Herbert J. Gilner
Born on 7 January 1929 (25 Tevet 5689)
Passed away on 17 May 2002 (6 Sivan 5762)
Passed away in Waco, Texas
After Rabbi Moyal left Texas, I sought to continue my Rabbinic studies under a new teacher and was fortunate to find the eminent Rabbi Herbert J. Gilner who, in September of 1993 had just relocated to Arlington, Texas. After reading a newspaper article (at bottom) about his arrival, I contacted him to discuss our common interest in Hebrew and Aramaic New Testament origins. Rabbi Gilner maintained a non-hostile view of Yeshua, saying that he was “a great Rabbi of the Second Temple Era,” but that the “New Testament” had been originally written in Hebrew and Aramaic and had been mistranslated and misunderstood. As such, Rabbi Gilner had no problem with my belief that Yeshua was the Messiah, and took me on as a Rabbinical Student.
I studied one-on-one under Rabbi Herbert J. Gilner from 1993 until he signed off on my graduation in 1995. However we continued as close friends and fellow students of Judaism until his death on (Rabbinic) Shavuot in 2002.
Rabbi Herbert J. Gilner, was a graduate of Bet HaSefer HaReali Ha’Ivri, Haifa, Israel. Rabbi Gilner, whose native languages were Hebrew, Aramaic, English, and Spanish, received private instruction and apprenticeship from Rabbi Emanuel H. Baron, Brooklyn, New York; completed Talmudic Studies at Yeshiva University, New York, NY and received a degree in Political Science and International Relations from Columbia University, New York, NY. Rabbi Gilner received his Rabbinic Ordination, Yoreh Yoreh, from Yeshivat HaGiborim VeHaKana’im LeRabbeynu Yosef Me’ir Jacobson, Newton, Massachusetts.
Rabbi Gilner was a member of the Supreme Rabbinic Court of America. He served on the executive board from 1975-1978 and as executive director from 1978 until his death in 2002. In that capacity in 1976 he participated in the famous excommunication from Judaism of Henry Kissinger. Rabbi Gilner presented the case and blew the shofar.
He served as president of the National Guild of Rabbis in 1979. He served as an associate Rabbi and teacher at Temple Shalom in Sayville, NY from 1983-1991 and was assistant editor of Saga of Traditional Judaism from 1975 until his death in 2002. He was a member of the Manhatten Regional Executive Committee and president of the local district’s Zionist Organization of America from 1957-1964. He was post commander and chaplain for Jewish War Veterans from 1970-1976 and served as a chaplain for Disabled American Veterans from 1985-1987.
Rabbi Gilner was a descendant of members of the first Haganah (first defense force in Israel). He was also descended from RASHI, Rabbi Hayyim de Volozhin of Elijah (the Gaon of Vilna), and Rabbi Moses Samuel (Chief Rabbi of Dublin, and translator of the the first English translation of the Book of Jasher). Once also a militant Zionist, Rabbi Gilner was closely associated with Rabbi Mier Kahana (may his memory be for a blessing), and was a close friend of Rabbi Marvin S. (Moshe) Antelman (author of To Eliminate The Opiate Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Zahavia LTD., New York-Tel Aviv) and of Vendyl Jones, American Noahide scholar and director archaeological searches for biblical artifacts such as the Ark of the Covenant.
