce Christian Zionism, deep questions are emerging about theology, authority, and Israel's place in God's plan. In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed respond to the controversy and are joined by Rabbi Tuly Weisz, founder of Israel365, to discuss his new book Universal Zionism. Together, they explore the difference between viewing Israel as merely a political state or as the fulfillment of divine promise, revisit Pope John Paul II's striking distinction between the Holy Land and the Promised Land, and ask what Israel's mission means not only for Jews, but for Christians and the world. A timely conversation about covenant, responsibility, and Israel's emerging role on the global stage.

In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed begin with a sober look at the rapidly escalating situation in the Middle East, examining Israel's emergence as a regional superpower and the growing signs that U.S. military intervention in Iran may be approaching. In the second half of the conversation, they are joined by Doug Hershey of Ezra Adventures for a powerful shift in perspective. Drawing on striking visual evidence, Hershey explores how the physical rebuilding of the Land of Israel mirrors ancient biblical prophecy, and how the land itself appears to be responding to the return of the Jewish people. Together, the episode moves from geopolitics to prophecy, from headlines to history, inviting listeners to consider whether what we are witnessing today is not coincidence, but fulfillment unfolding in real time.

Iran is entering one of the most perilous moments in its modern history. In this urgent episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed are joined by Iranian opposition strategist Mehrdad Marty Youssefiani, a longtime adviser to the Iranian resistance, to assess the rapidly unfolding protests inside Iran and what they mean for the regime's survival. Unlike past uprisings driven by ideology or social reform, today's unrest is fueled by economic collapse: a crashing currency, empty treasuries, shuttered markets, and ordinary Iranians who can no longer afford bread, water, or rent. Youssefiani explains why this shift makes the current protests far more dangerous for the regime, how fear inside Iran's security forces is growing, and why the convergence of internal unrest and external geopolitical pressure has left Tehran more exposed than ever. The conversation also explores the fragmented nature of the Iranian opposition, the realistic prospects for unity in exile and inside Iran, and what signs listeners should be watching for in the coming weeks. Finally, the episode addresses how people of faith can pray, advocate, and support the Iranian people at a moment when the future of the region may be hanging in the balance. This is not speculation. This is a real-time assessment of a regime under unprecedented strain—and a nation approaching a historic crossroads. To help Israel365 and its Aliyah campaign, click here.

What is it like to be a Christian in Israel—and why do many Israeli Christians insist, "We are not Arabs"? In this eye-opening episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed speak with Lieutenant Colonel (Reserves) Ihab Shlayan, the IDF's most senior Christian officer and founder of Christian Voice in Israel. Shlayan shares a frank, ground-level account of how Christian communities in places like Nazareth and Cana have steadily become minorities in their own historic towns—and why he says the greatest threat to Christians in the region is not the State of Israel, but Islamist intimidation and Arab political control.  He also lays out five concrete demands he's pressing with the Israeli government: recognition of Christians as a distinct community (not "Arab"), equal access to scholarships and employment benefits for those who serve, a separate Christian education framework, visible Israeli civic presence (including flags) in Christian towns, and proper representation and memorial recognition for Christian IDF soldiers.  Whether you've heard claims that Christians are "second-class citizens" in Israel—or you've never considered the internal pressures facing Christians in the Holy Land—this conversation delivers rare clarity from someone who has lived it in uniform, in public advocacy, and on the front lines.  

On this special Christmas Eve episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Pastor Doug Reed flies solo while Rabbi Pesach is on his way back from Amfest and the Hanukkah celebration at the White House. Doug welcomes Pastor Nate Brown, cohost of the Under God podcast and pastor of Vintage Church in Liberty Hill, Texas, for a deep dive into what Christmas actually means – not just culturally, but theologically.  Speaking to an audience of both Christians and Jews, Doug and Nate unpack the story of the incarnation – God entering history in the person of Jesus – its roots in Jewish prophecy like Isaiah 9, and why that claim has shaped the world for two thousand years. They tackle the tension between "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays," the consumerism that threatens to hollow out the holiday, and the popular claim that December 25th is just a Christianized pagan festival – walking through early Christian sources that tell a very different story.  They also explore how Christmas connects to Israel, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the continuity between the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, why Christmas and Easter can't really be separated, and what it means in 2026 to live as if "God with us" is true: engaging culture instead of retreating from it, and standing publicly with the Jewish people in the face of rising antisemitism and attacks like Bondi Beach. Whether you are a Christian wanting to recover the depth of Christmas, or a Jew curious about what your Christian neighbors are really celebrating, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed respond to the terrorist attack on the Hanukkah candle lighting at Bondi Beach in Sydney and the broader surge of antisemitic and ant- Christian violence across the West.  They then continue their conversation about Doug's recent trip to Israel and what it was like to experience the land, the war, and the global faith coalition up close.  In the second half, they are joined by Frank Gaffney for a direct, practical discussion of the Trump administration's executive order related to the Muslim Brotherhood, what it does and does not do, and what ordinary citizens can do right now if they want Western leaders to take jihadist ideology seriously.

In this unforgettable episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Pastor Doug and Rabbi Pesach sit down with Dr. Michael Brawan of Kenya and Rev. Adam Hajj Muhammad of Somalia, a former imam whose decision to follow Jesus cost him almost everything. Adam describes his childhood in a radically devout Muslim family, his rise as a respected Islamic judge and mosque builder, and the moment a divine encounter shattered everything he thought he knew. From that point on, his life became a dangerous walk of faith.  Adam shares how his public declaration of Christian faith triggered a violent backlash: his mother and wives were murdered, early converts were slaughtered, and there was a price on his head. Dr. Brawan recounts the extraordinary rescue operation that smuggled Adam out of Somalia in a coffin, and Adam explains why he later chose to return and plant underground churches despite the constant threat of torture and death. Recorded in Jerusalem while leading an African Christian delegation through Israel, this conversation shines a piercing light on the brutal persecution of Christians in Africa — and on the kind of courageous faith that refuses to back down.