According2Sam Podcast

'The Seventy'

In 2004, for the first time in nearly 2,000 years, a group of men calling themselves the Sanhedrin was convened, and they have been active ever since. The Sanhedrin was the religious, political, and legal governing body in Judea during the Second Temple period, and it ceased to function after the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. This modern group, consisting of seventy men plus one, calls itself the Nascent Sanhedrin. In 2017, during the first administration of President Donald Trump, they minted a coin bearing images of the Persian king Cyrus the Great and President Trump. The group claimed that President Trump, like Cyrus, was chosen by Hashem to fulfill a divine mission. What divine mission does the Sanhedrin claim President Trump was chosen to fulfill, and how did a letter they sent to him last year reinforce this vision? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #379. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'Freedom Tower'

If you grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, you know how iconic the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers were to that generation. You could see them piercing the New York City skyline in countless movies and TV shows from that era, along with many other cultural references that cemented their place in the public imagination. Symbolically, the Twin Towers represent a world that no longer exists. The Freedom Tower was built in their place as a statement of resilience and a commitment to rebuild and move forward. While it is a magnificent structure, it is not the same as the Twin Towers. Younger generations born in the era of the Freedom Tower will never know what it was like during the time of the Twin Towers, or fully grasp how much the world has changed. This was the experience of the Jewish people who lived during the time of the Second Temple. In what ways did they struggle to recreate the era of the First Temple? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #378. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'Kings and Kingdoms'

When King David became king of the Jews, God told him through the prophet Nathan, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” This is an unconditional promise emphasizing an everlasting dynasty through David’s line. However, there has not been a Jewish kingdom since the Hasmonean period, before the first century. Moreover, there has been no Jewish king from the royal line of David since Zedekiah, prior to the Babylonian exile. How, then, can David’s kingdom last forever through his line if there has not been a Jewish kingdom ruled by a descendant of King David for over 2,500 years? Does this mean the prophecy is false? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #377. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'Zerubbabel'

Zerubbabel is one of the most important figures in Jewish history, yet he remains one of the lesser-known biblical characters. He was born during the Babylonian exile, and when the Persians conquered Babylon, they allowed the Jews to return to Judah to rebuild the Temple and the city. Zerubbabel rallied the people and led them back to their homeland. Many chose to remain in Persia, but those who returned were inspired by Zerubbabel and his leadership. He oversaw the rebuilding of the Temple, which encouraged many more Jews to return once it was completed. Zerubbabel played a central role in restoring the Jewish people and Jewish culture after the Babylonian captivity. What other factors played major roles in restoring the Jewish nation after the exile, and what obstacles did they have to overcome? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #376. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'Return to Zion'

There are a number of specific prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures that predict the destruction of Israel and the scattering of the Hebrew people throughout the world. These prophets not only foretold the scattering of the diaspora, but also the return of the people to Zion to rebuild the nation and the Temple. These prophecies were recorded over many centuries, with the earliest appearing in the Books of Moses. In most cases, they were made before the Assyrians destroyed the Kingdom of Israel and the Babylonians destroyed the Kingdom of Judah. Many people today believe that the prophecies predicting the return of the Jews to the land to rebuild the nation were fulfilled in 1948, when the modern State of Israel was created. However, is it possible that these prophecies were instead fulfilled when the Jews returned after the Babylonian exile? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #375. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]