Meet Dr. John J. Fischer
Rabbi
Congregation Ohr Chadash
John Fischer, ThD, PhD, was born in 1946, the son of
parents who miraculously survived the Holocaust. He has
devoted his academic and professional career to the
Jewish community, and he has been involved with the
Messianic Jewish movement since 1973.
Born on May 27, 1946, in Budapest, Hungary, to survivors
of the Holocaust.
Immigrated to the United States in 1949.
Married June 4, 1972 to Patrice E. Pavka.
Two children: Eve &;Seth.
Education
B.S. In Bible, Philadelphia College of Bible, 1970.
M.S. In Communications, Temple University, 1970.
M.A. In New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School,
1972.
B.J.S. in Jewish Thought, Spertus College of Judaica, 1978.
Ph.D. In Education/Religion, University of South Florida,
1987. Dissertation: The Development of a Core Curriculum
for a Messianic Jewish Yeshiva.
Th.D. In Judaic Studies, California Graduate School of
Theology, 1989. Dissertation: Messianic Services for
Festivals and Holy Days.
Professional Experience
Visiting Faculty in Jewish Studies, Trinity Evangelical
Divinity School, 1975-1981.
Professor and Chairman of Department of Judaic
Studies,St. Petersburg Theological Seminary,
1985-present.
Dean, St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, 1989 present.
Vice President of Academic Affairs, St. Petersburg
Theological Seminary, 1994-present.
Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Institute of the Union of Messianic
Jewish Congregations, 1991-present.
Adjunct Faculty in Religious Studies, St. Petersburg Junior
College, 1991-present.
Guest Lecturer: Oakton Community College, Triton College,
College of Lake County, University of Illinois Chicago Circle
Campus, Northeastern Illinois University, Millersville
University, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania,
Wheaton Graduate School, Moody Bible Institute,
Lancaster Bible College.
Director of Training, American Messianic Fellowship,
1973-1974.
Vice President, the Watchmen Association, 1975-1978.
Vice President, B'rit Shalom, 1978-1981.
Deputy Secretary in North America, International Messianic
Jewish Alliance, 1981-1984.
Executive Director, Menorah Ministries, 1984-present.
Founder and Spiritual Leader, Congregation B'nai
Maccabim, Highland Park, IL, 1975-1981.
Founder and Rabbi, Congregation Ohr Chadash, Clearwater,
FL, 1982-present.
Contributing Editor, MESSIANIC OUTREACH, 1987 - present.
Contributing Editor, MISHKAN, 1991-PRESENT.
National and International Organizations
President, Messianic Jewish Alliance of Chicago,19741978.
Executive Committee, Messianic Jewish Alliance of
America, 1977-1979.
Vice President, and co-founder, Union of Messianic Jewish
Congregations, 1979-1981.
President, Association of Messianic Believers, 1994
present.
President, American Association of Messianic Jewish
Believers, 1996-present.
Chairman, Theology Committee of the Union of Messianic
Jewish Congregations, 1979-1981.
Advisory Board, Living Center for Biblical and
Archaeological Studies, University of South Florida,
1984-1987.
Advisory Board, International Messianic Jewish Alliance in
the Americas, 1995-present.
Yeshiva Committee, Union of Messianic Jewish
Congregations, 1985-present.
Steering Committee, Union of Messianic Jewish
congregations, 1989-present.
Advisory Board, King of Kings College Graduate School,
Jerusalem, 1996-present.
Board of Advisors, Lederer Messianic Ministries, 1996
present.
Publications
HIS AMBASSADORS TO HIS PEOPLE (American Messianic
Fellowship, 1973)
SHARING ISRAEL'S MESSIAH (The Watchmen Association,
1978)
THE MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS
(Messianic Jewish Alliance of America, 1979)THE OLIVE
TREE CONNECTION (InterVarsity Press, 1983)
SIDDUR FOR MESSIANIC JEWS (Adventure in Faith, 1984)
MESSIANIC SERVICES FOR FESTIVALS AND HOLY DAYS
(Menorah Ministries, 1992)
THE ENDURING PARADOX: JESUS AND JUDAISM (Davar,
forthcoming)
L'CHAIM (Menorah Ministries, 1974)
"Why a Messianic Movement?" TRINITY JOURNAL (Spring
1976)
"Messianic Judaism," UNITED EVANGELICAL ACTION (Fall
1976)
"Messianic Jews Are Still Jews," CHRISTIANITY TODAY (April
24, 1981)
"The Turmoil in Jewish Thinking," INTEREST (October 1981)
"Sharing Israel's Messiah," INTEREST (November 1981)
"God After the Holocaust," JUDAISM (Summer 1983)
"Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts," THE HEBREW CHRISTIAN
(Winter 1984)
"Paul in His Jewish Context," EVANGELICAL QUARTERLY
(July 1985)
"Torah: Can You Work Your Way to God?" MESSIANIC
OUTREACH (Autumn 1986)
"The Rabbinic View of God, A Contrast to Maimonides,"
MESSIANIC OUTREACH (Summer 1987)
"Covenant &;Treaty: Implications for Scripture," MESSIANIC
OUTREACH (Spring 1988)
"Galations From A Messianic Jewish Perspective,"
MESSIANIC OUTREACH (Autumn 1988-Summer 1989)
"Covenant, Fulfillment &;Judaism in Hebrews," MESSIANIC
OUTREACH (Autumn 1989-Spring 1990)
"Jesus &;Early Judaism," MESSIANIC OUTREACH (Summer
1990-Spring 1991)"The Development of the Messianic
Concept," MESSIANIC OUTREACH (Summer 1991-Spring
1992)
"The Place of Rabbinic Tradition in a Messianic Jewish
Lifestyle," MESSIANIC OUTREACH (Fall 1994)
"Mah Zeh?" KESHER (Summer 1994)
"Foundations of Messianic Theology," MISHKAN (1, 1995)
"Why is This Night Different?" MESSIANIC TIMES (Spring
1995)
"The Lifestyle and Teachings of Jesus," THE INTERPRETER
(Winter 1996)
"Making Messianic Worship Meaningful," MISHKAN (1, 1997)
Ordination
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, 1988