The Rabbi from Burbank

by Isidor Zwirn, Bob Owen

"Just come along quietly, Rabbi," one of the officers said. "We're leaving the synagogue." This was not Germany, or Russia, or some Iron Curtain country - this was Burbank, California. Rabbi Isidor Zwirn was being physically dragged off the bimah and out of his synagogue for sharing what he had discovered in Isaiah's prophecies. An Orthodox Jew, using the very methods of doresh (research) taught to him in rabbinical school, after a lengthy and careful search of the Old Testament Scriptures, made an announcement that radically changed his "I have come to the conclusion that the Yeshuah of the Christians is also the Messiah of the Jews." The news spread through the neighborhood, to the synagogue, and finally to the Los Angeles Orthodox Jewish Council, who ordered the synagogue to expel him or lose their orthodox status. The Rabbi from Burbank is an exciting story of the faithfulness of God, who responds to anyone searching for truth.

Genres: Biography, History

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a devout rabbi who decided to search the Torah to learn what it says about the Messiah and came to the conclusion, much to the consternation of family and fellow Jews, that Jesus is he. The earnestness and intensity of this man's study was fascinating to me and I loved his explanation of the animated discussions between Jewish scholars and how everyone is allowed equal expression of his opinion. Rabii Zwirn's Jewish perspective on the New Testament was enlightening. I did not agree with all of his conclusions, but I imagine he would be very open to discussing it with me!

[Jasmine Shadows · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am somewhat conflicted about how to review this book. The writing was very good, and I enjoyed learning about his journey in researching what the Scriptures had to say about Messiah. He did come to the conclusion that Yeshua was truly the Messiah. He did end up losing his relationships with the Jews that he had lived among when he began the research. They were upset with him for his conclusions. He wound up being with a Messianic group, and continued to do his studying. I did not agree with the conclusions that he had reached about how to come to the Father, and the words we use are saving faith. It sounded to me that he was stating that there were two ways to come into a relationship with the Father, when clearly the Bible states the only way is through Jesus. They can not be saved by the keeping of the law/torah. I may be misunderstanding what he tried to say, because there is often an loss in the way things are expressed when there is a language barrier. If he was confused about this I am sincerely hoping that he continued to research as he aged and realized that the only way to be with the Father is through Jesus/Yeshua.