The Messianic Jewish movement is indebted to Joseph Rabinowitz, the “Herzl of Jewish Christianity” for his life and work, especially in forming the “Israelites of the New Covenant” in Kishinev. One of the first Messianic congregations in modern times, it continued with leaders such as Lev Yaacov Averbuch and Eric Gabe into the 20th century, despite pogroms and the Holocaust. Rabinowitz’s life and work, ably documented by Kai Kjaer-Hansen, are well worth careful study for anyone interested in the issues facing Messianic Jews both then and now.
Bernstein notes: Rabinowitz, Joseph, was born at Resina on the Dniester, September 23, 1837, and died at Kischineff, 1899. He was the son of David ben Ephraim, and belonged to a rabbinic family. On the early death of his mother, her father Nathan Neta took him to be educated at his house. When he was six years of age he could repeat…
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