Hey, I’m
Bob O’Dell
I’m a Bridge Person
I cross bridges. First, I walk into a situation and meet people who don’t look or act like me. I do this whenever something about them has captured my attention. Next, I learn everything I can about them and allow their stories to change me. Finally, I write, taking my readers on a journey, giving them opportunity to be changed as well.
Bob’s 3 Journeys
Understanding the
Orthodox Jews of Israel
As an entrepreneur, I worked with Israeli Jews for decades. But in 2014, I decided to walk alongside Israeli Orthodox Jews — if they would let me — helping them start companies. Standing on the walls of Jerusalem, I heard an Orthodox Jew share an amazing idea. As new friends, Gidon helped me befriend dozens of Orthodox Jews in Israel. Yes, I helped Gidon start a business, but my new friends helped me understand the heart of a Jew. That’s why I write on Israel.
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Five Years with Orthodox Jews
Bob O’Dell’s Latest Book
Five Years with Orthodox Jews
How Connecting with God’s People Unlocks Understanding of God’s Word
Does the Old Testament feel difficult and harsh? That’s because we’re reading somebody else’s mail! The good news is God’s original recipients are still with us! Relationship with the Jewish people unlocks the meaning and beauty of God’s Word.
Discover forty Christian insights God gives those who befriend the people of Israel.
Endorsements
for Five Years with Orthodox Jews
Brad Young, PhD
A page-turner! A must-read! A riveting journey into a revolutionary new mindset!
Marvin Wilson, PhD
In this strikingly original read you will experience the awe of God, Israel and the Torah in a powerful new way.
Latest Blog Posts
The JJ Seabrook Story
An excerpt from : O’Dell, Bob, Five Years with Orthodox Jews, (Jerusalem, Israel: Root Source Press, 2020), 290-291. In 1975, eight years before I first set foot in Austin, a debate raged in the city council about renaming one of the larger streets, 19th...
Is your “Five Years” book a new movement of God? (Video)
This is one of my favorite interviews I did on the new book Five Years with Orthodox Jews. https://youtu.be/XkuGrBCloEo That footage was part of a Jerusalem Channel Television show hosted by Christine Darg of Exploits Ministry. The full 28 minute broadcast can be...
The Gallant Chief Placido of the Tonkawa Tribe
I recently captured a brief panorama of Placido, the former chief of the Tonkawa tribe that lived in Central Texas until 1855. His statue was placed as part of the Leadership San Marcos Class of 2007, in cooperation and under the leadership of Chief Don Patterson of...
A Jew reacts “live” to the Prodigal Son story
I love to interview and interact with the Orthodox Jews of Israel. Here’s a story of a live interaction that happened after I submitted a blog post to the Root Source newsletter about the Prodigal Son--the story originally told by Jesus in Luke 15. My Israeli Orthodox...
The Tonkawa Camp in Northeast Austin (photos)
One of the best places to envision the life of Native Americans in the 1800s is Pioneer Farms in northeast Austin. As you make your way down through the late 1800s pioneer Texas town, you walk back even further in time. Pathway to Tonkawa encampment. (All photos by:...
Visiting the Places of Israel
In my five years of working with Orthodox Jews, I created a number of videos that show interesting locations in Israel. We called this series Root Source Tours. The Inn of the Good Samaritan is one of my more recent videos on that series. The ancient road from...
Tonkawa Tribe – Red River crossing site (Timelapse)
Below is a short time-lapse video of the probable Red River crossing site of the Tonkawa tribe when they were required to leave their reservation on the Brazos river and move to Oklahoma in 1859. The footage is shot from a drone that was flown just before sunset in...