I love books that bring further illumination to the culture and context of the Bible, purposefully seeking them out whenever I can. When I saw the subtitle of Jerusalem Calls by Tammy Priest, I knew that I had to learn more about how the three Jewish feasts of Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and The Feast of Booths (Sukkot) all point to our Lord Jesus.
Many thanks to Baker Books for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis
A Compelling Memoir About Judaism's Rich Traditions—and an Unexpected Encounter with Jesus
Tammy Priest grew up in love with her Jewish heritage and identity. "I embraced it, dug into it, treasured it." Then one day, everything changed. At age 21, she heard God's audible voice speaking impossible yet unmistakable words: Jesus is the Messiah. It was both thrilling and terrifying. What would it mean for the faith of her youth, the traditions she cherished, the family that might not understand?
In Jerusalem Calls, Tammy tells the remarkable story of how God drew her to himself—and opens up the three Old Testament pilgrimage feasts that shaped her Jewish childhood to reveal something she had never seen before: that each one points unmistakably to Jesus as Messiah. Weaving together personal memoir, Scripture, and Jewish history, she brings to life:
- Passover (Pesach)—the ancient feast of liberation and its profound fulfillment in Jesus as the Lamb of God
- Pentecost (Shavuot)—the feast of firstfruits and the giving of the Torah, and what it means that the Spirit came at Pentecost
- The Feast of Booths (Sukkot)—the joyful harvest feast of dwelling, and how it points forward to God's ultimate promise to dwell with his people
More—though certainly not less—than an engaging true story of coming to faith in Jesus, Jerusalem Calls reveals new layers of meaning in the Old Testament feasts for both Christian and Jewish readers. For Christians, it is a window into the Jewish roots of their faith that brings the New Testament alive in fresh ways. For Jewish readers, it is an invitation to look at beloved traditions through new eyes—with honesty, tenderness, and deep respect for the heritage they represent.
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
Not only are readers treated to a deeper understanding of the world that Jesus inhabited as a Jewish man, we also get to hear an amazing testimony along the way in Jerusalem Calls. Providing visual imagery through detailed descriptions, it doesn't take much to experience the sights, scents, and wonders of the Holy Land as shared by Tammy Priest. Her recounting of personal memories along with explanations of biblical settings and practices makes reading this book a true delight, akin to sitting at the feet of a storyteller. If anything, I could have sat longer to enjoy even more stunning accounts of what the Jewish feasts not only symbolized, but how they were enjoyed and celebrated as holidays and holy days.
I love books that open my eyes to additional context and meaning in the Bible, and this one delivers just that. Christians wanting to better immerse themselves in this ancient world will appreciate what everything from palm fronds to tents to bread stood for and how they were used. The author’s Jewish heritage offers a glimpse into how traditions have been passed on and what each generation has learnt since the time they were first instituted. If you are keen to discover how the Jewish feasts can broaden your knowledge of the Old and New Testaments, this book is a blessing that will spiritually catapult you into deeper gratitude for God's atoning sacrifice while growing your love for the Jewish people and Jewish Messiah.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📱
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
Book Quotes
As far as observing Jewish rituals or using Jewish objects, I offer this general rule: If an act or object is simply an evolved tradition—like casting breadcrumbs into the river to symbolize the casting away of sins before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement—it doesn’t carry the sacredness or significance of something God commanded in Scripture.... Sacred things are sacred, and misusing them—no matter the intent—can be hurtful to others, as well as to our witness.
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