Our Team – Beth Sar Shalom Brooklyn

Richard Flashman

Congregational Leader

Rich was raised in a Jewish family in Newton, Massachusetts. In college a young man shared the Good News about Yeshua with him and challenged him to read the Hebrew prophets. After reading Isaiah 53, Rich realized that Yeshua was Israel’s promised Messiah. Soon after, God called Rich to full-time ministry. After graduating from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School with an M.Div. and a Th.M., Rich, with wife Michelle, and their three boys went on to pastor two EFCA churches in Connecticut for 27 years. During that time Rich completed the work for his Doctor of Ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Presently, Rich is the Chaplain, Director of Field Education, and a Professor of Practical Theology at the Charles Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies as well as a congregational leader at Beth Sar Shalom.

Robert Walter

Congregational Leader

Robert grew up in a secular home in New Jersey and came to believe in Yeshua at the age of 19. Soon after, God used two friends to guide Robert into Messianic congregational work. One was a strong Christian who was overflowing with excitement about his newfound appreciation for the Jewish foundations of his faith. The other was a young Orthodox Jewish man who came to the realization that Yeshua was his Messiah before Robert’s very eyes. He married Joanna and the couple moved to Brooklyn in 2010. He serves as the Brooklyn Branch Director of Chosen People Ministries, co-leads Beth Sar Shalom, and serves as an Adjunct Instructor of New Testament Greek at the Charles L. Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies. He earned a BA from Palm Beach Atlantic University and an M.Div. from Talbot School of Theology through the Feinberg Center.

Klaudia Zhelezny

Leader of Russian-Language Ministry, Gesher HaShamayim

Klaudia is a Jewish immigrant from Kiev, Ukraine. She grew up as an atheist, yet realized that the Soviet government was morally and spiritually bankrupt. When her son turned 18, Klaudia and her family decided to move to America. As the family passed through Italy on their way to America, they met a Baptist pastor, who gave them a Bible, and they heard for the first time that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. Klaudia decided to read the Old Testament to find out if this was true. After studying for some time, she realized it was. Soon after that, her entire family came to America as believers in Jesus! In 1997, Klaudia was invited to serve with Chosen People Ministries. Her ministry is in Brooklyn among Russian Jewish immigrants. She understands them because she is one of them. Klaudia is now leading the Russian-speaking ministry in the congregation, Gesher HaShamayim, at the Feinberg Messianic Center. She also oversees all of our Russian ministry where we offer English classes and different cultural programs where the Bible is taught and the Gospel is proclaimed.

Devorah Chung

Deaconess

Devorah is from Hong Kong and grew up in a traditional Chinese home. She came to faith in Yeshua as a young businesswoman. Shortly after coming to believe, God called her to share Yeshua with the Jewish people. She has earned her BA from Moody Bible Institute and her M.Div. from the Charles L. Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies. She currently serves as a Deaconess at Beth Sar Shalom and is heavily involved in just about every ministry and activity that takes place at the congregation.