Rabbi Mordecai Aaron Griffin is the founder and leader of Lapid Judaism. He is the direct descendant of the Vilna Gaon from his mother’s lineage, of the Cohen/Aucoin family that fled Portugal and settled in France before immigrating to Port Royal Canada in the 1700's. Rabbi Griffin's ancestors would eventually immigrate to Southern Louisiana becoming a part of the original Acadian community. Because of this rich Jewish heritage, he has spent the past 25  years carrying the torch that has been passed down to him through the centuries.

Rabbi Mordecai Griffin is Torah scholar and is well versed in Jewish sources such as Talmud Bavli, Midrash Rabbah, the Zohar and other halachic resources. Rabbi studied at Yeshiva University and the Siegal College of Judaic Studies. He also attended yeshiva classes at DATA (Dallas Area Torah Association). He is also a student of modern and ancient history which enables him to bring greater depth and understanding into the nature, meaning and insight of Messiah Yeshua’s teachings as found in the besorot (gospels). Rabbi also served in the United States Marine Corps as a gunner and raider craft coxswain. 

Rabbi's personal passion is to bring the light of Moshiach and the Holy Torah to “all” people. Restoring the original faith and practice of Messiah and the Apostles; a faith that was very Jewish! In 2014 he founded the organization “Lapid”. Lapid, Hebrew for “torch”, one of the names of Messiah, is fast becoming a household name, known as a movement of authentic Yeshua-centered Judaism that is blazing across the globe.

Rebbetzin Shoshana Griffin is a native Texan. She is the descendant of Austrian and German Jews who immigrated to Texas in the 1840’s. Her Great, Great Grandfather Captian Joseph Richarz became one of the first commanders of the Texas Rangers, postmaster and Judge in D’Hannis, Texas. His story is featured at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. He also served as a Texas State Representative. For nearly three decades Rebbetzin Shoshana has lived out her faith in Yeshua as a Jewish woman. She has taken the torch of Messiah throughout Israel and parts of Spain, Ecuador, Jamaica and Haiti teaching people about the Living Torah Yeshua.

The Rebbetzin has a passion for prayer, hospitality and acts of loving kindness. She enjoys teaching the principles of living as a Jewish woman and the spirituality of the mitzvot entrusted to the daughters of Zion.

 In 2005, Zaken Rayford began learning about Torah and understanding the written word from the Hebrew perspective.  He has been a Zaken of the Lapid Judaism Beit Din (Judge of the court / Elder) since 2011.  He enjoys not only studying Torah, but teaching it to individuals who recognize something is missing from their walk of faith.  Many continue to ask, "What is Torah? Why is it so important? Why should I...?"  Helping individuals find scriptural answers to these questions is his greatest joy.  

Zaken Yigal has been involved with ministry for over 40 years.  A third of that was in the Messianic ministry in the Seattle area.  The last few years, HaShem has brought him full circle to a realization that to follow Yeshua means to follow Him as a Jew through Torah observance.