ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Ely Hernandez Torres is a seasoned teacher and professor of Scriptures with over 20 years of experience presenting the Bible through a Jewish mindset and Hebraic perspective. With Sephardic Jewish roots through his mother’s lineage, Ely draws on a family heritage that reaches back over 400 years to the conversos of Spain—Jews who, under the pressures of the Spanish Inquisition, were forced to convert outwardly to Christianity while often secretly maintaining Jewish practices and traditions. Among his family surnames—Hernández, Arroyo, Torres, and Borrero—are names long connected to these conversos who carried their hidden Jewish faith into Puerto Rico more than four centuries ago.
This ancestral history deeply informs Ely’s teaching, giving him a unique lens through which he explains the Scriptures from an authentic Jewish frame of mind. His approach bridges ancient traditions with modern application, making complex subjects accessible to learners at every level.
Throughout his career, Ely served as senior elder and chief of several Messianic congregations across the United States and South America. He also founded and directed the Hebraic Institute Yeshiva B’et Navi, where he taught and mentored students for more than a decade. His leadership and scholarship shaped generations of students, many of whom continue to build on the foundations he helped establish.
Ely is the author of several books in both English and Spanish, including The Malkitzadik Priesthood, Isha, The Coronation of the King, and Shabbat at Home. In addition, he has written a series of prayer booklets designed to help new believers approach the Creator in simple yet meaningful ways, framed through a Jewish perspective. His writings reflect both depth of scholarship and pastoral sensitivity, offering readers practical tools for spiritual growth.
In December 2022, Ely retired from formal congregational leadership to dedicate more time to his family. Today, he continues his lifelong passion for teaching by developing online courses for those who desire to keep learning and growing in their understanding of the Scriptures from a Hebraic perspective.
MISSION
Our Purpose
At Beit Ely (House of Ely) or Study With Ely, our mission is to offer valuable insights into the Scriptures, enrich understanding of Jewish teachings, and provide guidance for a purposeful life based on biblical principles. We strive to merge the richness of Jewish tradition with contemporary perspectives, fostering a deeper connection to biblical values and ethics.
Through our content, we aim to inspire contemplation and critical thinking, encouraging individuals to engage meaningfully with their faith and community, thereby creating a more informed and spiritually enriched society.
Not About Conversion
It’s important to emphasize that this study group is not about conversion to any religion, nor about “Judaizing” anyone. Our gatherings are not designed to persuade people to change their faith, adopt new religious identities, or take on practices outside of their own convictions.
Instead, our heart and purpose is to explore the Scriptures from a Jewish and Hebraic perspective—to learn how the language, culture, and philosophy of the Bible’s original context can help us see its depth more clearly. We come together not to impose, but to invite each participant into a space of discovery and dialogue.
This means we will focus on asking good questions, comparing ideas, and reflecting on how ancient wisdom speaks to our lives today. In the Hebraic tradition, questions are often valued more than quick answers, because they open the door to deeper understanding and relationship with the Creator.
Whether you come from a Jewish, Christian, or completely different background, you are welcome here. This study group exists to study together, grow together, and ask questions together—never to convert or pressure anyone, but simply to learn in community.