About the Rabbi
Rabbi Jim Appel has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Shema Yisrael since 1996 and a Jewish follower of Yeshua since 1977. He is ordained by the International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues.
Rabbi Jim previously worked for Xerox Corporation in Webster, N.Y., for 24 years as an optical engineer and engineering manager. He holds more than 45 patents in the areas of copier imaging systems and laser printing. Rabbi Jim received a bachelor’s degree in optical engineering from the University of Rochester in 1967 and a master’s degree in physics from the University of Southern California in 1970.
Rabbi Jim decided to follow Yeshua after a long spiritual search. He grew up with parents who taught him that G-d did not exist and organized religion deceived and oppressed people. In 1967, after completing college, Jim became disillusioned with life as an atheist. He rejected his parent’s teachings and began his search for spiritual reality. This search took him into the world of mind-altering drugs and yoga meditation, and ended with a dramatic encounter with Yeshua the Messiah, who revealed himself to Rabbi Jim in the privacy of his bedroom without the assistance of any other person.
Rabbi Jim and his wife, Diane, live in Brighton. They have two grown children.
Watch the video below to hear Rabbi Jim tell how he came to put his trust in Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah:
From Athieist to Messianic Rabbi - Jim Appel's story from CSY Videocast on Vimeo.
Check out Rabbi Jim's newly published book!
Come into The Fig Tree to purchase your own copy or buy it online on Amazon.
The Scriptures command us to celebrate the holiday traditionally called Rosh Hashanah, or the Feast of Trumpets, with shouts of joy and the sounding of the Shofar. But why? What are we supposed to be so happy about and why the Shofar? In this book, Messianic Rabbi Jim Appel answers those questions with new revelation from Scripture. He reveals the profound significance of the Shofar and the deep, spiritual meaning of the shout for joy. Find out what has been hidden from followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) for more than 1700 years. Rejoice that it is being restored to us today. Don't miss out anymore on this special connection to the Lord.