On October 7, 2023, the city of Sderot became one of the first places Hamas unleashed its brutal assault. But right there - in a city riddled with bullet holes, bomb shelters on every corner, and stories of terrorized children - there’s something unexpected: life.

In this gripping and emotional episode, we sit down with Pastor Michael, leader of City of Life Ministries, just steps from the rubble where terrorists stormed and slaughtered innocent police officers on that Shabbat morning.

He takes us into the chaos of those early hours, the miracle that spared his apartment building, and what it’s like to raise a family under rocket fire - with just 15 seconds to run for cover.

But this isn’t just a story of survival. It’s a story of spiritual resistance. Of staying. Of blessing. Of building a community that not only endures, but proclaims hope in Yeshua despite pressure, persecution, and war.

This episode reveals what the global headlines miss: how God is still writing His story in the land of Israel - even when the world wants to erase it.

• The October 7 Attack in Sderot: Pastor Michael recounts how Hamas deliberately targeted the local police station - killing friends and neighbors - while miraculously sparing nearby residents.
• Raising Families Under Fire: For over two decades, families in Sderot have lived under constant rocket threat. Bomb shelters aren’t just safety - they’re part of daily life.
• A Ministry of Life in a City of Death: City of Life Ministries feeds the hungry, counsels the traumatized, shelters the displaced, and proclaims the eternal hope found in Yeshua - right in the heart of a war zone.
• Opposition from Within: While Hamas wages war outside, ultra-Orthodox communities protest against Messianic Jews inside. Pastor Michael shares the spiritual and legal battles they’ve faced and how they keep loving their enemies.
• The Bigger Picture: What if this war is stirring both Jews and Christians toward a deeper prophetic return - to the land, to the Scriptures, and to one another? Pastor Michael unpacks a theopolitical vision of what God might be doing in our time.

• [00:00] – Standing on Ground Zero: The site of the police station massacre
• [04:00] – 15 Seconds to Live: Life under rocket fire in Sderot
• [06:30] – October 7th: The timeline of terror and miracle
• [10:00] – Displacement and Fear: What it meant to flee their home for 9 months
• [14:00] – Teaching Children Not to Fear, but to Bless
• [16:00] – Why “City of Life”? Naming a congregation in a war zone
• [17:00] – Serving the City: From food to therapy to field trips
• [19:00] – Why Proclaiming Yeshua Still Draws Fire in Israel
• [24:00] – Theopolitical Lens: What God might be doing in this war
• [27:00] – A Desert That Will Bloom: Fulfillment of prophecy in the Negev
• [31:00] – The Coming Aliyah and a Messianic Movement Rising

Support City of Life Ministries City of Life is doing the real work - providing food, diapers, trauma counseling, and the hope of Yeshua to those surrounded by war. Learn more or support their work at: clm-israel.org

Join The Jewish Road Community If you want to stand with Israel, rediscover the Jewish roots of your faith, and walk the narrow road with us - join The Few. We’re not the majority, but we’re faithful. Learn more and support the work at: thejewishroad.com

While global attention remains locked on Gaza, another atrocity is unfolding across the border in Syria - and almost no one is talking about it.

In this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast, Matt and Ron Davis speak with Mansor Ashkar, a prominent Israeli Druze leader, to expose the silent ethnic cleansing of the Druze people by radical Sunni factions.

These are Israel’s allies - men who serve in the IDF, who have bled and died protecting Jewish lives - now watching their extended families be slaughtered just across the border.

Some have taken matters into their own hands, crossing illegally into Syria in an attempt to rescue their relatives.

This episode is not only a wake-up call - it’s a moral reckoning. Why is the world silent? And what does this mean for Christians and Jews who claim to care about justice?

• The Druze community is facing targeted violence in Syria, yet global media coverage is virtually nonexistent.
• Mansor Ashkar sheds light on the history, loyalty, and sacrifice of the Druze people, and their deep connection to Israel.
• Some Israeli Druze soldiers are risking everything to save family across the border.
• This isn’t just a military story - it’s a humanitarian crisis happening in real time.
• Matt and Ron call on listeners to see the spiritual and moral dimensions of this moment.

00:00 – Intro and why this episode matters 01:10 – The crisis facing the Druze in Syria 05:45 – Why the silence from global media? 10:20 – The history and heart of the Druze community 14:50 – Israeli Druze crossing borders to save family 18:15 – The stakes for Israel - and the Church 23:00 – How we should respond 27:30 – Final reflections and next steps

Learn more, share the truth, and stand with Israel and her allies at thejewishroad.com. This is a moment for prayer, courage, and clarity.

To hear more from Mansor, check out his YouTube and Instagram pages.

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.