The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob gave Dr. Neil Lash the vision for TAK in July of 1976, at a 6:00 AM prayer meeting. As Dr. Lash relates the encounter, “As I began to pray, I experienced the most intense grief that I had ever felt from the kishkas (the inner depths of my being). I asked God what this was and He said, ‘This is how I feel about the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ Neil replied, “What do you want me to do about it?” God’s commission: “I want you to start a Messianic synagogue.”

At that time, Dr. Lash had no knowledge of Messianic Judaism, but he and his wife, Jamie, obeyed the voice of the Lord, began Temple Aron HaKodesh, and served Him there as teaching elders until January 2006, when Dr. Lash assumed the position of senior rabbi where, in the span of five years, taught the congregation how to learn eagerly, serve willingly, walk humbly, and love deeply.

Through the molding of this congregation by our rabbinic leaders throughout its history, and by the favor of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), today, Temple Aron HaKodesh is one of the world’s largest Messianic synagogues. It began in the heart of God, was birthed in prayer, and has born much spiritual fruit since its humble beginnings in 1976. Hundreds of people, both Jews and non-Jews, have met their Messiah at our Temple. Some of them have gone on to become Messianic rabbis and leaders in the worldwide Messianic Jewish community, including in Israel, and countless more have gone on to develop a rich and powerful relationship with the Lord Almighty.