The Messianic Jewish Theological Institute was formed to develop and educate rabbis and other leaders for the Messianic Jewish movement. This is our first and most important mandate. As Director of the School of Jewish Studies, my emphasis is on the educational side of that equation. But what exactly is a Messianic Jewish rabbi? Is he or she sort of Jewish pastor, whose main job is to preach, counsel, comfort, and exhort a congregation? While it’s true that many rabbis lead congregations, the core definition and main role of rabbi lies elsewhere. I want to focus on a single sentence taken from the “Definition of a Messianic Jewish Rabbi” of the Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council (see http://ourrabbis.org). The work of a Messianic Jewish Rabbi is: To expound and apply Torah as fulfilled in and mediated through the person, teaching, and work of Yeshua.

Understood in a Jewish context, “Torah” means more than the first five books of the Bible. It also relates to the Scripture and tradition that arise from those books and have guided and shaped the Jewish people for millennia. The Messianic Jewish rabbi does not speak as an outsider who has merely studied the Torah academically, but as an insider, a member of the trans-generational Jewish people who has learned and lived the Torah.

At the same time, by any definition I can think of, a Messianic Jewish rabbi can only “expound and apply Torah” in and through Yeshua. Such rabbis are insiders not only of the Jewish people but also of the multi-national community of Yeshua believers. They cleave to the person of Yeshua and should exemplify the life, message, and teachings of Yeshua (embodied in the Apostolic Writings).

In one way, this may sound fairly straight- forward. Believe me—it isn’t. The relationship between the Jewish people and the multinational community of Yeshua believers has been filled with conflict, and their traditions reflect that conflict. Centuries of misunderstanding and bad behavior have produced the impression that Yeshua and Judaism are not compatible.

But the rise of Messianic Judaism defies the notion that Yeshua and Judaism don’t mix. And the first mission of MJTI is to develop and educate a new generation of rabbis who will lead Messianic Judaism into an increasingly deeper commitment to Messiah and Torah.

At MJTI, potential rabbis engage in several years of study, professional development, mentoring by a senior rabbi, and an internship. Our faculty, staff, and of course our rabbinical students work hard to achieve this goal, to fulfill the deepest calling of the Messianic Jewish rabbi: To expound and apply Torah as fulfilled in and mediated through the person, teaching, and work of Yeshua.

Published in Issue Six / Volume Two / June 2010
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Rabbi Carl Kinbar

Rabbi Carl Kinbar

Rabbi Carl Kinbar is the Provost of Messianic Jewish Theological Institute and Director of its online School of Jewish Studies.

The purpose of this column is to bring out “things old and new” from Jewish writings that relate to Messianic Jewish identity today.

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