It was easy to stand with Israel the week following October 7, but what about now, after six months of a controversial and very complex war? In this episode, Carly and Ezra discuss the environment we’re in today, where standing with Israel can evoke all kinds of responses. They talk about how it’s possible to both stand with Israel and not agree wi…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra clarify some of the complexities of a ceasefire agreement and why Israel hasn’t agreed thus far. They challenge listeners to read multiple news sources to get the whole picture because a single source gives only a single perspective. They also offer some concrete ways to pray for Israel…

Anti-Semitic incidents have dramatically increased since Hamas violently attacked Israel on October 7. In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra talk about some ways to combat anti-Semitism that you may not immediately think of. They discuss the origins of anti-Semitism and how, at its root, lies a spiritual matter. They also d…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra continue their conversation about the End Times and where Israel fits in regarding Bible prophecy. They dive into the Christian and Jewish mindsets toward the Last Days and challenge listeners to rethink a “for-Christians-only” understanding. The discussion turns to the difficult things…

Hamas’ October 7 massacre in Israel and the war since sparked questions about the End Times. Many people have written in, asking, “Is this the End?” or “Is this the Tribulation?” Before getting into that in our next episode, today, Carly and Ezra lay the groundwork by discussing where the concept of the End Times comes from. Did Jesus introduce it,…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra discuss the profound metaphors and analogies of Romans chapter 11 and what this has to do with how Christians relate to Jewish people and respond to the crisis in Israel. They cover: What it means biblically to be “grafted in” Making Israel jealous for their God Reviewing the difference…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra are back in the studio for a conversation about the ongoing crisis in Israel in the aftermath of Hamas’ brutal attack on October 7, 2023, including Unraveling some of the complexities of the situation Wrestling over standing with Israel but not liking everything it’s doing How Hamas’ ac…

In this special off-season episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra bring clarity to the tragic events of the last two weeks in Israel and Gaza. They discuss many questions people are asking about what’s going on, where this sudden attack came from, who Hamas and other players are, Israel’s response, and the needs in Israel right now.…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra talk with Tara-Leigh Cobble, host of The Bible Recap podcast. Tara-Leigh is a real kindred spirit with her love for God’s Word, for Israel and the Jewish people and helping Christians understand the Jewish roots of their faith in Jesus. Join them for a fun conversation about the way we …

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra talk about how practicing a Sabbath rest each week is so counter-intuitive in our productivity-driven culture. They share some of their own challenges and practices and provide you with some interesting thoughts to ponder when considering embracing a weekly day of rest for yourself. No …

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra talk about the Jewish custom of reading through the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, each year, using a universal reading plan. Carly shares a bit about her background growing up Catholic, and they touch on how the “high church’s” Book of Common Prayer sprang from a Jewish conc…

Who knew that the book of Jonah is connected to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement? Probably not anyone who isn’t Jewish, right? Well, it is, and it’s what Carly and Ezra talk about in this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss. They share the Jewish context in which Jonah was called to preach repentance to Nineveh, a cruel and…

We live in a fast-food culture where we want things yesterday. We get frustrated when we have to wait on things out of our control. So, what does it really mean to “wait on God”? For most of us, waiting seems like idleness or passivity. In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Ezra and Carly dive into the Hebrew word used in verses about “wa…

You may have heard that 2023 is Israel’s 75th anniversary, but do you know exactly what that’s referring to? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra explore this topic, filling in gaps you may have about when and how Israel became a nation again, how the Arab world views Israel’s existence and a startling shift in the United …

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra address a listener question, asking, “Are Messianic Jews obligated to obey Jewish tradition established by the rabbis after the Bible was written?” Before they get to the answer, they clarify terms by comparing rabbinic Judaism and biblical Judaism. They also talk about: Some key reason…

In Romans 11, Paul writes that salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. He says that he hopes his ministry to the Gentiles arouses jealousy, or as the King James Version says, “provokes” his own Jewish people to jealousy. OK, so we just answered the question in the title of this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, but you’ll w…

Why should Christians care that Messianic Judaism exists in the world? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra analyze three reasons why a Messianic Jewish expression of faith in Jesus is important and why Gentile Believers should appreciate it. They also discuss whether or not this means Christians should go all in and atten…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra discuss where Messianic Judaism falls in the realm of Judaism and Christianity and show you that it’s a more complicated question than you might think. First, they head over to Wikipedia to see what it says on the matter – not because it’s the most reputable place to start but because a…

This is our final episode of the season, and it’s a big one! Jesus came as Savior of the world, but most of the world doesn’t believe in Him. Does that mean He failed in what He came to do? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Ezra and Carly ask these hard questions and more. What was Jesus’ goal? Did He fail? Jesus died – isn’t that def…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Ezra and Carly break down the various perspectives on Israel – from both the Jewish and Gentile perspective – uncovering differences and finding similarities about this important nation. The conversation includes: What is the Christian perspective on Israel? How do secular Jewish people view Israel? W…

Is Jesus a personal Savior of individuals or a national Redeemer of Israel? Christians and Jewish people tend to have different pictures of the Messiah. In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Ezra and Carly dig into the Christian and Jewish concepts of a biblical Messiah, and how they intersect and differ. And all of it reveals a deeper un…

If you’re Jewish and hear a plea to “convert,” you’re undoubtedly offended. If you’re a Christian, chances are you don’t understand why that would be the case. In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Ezra and Carly open the doors wide on this little-spoken-of misunderstanding, uncovering some truly helpful and clarifying points you should k…

If the first followers of Jesus were almost entirely Jewish, how did there grow to be such a huge divide between Judaism and Christianity? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra dive into a bit of history to talk about just how and when these two faiths — both believing in the God of the Hebrew Scriptures — parted ways. Ezra…

Is one day right and one wrong? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra discuss the different days Jews and Gentiles worship and the biblical reasons why. Their conversation takes them to: The biblical first and last days of the week Two reasons why Jewish people worship on Saturdays When did Jesus’ followers switch from meet…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Ezra tells the fascinating story of his first encounter with a “Lost Tribe” community in Zimbabwe and the intriguing conversation he had with them. Carly and Ezra discuss scriptural references confirming the concept of “the Lost Tribes” today and encourage both Christian and Jewish listeners to be ope…

If you’ve been around Christian circles that talk about Israel much, you’ve probably heard the Scripture verse today’s episode is based on. In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra talk about Psalm 122:6, where David gives the directive to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They discuss what that really means, why we should do i…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Ezra and Carly discuss various covenants of the Bible and how they relate to Jewish people and Christians. You’ll learn: What a covenant is Six primary covenants of the Bible: Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic and New Covenants How these covenants build upon one another and without them, the …

If Adam is the father of all people, does Judaism go all the way back to him? Where did the Jewish people begin? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra answer the listener question, “Was Adam Jewish?” Spoiler Alert: The answer is “no,” but listen in because there’s a lot of interesting and insightful stuff in this episode ab…

In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra talk openly about the sometimes messy and perhaps confusing realm of Messianic Judaism. What is it? Who’s part of it? And why should Gentile Christians care about it? Ezra asks Carly, a Gentile Believer, what Messianic Judaism is. From there, the conversation delves into: If “Messianic …

Jewish weddings include some really interesting traditions. In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra talk about their meanings, similarities and differences from what most of our audience may be familiar with. Among the things they discuss are: Wedding attire, including why most grooms wear kippahs Fasting before getting marri…

Are you thinking what we think you might be thinking? Hm. Zion. I know that word – it’s in the Bible. Isn’t it a mountain? No wait, is it a city? Or is it the Temple? I’m confused. How can I know what Christian Zionism is when I’m not even sure what Zion means? Never fear; in this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Ezra and Carly clear that up…

An Urgent Message about Ukraine What’s happening in Ukraine right now is terrible. Jewish Voice is partnering with trusted ministries right in Ukraine – and also Moldova, Romania, and Poland – to provide shelter and relief in Jesus’ name to the escalating number of Ukrainians fleeing for safety. Jewish Voice plans to provide as much comfort and aid…

“I’ll take Purim for 800, Alex.” There’s meaning to every holiday, but sometimes it gets lost behind its symbols and traditions. Listen to this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, and you might even ace a Purim category on Jeopardy. From ooos and boos, noisemakers and baked goods, to the threat of destruction and profound deliverance, Purim has…

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on a second. You’re saying that communion – as in the Christian remembrance of Jesus’ death for us – is Jewish? WHAT? Some things seem distinctly Christian. And communion is one of them, right? It’s just so New Testament that how could it not be? But what if everything about the New Testament practice of communion originated …

“But wait, there’s more!” That could have been a good title for this podcast conversation. In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Ezra and Carly dive into the reason why Jesus seemingly dawdled in going to His friend Lazarus after hearing he was dying. Mary and Martha had sent urgent word to Jesus to come and heal their brother, but Jesus …

The world includes a lot of cultures, right? But when you think about it, it also has a ton of sub-cultures, and each one has its own nuances, understandings and interpretations. What’s said in one micro-culture – even within the same country, state or region – might mean something completely different to another. How on earth are we supposed to ge…

So, you run across a person you know is Gentile but who wears a Star of David, a prayer shawl and says and does Jewish things. And you just don’t get it. Wait, what? Why…? Huh? Or maybe you’re one of those people; you’re Gentile, and you love Israel and the Jewish people just like the Bible says you should. So, what’s the problem, right? In this ep…

Welcome back to A Jew and A Gentile Discuss! We’re excited to begin Season 2 of conversations between Ezra and Carly – a Jew and a Gentile who both believe in Jesus. And now you can also watch A Jew and A Gentile Discuss on YouTube! Season 2 begins with our co-hosts pulling out some interesting data from the recent Pew Survey about American Jews. T…

A Jew and A Gentile Discuss Podcast Season 2 is right around the corner! Tune-in on Tuesday, February 1st for the first episode of the new season. In the meantime, Ezra and Carly share a sneak preview of what's coming up.By Ezra and Carly

Can you believe it’s been a year? Well, almost. September 1 marks the 1-year birthday of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss podcast. In this episode, Carly and Ezra talk about the past year’s podcasts – which included everything from fun holiday foods to Gaza’s attack on Israel to living out your faith as a Jewish person who loves Jesus or a Gentile Chris…

With special guests Michael and Vanessa Mistretta What’s it really like to pick up your life and move to Israel? Why would anyone do that? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra talk with Michael and Vanessa Mistretta about how their very different immigration stories have one thing in common: God calling them. Want a Free B…

How do a Jewish boy and a Catholic girl fall in love and get married? And once they do, then what? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra talk with Aaron and Maria Baer to hear the story of their mixed marriage and how they make it work. Aaron is the president of the Center for Christian Virtue based in Columbus, Ohio, and w…

All this talk about Jewish people being “God’s Chosen People” ­– what’s up with this “chosenness” stuff? Does God love the Jewish people more than Gentiles? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly hits Ezra with questions on this very subject, asking what many Christians may be thinking but don’t want to ask outright. Want a Free Bag …

Worship styles – there are a ton of them out there in Christian churches alone, aren’t there? So, what about Jewish worship? What does that look like? What are the differences and similarities between Jewish and Christian worship? And what constitutes worship anyway? These are the things Ezra and Carly address in this episode of A Jew and A Gentile…

You’ve probably seen a bumper sticker somewhere saying, “I stand with Israel.” And maybe you’ve even heard something about “blessing” Israel. But, what on Earth do “standing” and “blessing” really mean? This is what Ezra and Carly dig into in this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss. They help lift the fog around these phrases and present a bibl…

With Special Guest, Travis Snow So, maybe you’re a Christian and thinking, “I’m not Jewish, so, what does Messianic Judaism have to do with me?” Or you might be wondering just the opposite, “Why am I so drawn to the Jewish people and understanding the Jewishness of the Bible?” Well, today’s guest knows both ends of that spectrum. Travis Snow is not…

You might have heard about a bunch of crazy chaos going on over in Israel last month. But maybe you don’t really know what it’s about. Well, in May of 2021, Israel and Hamas in Gaza went head to head for 11 intense days. Incessant rocket fire from Gaza and responding airstrikes from Israel exacted a heavy toll on Palestinians and Israelis. Why the …

Get ready for an exciting, eye-opening episode! Carly and Ezra talk with Rabbi Troy Wallace, Vice President of Congregation and Leadership Development at Jewish Voice Ministries. They discuss some fascinating expressions of the Trinity found throughout the entire Bible. Troy shares loads of Scriptures, so you’ll want to be sure to look them all up …

It’s no secret: Jewish people – most of them anyway – don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah. But what are the fundamental Jewish objections to the idea that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah promised in the Hebrew Scriptures? In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss, Carly and Ezra dig into the Bible to dispel misunderstandings and answer the dif…

Yeah, it can be uncomfortable. Intimidating? Maybe. Awkward? Probably. But seriously, it’s super important. Like, eternity-important. So, Ezra and Carly are here to help you understand some things that will make talking about Jesus with a Jewish friend easier for you and more meaningful for your friend. In this episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discus…