Testimony of Rabbi Daniel Zion The Messianic Jewish Expositor

Rabbi Daniel Zion
OCTOBER 4, 2012 BY DR JACOB GARTENHAUS
From Rabbis meet Jesus the Messiah – a collection of 24 biographies and testimonies of Rabbis encounters with Jesus the Messiah
© Messianic Good News.
Included by permission of IBJM from “A Former Chief Rabbi Finds Christ” by Dr. Jacob Gartenhaus.
One of the most remarkable conversions recorded in Jewish history since the conversion of that zealous Pharisee, Rabbi Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus Road, is that of Rabbi Daniel Zion, the former Chief Rabbi of Bulgaria and later the Chief Rabbi of Jaffa, Israel.
Perhaps no other conversion in modern times has rocked the Jewish world as has his. He has perhaps been the subject of more controversy in synagogues, temples and churches than any other personality. Scores of articles in both Jewish and Christian periodicals have been written about him. He has been cursed and blessed, denounced and praised. From as far as Australia, India and Africa have come inquiries concerning Rabbi Daniel Zion.
When he first openly declared that he was saved, through putting his total faith and trust only in the blood atonement of the True and Living, Almighty God, the Creator of the heavens and of the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ, the One and only True Messiah of Israel, he was immediately discharged from the responsibilities which he fulfilled, being the Chief Rabbi of Jaffa, Israel, and following this, came a siege of persecution.
TESTIMONY ON ISRAEL RADIOGod opened the door through “Kol Yisrael,” the official radio broadcasting station of Israel, for Rabbi Daniel Zion to preach the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ, the One and only True Messiah of Israel, from the inspired, preserved, inerrant word of God. This was the first time that any person was given the privilege of preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, on “Kol Yisrael.”
“More than twenty years ago, I had the first opportunity of reading the New Testament. It influenced me greatly. I began to speak about it in a small circle in Bulgaria. I always regretted that Jesus the Messiah has been estranged from the community of Israel. Jesus the Messiah did nothing but good for the Jewish people. He called them to repentance, proclaimed the Kingdom of God and Divine Love, a love towards all men, even one’s enemies. To our great regret we have had to pay a heavy price for the sin of rejecting the true Messiah. But I must confess that my position as a Rabbi did not allow me at once to come out openly before the world in order to declare this truth, until God, in His great mercy, set me free from all fear. He brought me into this country of Israel, where at first I discharged my duties as a rabbi of Jaffa.”
“After I gave up my position (as Chief Rabbi of Jaffa, Israel,) I went to Jerusalem, where for a whole month I engaged in fasting, prayer and supplication. It was then that I asked God to show me the right way, and the eternal God heard my prayer. On the first of Shevat, 5710 (January / February, 1950), the Holy Spirit revealed to me that Jesus is indeed the true Messiah, who suffered for us and sacrificed Himself for our sin. A burning fire in my heart gave me no rest until I had publicly confessed my faith in the blood atonement of the True and living God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only Messiah of Israel.”
“In spite of all the difficulties, suffering and persecutions, which I have endured incessantly, nothing could dissuade me from my faith. On the contrary, God to whom I had given my heart and to whom I turn in all my needs, has given me the strength and power to continue my witness. He spoke to me through a verse in (the word of God), Isaiah 41:10 – ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will keep thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’ By this I understood that a great and important task has been given to me by the Eter