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.
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RABBI GREG LEHTIMAKI
UMJA Vice President, Beit Din
Rabbi Greg was born in Germany and was raised in a religious family in various US states. At seventeen he joined the military and served alongside the IDF and in the US Army. He has a B.S. in Business and Human Resource Management (Summa Cum Laude) and a M.S. in Executive Leadership (honors). He became a believer in Yeshua in 2010 and embraced the Messianic Faith. After retirement from the military and the DOD, he began his ministry and founded Beit HaShaar in Columbus, Georgia.
Rabbi Greg received his s'micha (ordination) as a Ro'eh from the UMJA in 2015 and s'micha as a Rabbi from Y'Sharim USA/International in 2016. He is honored to be a member of the Beit Din of the UMJA. Rabbi Lehtimaki has been happily married to his b'shert (soulmate) Lois for 39 years. They have 2 children and 12 grandchildren. They live a Torah observant life to the glory of God and pray that their ministry will build up HaShem's kingdom to accomplish His will and purposes.
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).
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.
MARY BETH CHILDREE
UMJA Secretary
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Mary Beth and her husband Thomas of 46 years, live in rural Alabama on a small farm. She has worn many hats which include a homeschool mom for 32 years, mother of 12, foster and adoptive mom, hospice nurse, short term international medical missions, business owner and most importantly, a child of the King!
Her family's place of learning and worship is Beit HaShaar, with Rabbi Greg Lehtimaki. Her studies center on Torah and learning the Hebrew language. She is honored to be of service to the Beit Din and the UMJA at large.
TERI (YARDENA ZAKA) SIERS
UMJA Treasurer
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Teri has been a Messianic believer for 10 years and a believer in Yeshua her whole life. ​She strives to live a Torah observant life. She has a loving and sincere spirit that allows her to be a true servant for God. Teri is a hard charger and excels in her finance career. She uses this talent to serve HaShem.
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Teri is a Morah for the Youth ministry where she is a devoted and faithful member; Beit HaSha'ar Messianic Fellowship in Columbus, GA.
16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly.
As each part does its own special work,
it helps the other parts grow,
so that the whole body is healthy
and growing and full of love.
Ephesians 4:3-16 CJB
You're part of the team too!
"3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to
one glorious hope for the future...
7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ...13 until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son...15 growing in every way more and more like Christ...
May the Ruach HaKodesh move through the nations
gathering his people together, enveloping us in his love, and wrapping us in the spirit of unity, to the glory of the Father, King of the universe, in Yeshua's Name. Amen.
