Doug Carmel Interview

With permission from the Messianic Times, I am happy to share a delightful interview with Doug Carmel from Rock of Israel Ministries.  This interview was originally published in the June, 2022 issue of the Messianic Times.

Doug was born in the Bronx, New York City to a newly immigrated Israeli man (Sephardic) and an American Jewish woman (Ashkenazi). They attended a Conservative temple in New York City and Doug attended Hebrew School there for several years preparing for his Bar-Mitzvah.

Doug graduated from SUNY Stony Brook (State University of New York) in 1985 at the age of 21. In May of 1986, he was up in the late hours of the evening watching television  when he heard a slight rumbling sound outside, possibly coming from the sky.  He heard it again, and then suddenly a thought crossed his mind – literally for only a few seconds – but it changed his life and eternity…. “This is it” he thought, “The Christians are right! JESUS IS COMING BACK and it’s tonight!!” For a few seconds, his eyes were riveted to the sky as he waited for horses to appear in the sky and for this Jesus to return as he knew the Christians said he would do one day.

Doug began to think about forgiveness and to have thoughts about God.  Eventually he called a Messianic ministry and after attending a Messianic service he gave his heart to the Lord.  Today he is on staff with Rock of Israel Ministries where he sets up booths all over the world proclaiming that Yeshua made him kosher.

Eric Tokajer Interview

I first interviewed Rabbi Eric Tokajer 4 years ago and decided to re-air it on Saturday March 30.   Rabbi Eric was the editor of The Messianic Daily News website. That website was updated daily with news that pertained to the Messianic Jewish people. Since the induction of that website in 2006, the website grew rapidly.  In the beginning of 2012 the Messianic Daily News began merging with the Messianic Times.  This merger was completed in July of 2013.  Since this merger the Messianic Times website has over 30,000 hits a month from over 100 countries.

Raised in a traditional Jewish home, Rabbi Tokajer began study the Hebrew scriptures closely and questioned much of what he had been taught.  When unable to get answers from his rabbis, he became agnostic.

While serving in the United States Navy, Rabbi Tokajer challenged a believer in Yeshua to study the scriptures with him until he found the answers within them.  During this time of study, Rabbi Tokajer accepted Yeshua as his promised Messiah of Israel.
Now, thirty-one years later, he is an ordained Rabbi of the International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS).  He has helped to establish five congregations across the Gulf Coast including Slidell, Louisiana, Pascagoula, Mississippi; Foley and Spanish Fort, Alabama; and Pensacola, Florida.  He has served as Rabbi of the Tree of Life Messianic Congregation in Mobile, Alabama and is currently the Messianic Rabbi of Brit Ahm Messianic Synagogue in Pensacola, Florida.
For more information on Rabbi Eric Tokajer please visit http://www.britahm.org/meet-the-rabbi-rebbitzin.