Meet the Beit Din

Oversight of the United Messianic Jewish Assembly is conducted by the UMJA Beit Din, a group of z'kanim (elders) who have been selected based on experience and wisdom within the Messianic community.

Our Beit Din members are experienced as overseers of their own congregations, dedicated to the vision of the UMJA and to the edification of the Messianic Jewish movement. The Beit Din work together to plan UMJA events, oversee new chartered congregations, grant s'michah (ordination) to qualified applicants,

and provide support and counsel to the Messianic community.

RABBI KEN "MACCABEES" MACNEIL

UMJA President, Beit Din

Rabbi Ken was born and raised Jewish in the Boston area, and has been involved with the Messianic movement for 30 years. He's been active with the UMJA since 2015 when he received his s'michah (ordination), and accepted the role as President in 2022. A man of diverse experience, he served in the Marines, worked as a private investigator, a commercial pilot, and holds a B.S. in Aviation Science and Management. Ken ministered as VP of the Brazilian Youth Challenge with chapters in Boston and Florida.

Rabbi Ken mentored under three revered Rabbis over six years, including a private Yeshiva and understudy from an Ultra Orthodox Yeshiva graduate, and brings it all to the table for the UMJA. He also attended Ulpan course, courses affiliated with Jerusalem's Hebrew University, and looks forward to seeing the UMJA grow globally with the blessing of HaShem. He and his lovely wife Sharon live in Central Massachusetts where he leads Messianic Jewish kehilla Kadosh L'cha.

UMJA Vice President, Beit Din

RABBI GARY BERESFORD

Beit Din

Rabbi Gary was born in Johannesburg to Jewish parents who immigrated to South Africa after WWII. His school years were spent in the city of Port Elizabeth on the Indian Ocean. In 1967, while visiting Jerusalem with his father, he was overcome by the Holy Spirit at the Western Wall, and returned to Judaism. He has known Yeshua since 1985. He has a Masters degree through the Hebrew University and American Institute for Holy Land Studies, and worked on the Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically on the Hodyot Scroll. He traveled globally in the 1990's speaking to the rights of Jews who believe in Yeshua gaining citizenship in Israel, and worked as head of the solar energy division of the leading company in Zimbabwe.

Rabbi Gary was ordained in 1996 through Beth Israel, Tampa, which became the International Federation of Sephardic and Ashkanazi Jews, and by the IAMCS, and CTOMC, where he served on the Beit Din. In 1999, he and Shirley, his wonderful wife of 40 years, served as Associate Rabbi in Sarasota, until the need for a congregation in Bradenton opened up, where they now serve. His vision is to see Jewish and Gentile believers uniting under the Messiahship of Yeshua and keeping the mitzvot, thus becoming One New Humanity.

RABBI GABRIEL LUMBROSO

Beit Din

Rabbi Gabriel Lumbroso was born in Paris, France, a descendent of a long line of the Lumbroso family who have an extensive Jewish history. He was a dedicated member of Zionist youth groups in France from an early age, leading up to the time of his bar mitzvah at the Kotel in Jerusalem. Eventually, Gabriel made “aliyah” and continued his studies at Kibbutz Nitzanim. Still seeking, he befriended a young man on a trip to Europe who shared Isaiah 53 with him and taught him about Mashiach. This was a turning point on his spiritual journey for Yeshua.

In addition to running a congregation and Torah Club group, Gabriel works as a medical interpreter and spends much of his "down time" time teaching the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith, French, Hebrew, history, geography, to teens in home-school groups. He is a chaplain supervisor for his local fire department in Oregon and an ordained rabbi under the UMJA (United Messianic Jewish Assembly).