Our Leaders
David Wein
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David Wein grew up as a reform Jew here in Richmond, VA and came to follow Yeshua the Messiah in college at Wesleyan University. Getting a Bachelor’s in Spanish and French literature, he decided to join Teach for America and teach Spanish in Mississippi for three years. He would visit Tikvat Israel during his breaks from college and teaching, and immediately felt at home in a place that combined everything he grew up with along with everything he believed.
Much to his mother’s delight, he moved back to Richmond and continued teaching Spanish for ten years, and began attending Tikvat regularly. In 2015 he became the happiest man and married his bride, Sonya. A few months later, he joined the staff of Tikvat Israel and started working in part-time ministry as the Rabbi-in-training under the mentorship of Rabbi David Rudolph. He also started taking classes at the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute and is currently pursuing smicha (ordination) with the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations to become a bonafide Rabbi. He has recently been ordained Congregational Leader of Tikvat Israel by Tikkun America. He loves talking about Torah and theological narrative, coming alongside others in their walk with Hashem, spending quality time with his beautiful wife, writing and playing music on the piano, making up words, going to coffee shops, learning and teaching languages, making friends, walking around the downtown areas of various cities and towns, and making people laugh. He has no children (yet), and he has no pets, but he does have a CD and a gym membership. |
David Haller
Elder & Worship Leader
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David Haller has been the worship leader at Tikvat Israel since December 2011. He and his wife Mary came to the congregation in 2006. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. David graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA with a degree in Chemical Engineering, and recently retired after 33 years with Altria Group. He now devotes his time to serving the congregation through worship, media, and staff administration.
David first heard his calling to be a worship leader from Hashem in 2005. It was during the mourning period after the loss of his son-in-law, Dustin, and the sorrow and hurt faced by his daughter, now a young widow, that David heard the Lord speak to him that he was to minister to others through worship. In addition to leading worship, David has written messianic worship songs, participated in worship at UMJC conferences, and produced a CD of messianic worship by the Tikvat Israel worship team. |
Eric Friedman
Elder & Treasurer
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Eric Friedman grew up as a Conservative Jew from Massapequa, NY (Yes, Seinfeld and Baldwin Brothers Massapequa), in a family that were members of B’nai Brith and BBYO. Eric served in the U. S. Navy from 1977 – 1992. Eventually, he moved from Hampton Roads to the Richmond area in 1998. He has worked with Pella Windows and Doors in Logistics here in Richmond since 1999. He met Bonnie of Highland Springs (who grew up in the Episcopal Church there), in 2000 and they were married in 2003.
Eric & Bonnie first came to Tikvat Israel in 2009 after feeling a call to know more about the Messiah. It was here where Eric came to discover the fulfillment of the scriptures, in Yeshua, as the true Messiah and embraced Messianic Judaism. He has served in many areas of the Synagogue over the years, becoming one of the lay cantors and a Shamash, and was eventually installed as an Elder in 2018. Eric continues to serve joyfully with Bonnie at his side, and, will tell you how much he feels ‘at home’ at Tikvat Israel. |
Wayne Blankenship
Shamash, Lay Cantorial Team Leader, & Hebrew Teacher
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Wayne Blankenship grew up in our very own Richmond, Virginia encouraged by two supportive parents to embrace both his Jewish and Christian heritage and customs. Wayne came to believe that Yeshua was and is the One True promised Messiah to Israel and the world in his early teens after dedicating himself to an intensive reading of the Torah including the Brit ha’Hadashah. Within its living words, he read that Yeshua of Nazareth presented Himself as a Jew first; completely Torah observant, promoting Halakhah and the celebration of Jewish customs as outlined within its pages, and moreover, mirrored the sacred love of his Father in Heaven to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Wayne graduated from Mary Washington University with a degree in Cellular/Molecular Biology, as well as a Diploma in Registered Nursing from Southside Regional Medical Center School of Nursing, and has spent more than 20 years and an incredibly rewarding career as an apheresis specialist. Wayne began attending Tikvat Israel in 2007, became a member soon thereafter, and is joyfully spending his time serving as a lay-cantor and Biblical Hebrew teacher. Wayne enjoys a bilingual household with the love of his life, Natalia, and is the proud father of two of the most remarkable young adults one will ever meet. |
Our Staff
Meggie Elliott
Administrator & Events Coordinator
