A Messianic Synagogue on NW 24 Court
Temple Aron HaKodesh sits at 4751 NW 24 Court in Lauderdale Lakes, in the heart of Broward County. The Hebrew name means "Holy Ark of the Covenant," and members and visitors call the synagogue "TAK" for short. On any given Shabbat, the temple fills with a diverse mix of Jewish and non-Jewish worshippers drawn together by a shared conviction: that Yeshua is the promised Messiah, and that the God of Israel is at work restoring His people to Himself.
A New Covenant Community of Jews and Non-Jews
TAK describes itself as a New Covenant community of Jews and non-Jews called to be one in the Messiah, Yeshua. Members worship the God of Israel within their own culture, traditions, and biblical calendar, and they know Adonai in a personal way through Messiah Yeshua. The synagogue's vision centers on the spiritual restoration of God's chosen people and on providing a strong Messianic Jewish heritage for generations to come.
The temple's teaching is rooted in passages such as Ezekiel 36:24-27 and Jeremiah 31:31-35, in which God promises to gather His people, give them a new heart, and write His Torah upon it. TAK's leaders read these passages as unfolding in the present day, with Jewish people receiving a "new heart" through new birth in the Messiah.
Shabbat Services and the Rhythm of the Week
Weekly Shabbat services anchor congregational life at TAK. Each gathering combines meaningful worship with study of Adonai's Word and a strong emphasis on the preaching and teaching of Scripture. The service is shaped by traditional Jewish elements alongside heartfelt congregational singing, and the Dance Ministry leads the congregation into the Divine Presence through unified prophetic Messianic dance.
Children's ministries run alongside the regular Shabbat services, providing an age-appropriate environment where kids encounter Yeshua under the care of dedicated leaders. Infants and young children are cared for so that parents can enter fully into worship, knowing their children are receiving real spiritual training during the service.
Beyond the main Shabbat gathering, Rabbi Francisco Moros teaches a weekly Shabbat Torah Class. Senior Soup and Scripture gathers the 55-and-up crowd each week for lunch, fellowship, and study of the weekly Torah portion. A monthly service in Spanish is also led by Rabbi Francisco, making TAK a bilingual congregation.
Senior Rabbi Joe Vitkus
Rabbi Joseph Vitkus, a native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, is TAK's senior rabbi. He joined the temple in 1994 as youth rabbi, also serving as an art, Bible, and P.E. teacher and athletic director at Sar Shalom Hebrew Academy, the temple's former day school. He became associate rabbi in 2005 under founding Rabbi Dr. Neil Lash and assumed the senior role in 2010 upon Rabbi Neil's retirement.
Rabbi Joe is licensed and ordained with the International Association of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS) and with the Assemblies of God, and he serves on the Executive Committee of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA). He is a frequent speaker at MJAA conferences across the southeast and at the national Messiah Conference, and he leads a tour to Israel every other year for a group of 20 to 30 travelers, with a missions trip to a designated country in the alternating years. Rabbi Joe and his wife Rebbetzin Ilene Vitkus have been married for over thirty years and have two grown children, Joshua and Rebecca. Rebbetzin Ilene, originally from Long Island, served alongside him at TAK for more than twenty-five years.
Associate Rabbi Francisco Moros
Rabbi Francisco Moros was appointed Associate Rabbi in June 2017. He leads the monthly Spanish service, teaches the weekly Shabbat Torah Class, and brings a heart for worship into the Senior's ministry and the congregational prayer watches. A believer since the age of fifteen in Venezuela, Rabbi Francisco came to TAK in 2005, became a member in 2007, and was Bar Mitzvah there. Before joining the staff, he led TAK's Prison Ministry for ten years, the last seven as director. He holds a finance degree from Ohio University and previously worked in the airline industry. He and his wife Maria have been married since 1985 and have two daughters.
Elder Michael McNeil
Elder Michael McNeil, a native of Jamaica, has attended TAK since 2010 and serves as a deacon and secretary of the corporate board. He came to faith in high school and has served in a range of capacities over the years, including youth leader, youth pastor, and associate pastor. He and his wife Patricia lead the Keep In Touch (KIT) Ministry, which identifies and prays for each member's personal needs and reaches out by phone to assigned Temple members. Together they have two adult sons.
Ministries for Every Generation
TAK offers a broad spread of ministries for every generation. The Youth Ministry, directed by Rabbi Joe, deepens young people's understanding of Adonai and encourages the pursuit of godliness. The Prayer Ministry releases the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth through seven specific prayer teams, with Claire Roker serving as the prayer ministry contact. The Dance Ministry leads the congregation into worship through unified prophetic Messianic dance, with Priscila Silva at the helm.
Beyond the temple walls, the Outreach Ministry, called Harvest Reapers, ministers to the homeless and to communities across Broward County while sharing the good news of Messiah. TAK has also taken up international compassion work: the congregation has been raising funds for Emergency Bomb Shelters and Joseph's Storehouse, both connected to Barry and Batya Segal's Vision for Israel ministry. Each shelter costs around $12,000, and the synagogue frames its giving around the words of Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you."
Joining the Mishpochah
TAK calls its people a mishpochah, the Yiddish word for family, and newcomers are warmly welcomed into that circle. The synagogue encourages members to discover how Adonai has uniquely gifted them by serving on one of the ministry teams. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and messages receive a response within 24 hours. Shabbat services are livestreamed for those unable to attend in person, and giving is available online, by texting an amount to a dedicated number, or by mail to the temple's address.