Ben Volman
Writer, Editor, and Messianic Rabbi in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ben is a Messianic Jewish author, teacher, and currently a doctoral student at McMaster Divinity College. He retired as Messianic Rabbi of Kehillat Eytz Chaim / Tree of Life Congregation in Toronto in December 2021, and stepped down from his position as Vice President of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations in July 2023. He continues to serve as the UMJC Canadian Regional Director and the Secretary of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of Canada. He is also a member of the Messianic Jewish Rabbinic Council.
Ben became a follower of Yeshua while studying philosophy at the University of Toronto. He went on to complete his BA from the University of Toronto and MDiv from Knox College, Toronto School of Theology, Univ. of Toronto. He has also studied at the Spertus Institute (formerly the Spertus College of Judaica) and the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute. He has also taught at the Canadian Messianic Jewish Institute in Calgary.
Ben was a founding member of Canada's first Messianic Jewish congregation and has taught in many churches across Canada and the United States. He has also spoken at conferences and congregations in Germany, Thailand and the Philippines. From 1987 to 1991 and then 2007 to 2021, he was the Toronto Director of Ministry for Chosen People Ministries Canada and is now retired. He is currently overseeing his projects as the principal of Ben Volman & Associates.
Ben's past work as a freelance writer and editor has also led to three national writing awards, two in journalism and one for an online Torah commentary. The Presbyterian Church in Canada also honoured his popular book on the history of the Scott Mission in Toronto, More Than Miracles: Elaine Zeidman Markovic and the Story of The Scott Mission.The foreword was written by the late Hon. David Onley, Ontario's former Lieutenant Governer.
His numerous editorials, feature articles, and commentaries have appeared online with the UMJC, and in national and international publications including ChristianWeek, Chosen People Magazine and Faith Today. From 2002 to 2006 he was the publisher and executive director of an international publication, The Messianic Times. His podcast, MessianicInsight, is available online through Libsyn and Apple and further articles can be found online and at his website, www.messianicinsight.com.
Ben grew up in a secular Jewish home, the son of Israeli immigrants. His late father was a Holocaust survivor. His mother's family immigrated from Germany to Palestine in 1933. His parents came to Canada in the early 1950s and Ben was born in Toronto.
He's been married for 41 years to Sue, and they live with their adult son, Jonathan.