Our Staff
Dr. Mark S. Kinzer
Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Isaac Roussel was elevated to Congregational Leader of Congregation Zera Avraham in 2018 after serving many years as Assistant Congregational Leader. He was ordained to the rabbinate in 2014 by the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, after completing his studies at Messianic Jewish Theological Institute and Netzer David. He also received Smikhah (rabbinical ordination) from the Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council in 2018. He also currently serves as president of the Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council.
He began his career as a chemist but currently is working in IT at an educational institution, in addition to serving at the synagogue.
He regularly speaks at churches and campus groups about Judaism and the Jewish Roots of Christianity with the goal of helping them understand their relationship to the People of Israel and appreciate the beauty of Jewish tradition.
Rabbi Roussel is also a trained spiritual director. In this capacity, he helps people be attentive to God's voice in their daily lives.
Rabbi Dr. Mark Kinzer is the Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Zera Avraham, after having served as our founding Congregational Leader for most of 25 years. Ordained to the rabbinate in 2001 by the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, he led our congregation since its inception in 1993 through his retirement in 2018.
Rabbi Kinzer received his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan in 1995. He has taught at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Fuller Theological Seminary. Rabbi Kinzer is Senior Scholar and President-Emeritus of Messianic Jewish Theological Institute (MJTI), an educational center for our movement.
Rabbi Kinzer is also the chairman of the board of Hashivenu and a founding member of the Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council.
Rabbi Kinzer is the author of several books and articles along with his latest volume titled Searching Her Own Mystery: Nostra Aetate, the Jewish People, and the Identity of the Church. More information about his publications can be found on our Books page and on his website, www.MarkKinzer.com.