He's Christian. He Fights for Israel. He Speaks Talmudic Aramaic.

Ready to discover how reviving a lost language can reshape the whole Middle East? Ta Shma (come and hear)

Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz are joined by Shadi Khalloul—IDF paratrooper veteran, founder of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association, and one of the world's most passionate advocates for reviving the Aramaic language. Together, they explore Parshat Vayetzei and the hidden "Rosetta Stone" moment in Genesis 31, where Jacob and Laban name the same monument in Hebrew and Aramaic.

Key Takeaways

1. Aramaic is the Hidden Backbone of Jewish Life
2. Aramaic Once United the Ancient World—And Can Still Bridge Communities Today
3. Israel's Aramean Christians Are a Forgotten but Loyal Minority whose story will surprise and inspire you

Timestamps

[00:00:00] Opening: Jewish prayers written in Aramaic & introduction to Shadi Kaul

[00:01:03] Shadi's unique role: soldier, educator, reviver of Aramaic culture

[00:02:12] Shadi's background: identity, community history, and connection to Israel

[00:03:47] Serving in the IDF and discovering his Aramaic purpose in the U.S.

[00:05:32] Founding the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association & education initiatives

[00:07:14] Plans for Aramaic towns, schools, and coexistence programs

[00:09:22] Daily language reality: Arabic spoken, Aramaic preserved in prayer

[00:11:48] Parallels with Jewish language revival and historical connections

[00:14:27] Shadi's family displaced in 1948 and the ongoing struggle for recognition

[00:32:41] Aramaic as the ancient international language—the "first internet"

Links & Learnings

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Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/691050

Israeli Christian Aramaic Association - http://www.aramaic-center.com/?lang=en

A History of the First World Language - https://a.co/d/fjHe9C1

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/