Our Team
Board of Directors

Rabbi Steve Weiler
PresidentBorn in Manhattan, NY, to Jewish parents who had escaped Austria during the Holocaust, he is a graduate of Peabody Conservatory of Music (B.A.) and Johns Hopkins University (M.Ed.). After teaching high school for 4 years, he moved to Philadelphia, PA, where he spent 11 years in management and then as the owner of a fitness center. He accepted the position of principal of Chalutzim Academy, a private K-12 school of Congregation Beth Yeshua.
Receiving ordination through Congregation Beth Yeshua, in 1999 Steve became the rabbi of Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue. He came to Tampa with a burden for youth, unity, and Israel. In 2006, he founded the Tampa Bay Committee To Bless Israel, which later changed its name to Bless Israel USA. Rabbi Steve is blessed with a wonderful family: his wife, Pat; his daughters, Rebecca (and her husband Yosi) and Sarah (and her husband Mario); and his 5 grandchildren (Noa, Eden, MJ, Gabe & Emilia).

Matt Moore
ChairmanMatt is the Director of Ellel Ministries USA, a healing a discipleship ministry, which is located in Lithia, Florida. He and his wife, Becky, have served in that ministry since 2014. Their early lives were both spent overseas as their parents served as missionaries to two different Asian countries.
After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in theology and his Master’s degree in counseling, he completed his law degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Matt practiced law with an international law firm for 10 years until 2006 when he was called as a pastor to Fellowship Church in Lithia, where he served as the pastor of worship and missions until 2014.
In 2009, God opened Matt’s eyes to His heart for Israel and the importance of the Jewish roots of the Christian faith to the Church. He’s written a book regarding this topic entitled “Healing the One New Man”, published in 2024. He has been to Israel 14 times, many times leading teaching tours. He has two grown daughters, a son-in-law, and a granddaughter. He lives with Becky and his dog, Max, in Plant City, Florida.

Ron Leef
TreasurerRon Leef, a Bless Israel USA Board Member since its inception in 2006, is committed to working to raise awareness and understanding about the importance of the nation of Israel to God and the United States, and to the pursuit of peace in the Middle East and throughout the world.
Born to Jewish parents in New York City, and raised in the NYC borough of Queens. Ron and his family relocated to Florida where he attended Florida State University, graduating in 1971. Following graduation, and a year working in hotels in Miami Beach, Ron joined the grand opening team at Walt Disney World, working in the Resort Division at the Contemporary Hotel. After seven years, Ron was hired by World Jai Alai, a Pari-Mutuel fronton operator in Miami, where he met his future wife, Nancy. Ron and Nancy, and moved to Tampa Bay in 1980, and have two daughters, Alissa (Holcomb), a Florida staff member for the Young Life ministry, and Vanessa (Mistretta), Vice-President of the Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries in Jerusalem.
Ron and Nancy have served in ministry in Florida since 1989, and joined Shoresh David in Tampa in 1998.

Lupe Vazquez-Mitcham
DirectorLupe leveraged her bachelor’s in sociology and experience as a court interpreter to spend 15 years as a domestic violence and child abuse victim advocate. While working alongside her husband to grow his law practice, she was able to travel extensively, including 4 trips to Israel where she developed a love of the people and the land.
Lupe’s volunteer work has included serving military veterans as well as praying on Joy FMs prayer and crisis line. Lupe has served on the Board of Directors of Love and Hope Adoptions and Harbor Island Place. Since her husband’s passing, she divides her time between her community work and her two beautiful children, Matthew and Micah.
“It’s with great pleasure to serve on the Bless Israel USA Board and Committee.”
Committee Members

Ed & Amanita Marvin
Ed embarked on a profoundly uplifting journey to Israel in 1982, playing a meaningful role in safeguarding a Jewish community in the Golan Heights during the war in Lebanon. Since then, Ed has inspired numerous groups to explore Israel and has been instrumental in fostering deeply meaningful connections through various Israel Friendship organizations.
Amanita has dedicated herself to advancing Israel’s interests since 1990, leveraging a law degree specializing in International Law and Israel’s right to statehood, and actively engaging with several Friends of Israel organizations, supplemented by studies at the esteemed Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.
Ed has been the rabbi of Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue in Wesley Chapel, Florida since 2013.

Victor & Carmen Diaz
Victor & Carmen were Ordained into Ministry since 1995, and Ordained Rabbi and Rebbetzin of ConecTzion Hispanic Ministry of Shoresh David Synagogues Tampa Bay since 2013. Both born and raised in Puerto Rico; Married 46 years and Parents of 4 Gorgeous kids and Grandparents of 5 Super Gorgeous Kids.
We Love Israel because Yeshua Messiah and King of Israel live in our spirits, souls, and hearts! And He loves Israel.

Karen Rodriguez
PlanningKaren grew up in Pensacola, Florida, the daughter of Christian parents who defended their Jewish neighbors against anti-Semitism, teaching her that the Jews are God’s Chosen people. At 17, Karen became a bridal buyer for 200 stores and entered the field of promotions and event planning. She also spent 15 years as a flight attendant.
In 1995, Karen visited Israel, where she developed a special calling to be a bridge between the church and Jewish people. For over 40 years, Karen has worked with various messianic ministries and charitable boards and committees. She currently serves Shoresh David Messianic Synagogues as office administrator and has been on the Bless Israel USA planning committee since 2006.
In 2013, Karen married Terry Rodriguez, Sr. Together, they have three children and two beautiful granddaughters.