Daniel was born in Pinsk, Belarus to Jakob and Rona Landsman, the 15th child out of 18. Sadly, of all the children only he and one sister survived childhood. He was raised as an orthodox Jew, and learned as a child to love Jerusalem. A deep desire was born in him to go to his land of his fathers, but many years were yet to pass before his dream could come true.
At the young age of 13 Daniel's parents made a match for him - he was married and moved to the home of his father in law, who took on himself to support the young couple for six years. Just six years after his marriage Daniel tragically lost both his parents and himself fell devastatingly ill. His illness lasted for two years. During this time he vowed that if God preserved his life, he would go to Jerusalem. He did survive, though his health was ruined and he had to hobble around on crutches. However, when he told his wife of his vow she would have none of it. Nothing deterred, he determined to make the journey alone. He left a certificate of divorce for his wife that she should make use of in case he did not return in two years time. And so by hook and by crook he made his way to Jerusalem, arriving in 1858 and taking up work as a tailor. In 1860 he was able to bring his wife and sister over as well. He lived as a strict, pious Jew, maintaining his family by his work in the tailor shop.
At some point, he came across a page in Hebrew torn from a book, lying in the street. He loved what he read, and wondered which rabbi it was that wrote such beautiful words. He kept the page, which was from the Matthew chapter 5, the Sermon on the Mount, but had no idea that it was from the New Testament.
On his first contact with a Jewish missionary, Isaak Stern, he was so incensed that the man could preach Christ to him that he assaulted him. Stern, however, persevered, and when Daniel learned that he was speaking of the rabbi who had taught the words on the page he had found, he became more attentive and allowed Stern to visit him often and teach him more about this wonderful rabbi. He and Stern, who was honoured and appreciated in the Jewish community for his gentleness and integrity, became good friends.
As Daniel sought to study more about Yeshua he encountered increasing opposition from the Jewish community in Jerusalem. His search for God's truth cost him dearly. His wife opposed him for 18 months, and the rabbinical court issued a "Cherem" against him. Others took on themselves more violent means of "bringing him around'. At one time he was assaulted by a wild group that cried out "We will do to you what people did to your God!" and began to crucify him. His wife, who witnessed this attack, screamed so terribly that the assaulters fled, but not before they had managed to bore through Daniel's hands, causing him much suffering. At another time he was to be dragged to the Beit Din against his will, but at that time Turkish policeman defended him. The persecutions however continued unabated and he was left with no choice but to leave his dearly beloved wife and children to flee to the relative safety of the Inquirer's Home. Once there, he collapsed. His friends Stern and Shapira, the directors of the Home, brought him back to consciousness and gave him a bed for the night. But the next day the house was stormed and Daniel was carried bound to his wife. At that time, Schapira was able to rescue him by means of the English Consul and he returned to the Home.
Just two weeks following, tragedy struck the small family. Two of their children died suddenly, and a third shortly after. On learning of the tragedy, and realising that his wife had been obliged to enter domestic service in order to support herself, Daniel lost his nerve and returned to his family. The Jewish authorities demanded he undergo a purifying mikweh to express repentance and he submitted, perhaps in order to restore harmony in his grieving home. But he had no peace. His wife was vehemently opposed to him, and his youngest child fell ill and died. After nine months Daniel gave his wife a certificate of divorce and returned to the Inquirers' Home, leaving behind the life he had known.
But his sufferings were not yet over. The next year he received an invitation from his aunt, and was pleased to visit her. But while there he began to suspect foul play. Apparently no one else helped themselves to the cakes offered him! To ascertain whether his suspicions were founded he offered a cake to his nephew - whose parents promptly slapped it out of his hands. The game was up. Another time, he was attacked by a group of men who intended to bury him alive. His companions, who had fled the scene into the city, returned in time to rescue him from an awful death.
In 1863 he confessed faith, and was baptised. But he could no longer stay at the Inquirers' Home. Literally to save his life, Daniel was eventually obliged to flee from Jerusalem. A position as assistant missionary was offered him in the Scotch Presbyterian mission at Constantinople, where he laboured for seventeen years. It was there he was used by God in the life of Elieser Bassin, a chassidic Jew who intended to restore Daniel to the right path and instead became a believer in Yeshua himself.
Eventually Daniel Landsman emigrated to the US where he served in New York as a missionary connected with the Lutheran church, and was blessed in his efforts to win souls for the Kingdom of God.
Sources:
Bernstein, A. Jewish Witnesses for Christ. (1999)
De le Roi, J.F.A. Die evangelische Christenheit und die Juden
unter dem Gesichtspunkte der Mission geschichtlich betrachtet. Dritter Band, Berlin, H. Reuther's Verlagsbuchhandlung. (H. Reuther & 0. Reichard.) 1892.
Freund Israels, Saat auf Hoffnung. 1875, 188. Basel 1874, p. 202 www.lcje.net/papers/2007/Butterworth.ppt
Works:
Yeshua Sar HaPanim
Yeshua of Nazareth is the true Messiah
Memra
Sabbath Holy-Days und Circumcision
What the Rabbis say about Messiah
Was Kabbalah says about the tri-unity of God, 1888.
