What happens when Christians fall in love with Israel - not just the idea, but the land, the people, and yes...the wine?

In this episode, Matt and Ron welcome Daniel and Alana Elliott, founders of Israeli Good Wine, to tell a story that starts in the rocky hills of Samaria and ends with something far deeper than just a good vintage.

You’ll hear how a trip to Israel led Daniel to rethink his theology, how a verse in Jeremiah led an Israeli couple to plant vineyards on ancient hills, and how wine became more than a drink - it became evidence that God is keeping His promises.

From encountering the land to challenging replacement theology, this episode uncorks spiritual insight, prophetic fulfillment, and plenty of wine wisdom (including whether putting ice in red wine is ever okay).

If you've ever wondered what Psalm 23 has to do with a wine bottle, or what it looks like to “taste and see” that the Lord is good - this one’s for you.

• Prophecy in a Bottle: Planting vineyards in Samaria isn’t random - it’s a direct fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:5.
• From Replacement to Restoration: Daniel and Alana’s journey shifted from theological neutrality to a love for Israel rooted in Scripture.
• Wine as Witness: Each bottle tells a story of God’s faithfulness, the land, and the people He hasn’t forgotten.
• Kosher ≠ Better: A crash course in kosher wine laws, biblical vineyard rules, and why shellfish doesn’t belong in your Merlot.
• Virtual Wine Night Coming: Join the Jewish Road and Israeli Good Wine for a curated tasting that brings Israel to your table.

• 00:00 – Meet Daniel & Alana: Texas hospitality meets Israeli vineyards
• 02:00 – Falling in love with Israel - the journey begins
• 05:30 – The prophecy of vineyards in Jeremiah 31
• 08:00 – Alana’s transformation: From neutral to deeply rooted
• 11:30 – Confronting replacement theology
• 14:45 – Ezekiel, dry bones, and the return of the glory
• 16:00 – Birth of Israeli Good Wine
• 19:00 – Taste and see: the theology behind the table
• 23:00 – Wine in Jewish tradition: from Shabbat to circumcision
• 25:00 – Is Israeli wine actually good? (Spoiler: Yes)
• 27:00 – What makes wine kosher - and why it matters
• 31:00 – Red vs. white: a spirited debate
• 35:00 – Can you put ice in wine? Asking for a friend
• 36:30 – Why we’re doing a wine night together
• 40:00 – A box of four bottles, straight from the land
• 42:30 – Psalm 23, bomb shelters, and a calling to the table
• 44:00 – Promo details and how to join the virtual tasting
• 46:00 – Final thoughts and a special blessing

Want to taste the story of Israel for yourself? Join us for a virtual wine night hosted in partnership with Israeli Good Wine. You can order a curated 2- or 4-bottle box shipped to your door and be part of a live tasting experience led by Daniel and Alana.

Visit thejewishroad.com/wine to get all the details, grab your bottles, and use promo code: THEJEWISHROAD for a discount and to support this work.

And if you're curious about their full wine club and the message-in-a-bottle experience, visit IsraeliGoodWine.com and taste the fulfillment of prophecy - one sip at a time.

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.

• Gaza holds ancient, prophetic significance - and the war there today is deeply spiritual.
• Ceasefires often backfire, giving terror groups time to rearm.
• Political deals and military action can’t fix what only the return of the Messiah can.
• True peace comes when hearts are transformed - not just borders.

• 00:01 – Sea of Galilee intro with the IDF Sergeant Major
• 00:21 – On-the-ground details from Gaza tunnel operations
• 04:11 – What it really takes for a military mission to succeed
• 07:33 – The illusion of ceasefires and international pressure
• 12:56 – How a Jewish believer in the army sees God’s hand in the chaos
• 17:49 – Pulling back the mask: the theo-political battle behind the war
• 24:17 – Why only the Kingdom of God can bring lasting peace
• 26:48 – A former radical Muslim's transformation and the future hope

Stay connected as we continue to unpack the prophetic story unfolding in real-time. Visit thejewishroad.com to learn more, support the mission, and get access to teaching and resources that help Christians reconnect to the Jewish roots of their faith.

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.

• Why Shah sees honor and shame as central to understanding Iranian culture
• What it’s like to leave Islam and follow Jesus as a Persian
• The truth about Iran’s Jewish population - and how Persians and Jews once lived side by side
• Why many Iranians support Israel in secret
• How Jesus - not politics - is the only path to true peace in the Middle East

00:00 – Meet Shah Afshar: From Iran to the U.S. 03:00 – Growing up Muslim in a shame-based culture 05:45 – Depression, academic pressure, and thoughts of suicide 08:00 – The hippies who introduced him to Jesus 10:30 – Calling on Jesus without theology - and finding peace 13:15 – Starting the first Iranian Christian church in America 15:00 – What changed after the revolution in Iran 18:30 – Why many Iranians secretly support Israel 21:00 – The cost - and hope - of a Persian uprising 24:00 – Jesus as the only answer to generational hate 26:00 – Persians are not Arabs: cultural and ethnic clarity 29:00 – Are the Jews still God’s chosen people? 32:00 – One new man: Jew and Gentile united in Messiah

To learn more about Shah’s work and story, visit shahzamfactor.com.

For more episodes, teaching, and insights into the Jewish roots of your faith, head to thejewishroad.com.

Be a light. Be a voice. Be a blessing.