MEET RABBI MOSHE YOSEPH KONIUCHOWSKY AND REBETZIN RIVKA OF YOUR ARMS TO ISRAEL

Rabbi Moshe Yoseph Koniuchowsky was born in New York on September 10, 1957. He attended a modern conservative Hebrew Day school in Lawrence, Long Island New York. While at Brandeis, Moshe studied such typical Jewish topics as Torah, Talmud, Hebrew language study, as well as a full curriculum of Jewish cultural classes. Unknown to him at the time, his future wife Rivka had attended a similar school directly across the street from Brandeis Hebrew Day School, called Hillel Hebrew Academy just a few years before.

Upon graduation from Brandeis in 1974, Moshe enrolled in Fairleigh Dickinson University, in Teaneck, New Jersey. He graduated in 1979 with a BS in Business Administration. Rivka also attended Rutherford campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University and successfully completed several years of study. As of that time even though both lives had many parallels, Moshe and Rivka had not yet met.

Immediately after graduation Moshe worked at his first job in the business world, having been hired by Jackhammers Inc., in the Empire State Building. This firm was a manufacturer of children's clothing and apparel, where Moshe’s mom Hana was the office manager. Moshe began as a salesman and developed his sales skills which would serve him well throughout his life.

After Moshe experienced several failed business ventures, Yahshua supernaturally revealed Himself to Moshe in his living room, in October of 1984. Moshe was immediately called to preach the Gospel to the Jewish nation.

Rivka had also gotten saved in 1983 and was called by Yahweh into Jewish work as well.. She served as an electronic technician during an enlistment in the army overseas in Germany, and in the United States. She then settled in Las Cruces, New Mexico, working and waiting on Yahweh for His placement into Jewish ministry. She remained employed at the White Sands Missile Range.

In 1984 Moshe founded "Messiah Is God" Ministries and began to do a significant amount of street preaching with his friends and associates, as well as with several Christian organizations that had a heart for Jewish people. During those early ministry years in New York, Moshe often led home Bible studies and began to teach his Jewish evangelism seminars to local churches in New York City. Moshe could often be found handing out Gospel tracts in front of shopping malls, topless bars and movie theaters. Yahweh was always faithful to send lost and wayward Jewish folks in his direction. Countless souls found life though Yahshua in those early years.

In 1985, Moshe was referred to Pastor Howard Corum of Staten Island who had a call on his life to disciple young Jewish preacher boys into the Gospel ministry. Howard had a profound impact on Moshe because of his love for the Jews, as well as boldness in his street preaching in some of the most Orthodox Jewish areas in NYC.

Pastor Corum still is active to this day working under the ministry name of "Jacob’s Blessing." It was through weekly discipleship at Howard’s house in Brooklyn that Moshe learned to teach the Scriptures in an expository manner. Those weekly drives to Brooklyn from Queens helped mold the future rabbi in many different ways. In those early days in 1984 and 1985, Moshe started attending a Messiah Yahshua Bible study led by a Jewish Baptist named Joe Steinberg. Between the home fellowship and the training with Pastor Corum, Moshe was growing in understanding of the things of Yahweh.

Through Joe Steinberg’s home Bible study Moshe was referred to Beth Tefilah, a Messianic Jewish synagogue in Jamaica, Queens where he would spent the next three years as an active member. While at Beth Tefilah, Moshe began teaching the weekly Torah portion to the congregation. In the meantime, in 1987, Moshe completed a Masters in Bible Missions in an extension program through Patriot University, a fully accredited Bible school in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Having been called by Yahweh to leave New Mexico and come to New York to get married, Rivka left Las Cruces by faith in 1987, not knowing where she would live or worship. Yahweh led her to Beth Tefilah, and she wound up residing with Rabbi & Mrs. Roger Nelson in Howard Beach. She met Moshe at a mid-week Bible study. After a brief dating relationship, the couple was engaged. Yahweh was truly doing a quick work. During the dating period, Rivka would often join Moshe in evangelistic outreach and tract distribution.

After their marriage in July, 1988, the newlywed couple both felt a strong stirring in their spirit to leave Beth Tefilah and to begin attending an excellent church by the name of Pillars of Faith Tabernacle in Flushing, New York. Within just a few months, Moshe was encouraged to lead a group known as the Jewish Kingdom Snatchers, that would go out weekly on the streets to witness to the lost Jew of Queens County.

After their first child Nina was born, in April of 1989, Moshe and Rivka both felt Yahweh's leading to relocate to Florida in order to await Yahweh’s assignments for their next phase of ministry together. As seen elsewhere on this website, that move proved to be in the center of Yahweh’s will, inasmuch as it ultimately produced radio outreach, media opportunities and the planting of three Messianic Nazarene Yisraelite synagogues.

By Yahweh's grace, thousands have been touched in one way or another by their ministry in South Florida during the past nine years. Several leaders have been trained and discipled, so that they may lead the next wave of Messianic Nazarene Yisrael revival. Various men who have been raised up to positions of leadership, have come under their tutelage for teaching, nurturing and commissioning. Moshe & Rivka believe very strongly about nurturing and training new Messianic Nazarene Yisraelite leaders to be equipped and ready for spiritual battle.

In early 1993, Moshe and Rivka authored a book entitled "The Great Commission Crossroads Of The Old And New Covenants", with a foreword written by Sid Roth. The book was self published and immediately sold out during its first and only printing. That same year Moshe and Rivka joined the Association Of Evangelical Congregations and Moshe was appointed the Cluster Leader for the state of Florida. "Messiah is God Ministries" became "Messiah Is God Messianic Fellowships" and joined the A.E.C. as well. In 1996 Moshe founded Your Arms To Israel which now reaches across the globe with its acclaimed teaching newsletter. Rivka serves as both office manager and editor on all of Your Arms To Israel’s correspondences and literature.

Having served as rabbi in two Messianic congregations, Moshe now has begun a third called B’nai Yahshua Synagogue in Miami Beach. Rivka continues assisting her husband in the work of Yahweh, all the while attending Liberty University External Degree Program, in order to attain a masters degree in biblical counseling. Recent years have seen Moshe ministering in such places as Paris, France, Brussels, Belgium, Massachusetts, and South Carolina as well as several other spots around the globe. Much of the early work done by Messiah is God Ministries, as well as both congregations bearing the same name, was done with a limited understanding of the vision and the call of Yahweh to Messianic Judaism. Since those early days, Yahweh has graciously changed Moshe and Rivka’s thinking, theology and lifestyle, to reflect the greatness of the new wine of the modern day Messianic Nazarene Yisraelite movement. Had they continued to do Jewish work the old way, they would not have been as effective as they have been by Yahweh’s grace. While it is apparent that both came from Hebrew Christian backgrounds and lifestyles, all that has changed. They look forward to the future of their work together at Your Arms To Israel and at B’nai Yahshua Synagogue.

In 1998 Rabbi and Rivka spent literally weeks studying and researching the two house restoration of Israel and after burning the midnight oil together decided that this was the way Yahweh desired to take Your Arms To Israel. Yahweh showed us that by following the total vision and hope of Messianic Nazarene Yisrael we would continue winning and evangelism our precious Jewish people all the while learning how to share Israelite identity with Joseph's children, thus ministering to all Israel. The last year and a half have seen the two house understanding lead to many Jews getting saved and Ephraimites discovering their roots and their Torah. The heavenly Father has truly allowed this couple to carry a prophetic mantle by being leading spokespersons in Israel's two house restoration. They are grateful to Almighty Yahweh for giving them the torch of two house truth and the hunger to lead the way in it. In  Sept. of 1998 Rabbi Moshe was given the opportunity to draw up the plans of the Messianic Nazarene Yisrael Alliance along with good friends and co-laborers Angus and Batya Wootten of St. Cloud, Florida. In June of 1999 the Messianic Nazarene Yisrael Alliance recognized Rabbi Moshe with smicha ordination adding to his two prior ordinations.

Rabbi Moshe served the people of Israel from 1998-2001, by serving on the steering committee of the Messianic Nazarene Yisrael Alliance. Rabbi Moshe oversaw member congregations in processing them successfully into the Messianic Nazarene Yisrael Alliance, as well as providing continuing follow-up and leadership to its congregational members. This role has allowed him to actually assist small groups around the globe in their start up efforts for three years.

New Messianic Nazarene Yisraelite rabbis and church Pastors are always seeking wisdom and guidance from Your Arms To Israel for direction and counsel for their local ministries. Rabbi and Rivkah, continue to publish the prophetic Your Arms To Israel newsletter for global distribution, daily via e-mail and monthly via snail mail. Plans are underway for a live Internet daily half hour broadcast.

B'nai Yahshua Synagogue continues to enjoy increasing attendance, and the revival services in Miami Beach, have entered its fourth year and are experiencing fresh new energy and excitement. Shepherding B'nai Yahshua Synagogue one of the largest Messianic Nazarene Yisraelite congregations in the Union Of Two House Messianic Congregations is the joy and rejoicing of Rabbis heart, since he and his wife are in love with their sheep. The Master's sheep that have come under their care in Miami Beach are the hungriest, friendliest and most committed that the couple has had the privilege of shepherding.

In August of 2000, Your Arms To Israel released Rabbi Moshe’s highly acclaimed book THE TRUTH ABOUT ALL ISRAEL, a clear and easy to understand refutation of the MJAA’s "Ephraimite Error." This book was designed in a point-counterpoint format, so that the open-minded readers could decide for themselves, regarding Israel’s two-house restoration. The book is available free and on line in its entirety in Adobe Acrobat format at : http://www.yourarmstoisrael.org on the homepage.

In 2001 Rabbi Moshe founded The Union Of Two House Messianic Congregations, designed to provide a safe haven for Messianic Nazarene Yisraelites who desire like-minded fellowship in two-house truth, as well as fellowship with those who have received the revelation of the true eternal names of Yahweh and Yahshua or Yahoshua. The new Union is dedicated to highlight none of the member congregations but to keep the spotlight on Yahweh and Yahshua, seeing the Union as a loose affiliation, without any strong central control. The Union OF Two House Messianic Congregations has exploded, with over 200 congregations pledging to its vision for all Israel. You can view the Union’s website at www.2house.org

It is this couples prayer that no matter how much productive Kingdom fruit that Almighty Yahweh and His Almighty Son Yahweh-Yahshua grant them, that other Messianic Nazarene Yisraelites and even the unregenerate, will see an underlying down to earth quality in both as they serve their Master.

You may drop Rebetzin Rivkah a note of appreciation and encouragement at robkon@bellsouth.net or contact Rabbi Moshe at ravmoshe@bellsouth.net.