Gary Derechinsky
Messianic Rabbi

Gary grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home in New Jersey before giving his life to Yeshua at the age of 17. Since then, he has made it his calling to share the “Good News” of Messiah with those around Him, especially the Jewish people.  Today, he continues to share his love for Yeshua, God’s Word, and the Jewish people.

Gary spent seventeen years (1975-1992) with Chosen People Ministries sharing Messiah Yeshua with the Jewish people, and helping the local church learn more about the Jewish roots of their faith. He then served as pastor of New Hope Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland for 18 years (1993-2009), while teaching Bible to middle and upper school students at the Annapolis Area Christian School. Gary also served as adjunct professor of Old Testament at Bethel’s Seminary of the East. He is a Board member of Ariel Ministries, and often teaches at Ariel Ministries’ Camp Shoshana alongside of Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum and other leaders in the messianic movement.

Gary received his B.A. from Northeastern Bible College in Essex Fells, NJ and a M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass. He also completed coursework at Dallas Theological Seminary and in the History of Religion: Judaism at Harvard Divinity School.

Since 2010 Gary has been the Messianic Rabbi of Beth Ariel Messianic Congregation in Los Angeles. He is an avid sailor and musician. He is married to Marilou, his wife of 47 years, and they have a son Joel, who is the Academic Director for the Cal Berkeley football team.