Parshat Kee Tavo Mini-Drash

By Rabbi David Hartley Mark

This Torah portion is unique for its latter part containing the Tochachah, the “rebuke,” in which God outlines in detail all the punishments which will afflict those Israelites who willfully choose to ignore His ethical laws, as well as those required for the correct maintenance of society. There is also a list of the blessings which will shower down on those who comport themselves properly. Prior to the recital of both the rebukes and the blessings, the people were commanded to assemble on either Mt. Gerizim or Mt. Ebal.

The alternating listing of curses and blessings raises a question: why were these lists necessary? The rewards for following God’s mitzvote are obvious, as are the punishments for those who choose to deviate from them. Upon examining these more closely, however, we can understand better the need for the lists. God created humanity with the gift of free will, which can be either a blessing or a curse depending on the person exercising it. There are many explanations and theories in both religion and philosophy for why many people use their free will to fulfill what God expects of them, while a significant minority choose to enrich themselves either by breaking or living outside the law.

 We may try to not believe that God punishes people in the latter category soon after they sin. However, Jewish tradition teaches that God judges us all based on both our intentions and our deeds. This time of year, traditional Jews believe that God weighs and measures the deeds we have performed over the past year, and He judges us—not according to the strictness of His attribute of justice, but in conjunction with His attribute of mercy. It’s a good idea, therefore, to take advantage of the period up to and during the High Holy Days to do a true and honest self-searching and resolve to do better. Be sure to hope for the best in the coming year 5786

OUR RABBI - David Hartley Mark

WATCH RABBI MARK , To Life, L'Chaim #217 - Rabbi David Mark (You Tube)

Rabbi David Hartley Mark was born in New York City, and grew up on the Lower East Side, that legendary Jewish immigrant neighborhood, attending Hebrew Day School. He was first from his school, the East Side Torah Center, to attend Yeshiva University High School for Boys—Manhattan. David attended Yeshiva University, where he attained a BA in English Literature, a BS in Bible and Jewish Education, and a Hebrew Teacher’s Diploma (HTD). He spent his third year of college at Bar Ilan University in Ramat-Gan, Israel, where he developed a fluency in Hebrew, and toured around the country. He has also attained a Certificate in Advanced Jewish School Administration from the Hebrew College in Brookline, MA.

David attended the City University of New York Graduate Center, where he earned an MA degree from Queens College, as well as an M.Phil. degree, majoring in 17th Century English, specializing in the work of John Milton, as well as the Romantic Poets. A year teaching Hebrew School in a Reform temple in Brooklyn convinced him of his great love of Judaism, and he began attending the Academy for Jewish Religion, Yonkers, NY, where he was ordained a rabbi in 1980.

He met Anbeth, who was hired as temple secretary the same day he was hired to teach. They were married in 1978. They have two grown children, Tyler and Jordan, as well as a grandson, Aidan.

Rabbi Mark served pulpits in Warren, NJ, Fayetteville, NC, and Portsmouth, NH, in which last pulpit he spent 22 years, a record for that state. Seeking warmer climes, as well as closer family members, he and Anbeth took the pulpit of Temple Sholom in 2009. He also fulfilled a lifetime dream of teaching English at Keiser University in Ft. Lauderdale.  

OUR CANTOR - ANITA SCHUBERT

 

Cantor Anita Schubert, grew up in Queens and Lynbrook in New York, says it was a combination of her love for both singing and religion that led her to train to become a cantor. “I grew up in a conservative synagogue. My parents weren’t super religious,” she said. “I started going to shabbat services and never stopped. I learned the musical chants . . . all the right stuff. I picked it up and was able to lead services as well. When I was a teenager I was asked to be one of the adult leaders in the junior congregation. I graduated to running it.”

Although she found her niche leading her congregation, it never occurred to her to be a cantor. “I was the wrong gender until the 80s.” As for her musical style, “It’s mostly a cappella. But I have been accompanied by someone on guitar and piano.”

Her academic background includes both undergraduate and graduate courses in music theory, sight-singing, ear-training, music history, conducting, choral arranging, voice building for choirs, vocal training, as well as studying the piano and flute. Plus, “I began singing in choirs starting in the third grade.”

She also took college courses in Hebrew, modern Jewish thought and the history of Jewish music.

Schubert said although women had been taking cantorial courses, they were not considered cantors at first. However, things changed for the better when women were finally accepted into the Cantors Assembly, an international association representing the cantorial profession.

Schubert has been actively working as a cantor at various congregations around the nation for many years before her new position at Temple Sholom. She realizes her coming here will be an historic event for the local place of worship. And what will she bring to her new congregation? “My spirit, my choice of music. We have a lot of options. We go beyond the traditional.”

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