LEVITT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Bookkeeper
- Key Staff Member
Chaim Malespin made aliyah from the U.S. in 1999. Graduating from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in 2013, Chaim currently directs the Aliyah Return Center, training international interns, developing infrastructure in the Galilee, and promoting Israel and the Nations working together for Zion's sake. He and Deanna have three children.
Dov Schwarz, a Jewish believer in Messiah Yeshua, now lives in Israel. As a pastor, radio host, and author, Dov understands how the Body of Messiah should relate to God's Land, and builds bridges to effect restoration between Israel and the Nations. He and Suzanne have two children.
Dr. Jeff Seif succeeded Zola at the teaching helm of Zola Levitt Ministries and as the ministry's principal spokesperson. He continued teaching the ZLM message on television, writing books and articles, and ministering in churches across America. Jeff and Zola co-created our correspondence course, The Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies.
Jeff received a master's degree and doctorate from Southern Methodist University in Dallas; he taught over 400 students each semester in Bible colleges and pastored at least four churches over a span of twenty years.
Dr. Thomas McCall, previously the Senior Theologian of our ministry, has written many articles for the Levitt Letter. He held a Th.M. in Old Testament studies and a Th.D. in Semitic languages and Old Testament. He served as Zola's co-author, mentor, pastor, and friend for nearly 30 years. He died January 29, 2021.
Eitan Shishkoff and his wife, Connie, came to saving faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah while living on a commune in the mountains of New Mexico in 1972.
Since then he has served in cross cultural evangelism, headed a day school at a Messianic synagogue, and then became pastor of the congregation.
God called them to Israel in 1992. Settling in Haifa, Eitan served on the pastoral staff of Kehilat HaCarmel. In 1995 he founded Ohalei Rahamim (Tents of Mercy) a Hebrew-speaking Messianic congregation and humanitarian aid center. Eitan and Connie have four grown children, seven grandsons and two granddaughters.
Job Titles:
- Key Staff Member
- Office Manager
Job Titles:
- Key Staff Member
- Television Producer
Kirsten Hart - the new studio co-hosts for Our Jewish Roots - live in Florida. David, originally from California, and Kirsten from New York each toured extensively with various ministries since the 1970s, but teamed up after marrying in 1990.
Besides both of them working with television ministries since the '80s, David studied music at Azusa Pacific University (CA), served as lead vocalist for the Gospel group TRUTH (a song he recorded - "Jesus Never Fails" - landed the group in the Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame!), and as vocal director for The Voices of Liberty at Walt Disney World. Kirsten sang back up for Grammy-winner Larnelle Harris, the USO tour group Re-Creation, and The Spurrlows.
Job Titles:
- Director - Southern California
After her mother led her to Zola Levitt Ministries, Margot was hooked on Zola's unique teaching subject and style. In early 2006, she began assisting editor Lou Hays working on the Levitt Letter. After Zola died, she accepted Lou's blue pencil and editor's chair and served the ministry until she retired November 2021. She continues to help the ministry where needed and happily joined its Board of Directors in November 2022.
In addition to church, Margot is active in pickleball and animal rescue. She also participates in her local chapters of American Association of University Women and Daughters of the American Revolution. Margot is a voting, independent volunteer board member who will remain active with the ministry's board through at least January 2025.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Chairman, President - Richardson, TX
Kirsten Hart - the new studio co-hosts for Our Jewish Roots - live in Florida. David, originally from California, and Kirsten from New York each toured extensively with various ministries since the 1970s, but teamed up after marrying in 1990.
Besides both of them working with television ministries since the '80s, David studied music at Azusa Pacific University (CA), served as lead vocalist for the Gospel group TRUTH (a song he recorded - "Jesus Never Fails" - landed the group in the Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame!), and as vocal director for The Voices of Liberty at Walt Disney World. Kirsten sang back up for Grammy-winner Larnelle Harris, the USO tour group Re-Creation, and The Spurrlows.
David Hitt is an attorney practicing in the Dallas area. He has served on the Zola Levitt Ministries board as its chairman since 2007, and he believes that Zola Levitt Ministries' support of Israel is essential in a time when the whole world seems to have turned against her. David holds degrees in accounting, physics, and law. He is a voting, independent, volunteer board member who will remain active through at least January 2025.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Director, Audit Committee - Oklahoma
Now retired in Oklahoma, Lou Hays was our ministry's Levitt Letter editor in the mid-2000s and a close personal friend of Zola for decades. A master chess player and savvy golfer (he wrote a book!), he's also an accomplished entrepreneur, owning and operating a travel agency and ice cream store.
An avid volunteer with animal rescue, Lou is a sincere Believer in Yeshua and a strong supporter of Israel. Lou is a voting, independent, volunteer board member who will remain active with the ministry's board through at least January 2025.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Key Staff Member
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Executive Director, Secretary / Treasurer - Dallas, TX
In 1988, Mark became the ministry's executive director. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a variety of sales and marketing experience. His compensation has been calculated on cost-of-living-adjustments which he has declined since 2007. Mark is a voting, volunteer board member who will remain active through at least January 2025.
Job Titles:
- Director, Audit Committee - Dallas, TX
Mark Nelson is the son of Pastor Ted Nelson, a friend and founding board member of Zola Levitt Ministries, who served from 1979-2008. Mark shares the same beliefs and passions for Christ as Zola Levitt Ministries.
While an active member of his church, Mark works for the return of the church to its biblical authority and Jewish heritage. He has a business background in corporate sales, management, commercial real estate, and strategic consulting, serving both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Mark is a voting, independent, volunteer board member who will remain active with the ministry's board through at least January 2025.
Job Titles:
- Key Staff Member
- Travel Manager
Sarah Liberman was born to Jewish parents in Israel and grew up the Galilee region. Her parents came to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) through meeting Jewish believers and she grew up in a Messianic home. She earned a degree in communications from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an M.B.A shortly after that.
After marrying her husband, they moved to California, where she worked in corporate sales and marketing, living the American dream. In 2009, they moved back to Israel and she now lives with her husband and three children in a rural area near Caesarea.
In 2014, she recorded her first worship album, I Am Before You, and she became a worship leader. In 2016, she recorded a second album, A Pure Heart, and a third album in 2019, God of Miracles.
In addition to filming Hebrew Lessons for Our Jewish Roots and writing our Personal Letter newsletter, she travels throughout Israel and around the world, speaking as well as singing and leading worship.
Dr. Todd Baker is president of B'rit Hadashah Ministries since 2001.
With his extensive background in Jewish Evangelism, Todd has led over 45 Gospel outreaches to Israel since 2001. A former tour guide, Todd founded and leads ZLM's To The Jew First Gospel Outreach to Israel.
Todd received a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Lee University in 1992, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1997, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy/Apologetics from Trinity Seminary under the auspices of Liverpool University, Liverpool, England, in 2006.
Todd has pastored Shalom, Shalom Messianic Congregation-which he started with Zola Levitt-in Dallas, Texas since 1999. He devotedly served as a chaplain at Medical City Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Dallas, Texas, from 1994 to 2009.
Dr. Baker is an author of several books including Messengers of Messiah: Witnessing Encounters With the Chosen People, a speaker, and a teacher who has been interviewed on radio and television. He is currently a theological consultant for Zola Levitt Ministries.