Rabbi Yochanan Mascaro

Rabbi Yochanan Mascaro's Torah Witness

& Testimony for Rabbi Moshe Joseph Koniuchowsky

by Rabbi Yochanan Mascaro

The following may seem ludicrous to many, with which I would agree. It is with a heavy heart that I even feel any compulsion to write these lines but am overjoyed of what I can witness to herein.

A certain tragic and ongoing accusation throughout the years has been leveled at Rabbi Moshe Joseph Koniuchowsky of Miami, Florida's Bnai Yahshua Synagogue and Your Arms to Israel International Ministries. This accusation has been no more and no less than a work of hasatan (the adversary) in an attempt to destroy Rabbi Moshe's credibility as a minister of YAHWEH. An attempt to discredit and defame and calumniate the powerful witness made by Rav Moshe for more than 16 years between New York City and Miami, Florida. It has been an attempt by hasatan to quash all the powerful teachings and outreach made by Rav Moshe as a testimony of the basorot (tov news/glad tidings/gospel) of Yahshua HaMashiach and to fight for the faith once handed to the kadoshim (set apart ones).

The accusation is that Rabbi Moshe Joseph Koniuchowsky's given birth-name is not the Hebrew "Moshe" but is instead, the Anglicized name "Marshall". Some have even lowered themselves to question this further by also questioning how Rabbi Moshe's name appears on his Florida Driver License!

Let it be known that while I have served Your Arms to Israel International Ministries as a Vice President my duties are not remunerated monetarily nor is my time and effort that great when compared to my other ministry and vocational occupations. I also do not serve on The Union of Two House Messianic Congregations Board of Rabbis although as a leader of a messianic congregation I believe in what is taught by that organization, it's Statement of Belief, and am a member of that organization. I receive no compensation for such membership.

Because I truly have nothing to hide, lose, nor to gain from serving as a witness in favor of Rabbi Moshe and because I seek only that justice and Torah righteousness be fulfilled in this matter once and forever, I today felt compelled to "stoop" at great embarrassment and exposure to myself to confirm such matters with Rabbi Moshe via email. This action on my part has been very hurtful to me spiritually and emotionally since, having known Rabbi Moshe personally for some 3-4 years now and having served under him in various roles in the past including as an Elder, I know him to be of utmost integrity and character and that he says what he means and means what he says. Thus, having to quell these terrible rumors once and for all by actually requesting documentary evidence in favor of the name "Moshe" I admit is beneath me under normal circumstances. But in the interest of righteousness and emet (Truth) I risked my relationship with Rabbi Moshe and have now confirmed certain matters purely for the sake of keeping hasatan and his minions away from this servant of YAHWEH and this issue for all time.

While it is true, by Rabbi Moshe's own public admissions, that he used the name "Marshall" many years ago he did so a) mostly before entering into ministry and b) for certain business purposes, such as pressures placed against him to do so by his own employer, who thought it not a suitable name for business. Tragically we see even the Anti-Semiticism inherent in this request by his employer perhaps. But I categorically affirm before YAHWEH and His Torah and His Son to all who may read this, that "Marshall" is not Rabbi Moshe's given legal name on his birth certificate nor was that the intended name given him by his natural parents Leiba and Chanah Koniuchowsky (may they rest in shalom). Therefore, any accusations by ANYONE to the contrary are to be put to rest or that person will need to first speak to me to my face if they have the nerve. Of course, they will more importantly need to deal with YAHWEH about the issue and their s.a.tanic inspired musings in this regard.

What's tragic still is that inevitably there will be many who may think I have taken this step to pander to Rabbi Moshe. On the contrary. As I said today has been a most difficult day for me in this matter personally, spiritually and emotionally. Dealing with this matter has exposed me to hasatan's demons who tried to place a wedge of misunderstanding between me and Rabbi Moshe as this subject was being settled once for all. But I was willing to risk that outcome that the Torah Truth might be shone brightly from atop the bushel and not below it.

THEREFORE,

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, and let it stand as a witness before hashamayim (the heavenlies) v' haaretz (and the Land), yesterday, now, today, and forever that I, Rabbi Yochanan Mascaro, (legal birthname: Wilfred Juan (Hebrew: "chen" Eng. "John") Mascaro), stand as a Torah eyewitness before YAHWEH ELOHIM TSEVAOT in favor of my brother Rabbi Moshe Joseph Koniuchowsky of Miami, Florida, AND HEREBY ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT the given-name on his birth certificate issued by the State of New York is the Hebrew name that in English is sounded as MOSHE or MAUSHE as given him on September 10, 1957 by his abba (father) Lieba Konichowsky and his imma (mother) Chana Koniuchowsky (may they each rest in shalom).

KNOW ALSO ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, and let it stand as a witness before hashamayim (the heavenlies) v' haaretz (and the Land), yesterday, now, today, and forever that I, Rabbi Yochanan Mascaro, (legal birthname: Wilfred Juan (Hebrew: "chen" Eng. "John") Mascaro), stand as a Torah eyewitness before YAHWEH ELOHIM TSEVAOT in favor of my brother Rabbi Moshe Joseph Koniuchowsky of Miami, Florida, AND HEREBY ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT the name appearing on Rabbi Moshe Joseph Koniuchowsky on his Florida Driver License is "M J Konichowsky" clearly intending to represent that name MOSHE as witnessed by me above.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, and let it stand as a witness before hashamayim (the heavenlies) v' haaretz (and the Land), yesterday, now, today, and forever that I, Rabbi Yochanan Mascaro, (legal birthname: Wilfred Juan (Hebrew: "chen" Eng. "John") Mascaro), stand as a Torah eyewitness before YAHWEH ELOHIM TSEVAOT in favor of my brother Rabbi Moshe Joseph Koniuchowsky of Miami, Florida, AND HEREBY ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT the bank accounts of Rabbi Moshe Koniuchowsky also bears the name "M J Koniuchowsky" clearly intending to represent that name MOSHE as witnessed by me above.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, and let it stand as a witness before hashamayim (the heavenlies) v' haaretz (and the Land), yesterday, now, today, and forever that I, Rabbi Yochanan Mascaro, (legal birthname: Wilfred Juan (Hebrew: "chen" Eng. "John") Mascaro), stand as a Torah eyewitness before YAHWEH ELOHIM TSEVAOT in favor of my sister Rebbetzin Rifkah Koniuchowsky of Miami, Florida, AND HEREBY ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT her given name at birth is Roberta and that she has never hidden this fact from me in my personal dealings with her. Rebbetzin Rifkah's given bat mitzvah name is Rivkah and that is what she has and continues to use for ministry purposes for scriptural reasons to use what most of us believe to be the lashon kodesh of Hebrew for ministry purposes. ZephanYAH 3:9-10.

Again, this has been a sad day for me to have to step forward to end the nonsense that has plagued my brother Rabbi Moshe Joseph Koniuchowsky for years by those who are so predisposed to destroy character and attack people personally. I pray my witness may play some role in breaking any strongholds that hasatan may have on certain people predisposed to believe such nonsense and attack the true servants of YAHWEH. May they be led to make teshuvah and ask for forgiveness from their brother whom they have provoked and grieved, but not as much as they have grieved the ruach hakodesh.

I witness this and pray this in the Name of YAHWEH TSEVAOT (of armies/of hosts) through His Son Yahshua HaMashiach.

Omein veh omein.

This day Tisha Baav (9 of Av) 5763

This day 6-7 August, 2003 (Greco-Roman)

hasatan has historically attacked YAHWEH's servants on this day; he has done so yet again!

But to YAHWEH be the kavod and may emet (Truth) be served.

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