(224) Is This War About Land—or Theology? A Former Muslim Explains

As war intensifies across the Middle East, it is easy to focus on headlines, military strategy, and geopolitics. But what if the deeper story lies elsewhere—beneath the surface, in theology and ideology? In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki are joined by Dan Burmawi, a former Muslim turned Christian and founder of the Ideological Defense Institute. Together, they explore the religious ideas shaping the current conflict, from Iran's Shiite worldview to the broader ideological struggle between Islam and the West. Dan argues that this war is not fundamentally about land or politics, but about competing visions of truth, power, and the future of civilization. He explains why Sunni and Shiite perspectives diverge, how Islamic eschatology influences global strategy, and why many in the West misunderstand the nature of the conflict entirely. The conversation also turns to the growing ideological battle within Western societies, raising urgent questions about identity, freedom, and the durability of Judeo-Christian values in an increasingly uncertain world. This is a wide-ranging and provocative discussion that challenges assumptions—and asks whether the real battleground is not only in the Middle East, but in the realm of ideas.

Pastor Doug is away this week, so Rabbi Pesach Wolicki flies solo with returning guest Elliot Chodoff, an IDF reserve major and longtime expert on military strategy and the Middle East. Together they take a deep dive into the rapidly evolving confrontation with Iran and the difficult questions now facing Israel, the United States, and the region. What would "regime change" in Iran actually mean? Could the West pursue stability by leaving parts of the regime intact, or would that only guarantee that the same system rebuilds itself in a few years? Pesach and Elliot explore the competing interests of Israel, the United States, and the Gulf states, the dangers of a chaotic collapse in Tehran, and why Iran's ideological system may be fundamentally different from regimes that have fallen elsewhere. They also unpack a crucial but little understood factor in the current moment: the existence of two militaries in Iran, the regime loyal Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the national Iranian army, and how the army's choices could determine the outcome of any uprising. The conversation ranges from the lessons of Nazi Germany and Iraq to the possibility of internal revolt inside Iran. One conclusion becomes clear. However uncertain the future may be, the current regime in Tehran remains the most dangerous outcome of all.

In this special rush-release episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki are joined by John Enarson of Cry for Zion just hours after dramatic military strikes against Iran reshaped the Middle East overnight. Recording amid air-raid sirens in Israel and rapidly changing headlines around the world, they discuss what is actually happening on the ground, why Israeli society appears unusually united at this moment, and how the conflict is being interpreted across the United States, Europe, and the broader Christian world. The conversation also explores the deeper moral and spiritual questions raised by war: What does a just response to evil look like? Can military victory lead to moral transformation? And why are divisions emerging among Christians and conservatives over Israel and the Jewish people at precisely this moment in history? Drawing on John Enarson's recent Substack article, the episode confronts the growing tension inside parts of the Western church, where support for Israel is increasingly contested, and asks what faithfulness requires when geopolitical events collide with theology. This is not a normal weekly episode. It is a real-time conversation recorded in the opening hours of a crisis that may redefine the region and the global conversation about faith, morality, and Israel.

A first-ever synagogue experience and a deeply polarizing political interview come together in this wide-ranging episode of Shoulder to Shoulder. Pastor Doug Reed begins by reflecting on his first full Shabbat prayer service in an Orthodox synagogue, sitting side by side with Rabbi Pesach Wolicki in Nashville. What happens when worship shifts from performance to participation? What did Doug discover about Jewish prayer, community, and spiritual rootedness that challenged his expectations, and what does it reveal about the evolving relationship between Jews and Christians? The conversation then turns to the interview that sparked intense debate across faith and pro-Israel circles, Tucker Carlson's conversation with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Did the interview illuminate real disagreements, or was it structured to reinforce a narrative? Where did Huckabee succeed and where did he fall short? And can criticism of Israel truly be separated from deeper questions about Jewish identity, theology, and biblical interpretation? Doug and Pesach engage the arguments directly, examining media framing, Christian Zionism, and why so many public conversations today feel less like dialogue and more like people talking past one another. This episode moves beyond headlines to ask a harder question. When faith and politics intersect, how do we pursue truth without losing clarity or losing each other?

Recorded live at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki are joined by Rabbi Elie Mischel from the Israel365 studio for a powerful conversation about one of the Bible's oldest and most transformative ideas: Shabbat. As Israel365 creates an immersive Shabbat experience for Christian leaders at NRB, the discussion explores why the Sabbath has become such a compelling spiritual doorway for Christians seeking deeper biblical roots. Together, they reflect on how Shabbat moves faith from constant productivity toward sacred presence, strengthens families, and builds meaningful Jewish-Christian relationships. Through personal stories, theological insight, and behind-the-scenes reflections from NRB, this episode reveals why an ancient Jewish practice is speaking so profoundly to modern believers and how shared spiritual rhythms can bring Jews and Christians closer together in a fractured world.

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.