Shoulder to Shoulder

Doug Reed and Pesach Wolicki
  • 5.0 (44)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Shoulder to Shoulder, a podcast where a pastor and a rabbi get to the heart of issues that matter to people of faith.

  1. 2D AGO

    (221) Tucker vs. Huckabee on Israel — And Doug's First Shabbat in an Orthodox Synagogue

    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?

    47 min

  2. FEB 19

    (220) The Sabbath Revolution: Why Shabbat Is Capturing the Christian Imagination (Live at NRB)

    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.

    39 min

  3. FEB 11

    (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.

    46 min

  4. FEB 4

    (218) Into the Fire to Save Life: Dr. Tuvia Book on War, Faith, and Duty

    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.

    37 min

  5. JAN 28

    (217) Iran, Islamism, and the Battle for Civilization: Dr. David Wurmser on What Comes Next

    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.

    48 min

  6. JAN 21

    (216) The Holy Land Versus the Promised Land: Christian Zionism, Universal Zionism, and Israel's Calling

    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.

    45 min

  7. JAN 14

    (215) Prophecy in Real Time: Israel, Iran and the Land - "It's Almost Like He's Telling Us What Was Going to Happen"

    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.

    59 min

  8. JAN 6

    (214) EMERGENCY EPISODE: Iran at the Breaking Point: Why This Uprising Is Different and What Comes Next, with Mehrdad Marty Youssefiani

    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.

    42 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
44 Ratings

About

Welcome to Shoulder to Shoulder, a podcast where a pastor and a rabbi get to the heart of issues that matter to people of faith.

Information

  • Creator
    Doug Reed and Pesach Wolicki
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    234
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Shoulder to Shoulder

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