Rabbi Schneider

Kirt A. Schneider, widely known as Rabbi Schneider, is an American Messianic Jewish pastor, author, and evangelist. He is the founder and host of the television and radio ministry "Discovering the Jewish Jesus".

Early life and conversion Schneider was raised in a Jewish‑American background in Beachwood, Ohio. In 1978 at age 20, he experienced a vision of Jesus on the cross at which time he began to read the New Testament and explore churches. He later enrolled in Toccoa Falls College earning a B.S. in Bible theology in 1985 and receiving the "Preacher of the Year" award.

Ministry and work In 1989, Schneider moved to Fremont, Ohio to become pastor of Fremont Alliance Church, and the following year started a non-denominational, independent church in Fremont.

In 2002, he became the spiritual leader of the Messianic Congregation Adat Adonai in West Toledo, Ohio serving as its rabbi. Schneider's use of the title "rabbi" has been disputed since he did not attend a rabbinical college. Schneider notes he did not become a rabbi through the traditional route of attending an Orthodox yeshivah, but as a teacher who inspires more than a million people. Schneider has authored multiple books including Awakening to Messiah: A Supernatural Discovery of the Jewish Jesus, Self‑Deliverance, Decoding the Torah, and Do Not Be Afraid.

Theological focus Schneider's teachings emphasize the Jewish roots of Christianity, the continuity between the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) and the New Testament, spiritual warfare, and end‑times readiness of the church.

Discovering the Jewish Jesus In 2004, Schneider planned a 13-week series "Discovering the Jewish Jesus" which was hosted on the Christian TV station WLMB. By 2025, the program was reaching over 100 million households in the U.S. and approximately 200 countries worldwide.

Selected publications