T

Shemote: God and Moses at the Burning Bush

By Rabbi David Hartley Mark

Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law…and he came to the Mountain of God, named Chorev [the same is Mt. Sinai, where the Israelites will receive the Ten Commandments and the Torah]. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush…the bush burned with fire, but was not consumed.

--Exodus, Chap. 3, verses 1-2

The Bush speaks: It is all that I can bear to keep within me an Angel of God—I may burst with joy!

Moses: I must turn aside from rescuing this runaway lamb, and keeping it from the wolves. What a wonder is there, that a bush burns and is not consumed!

God: I say there—Moses! Moses!

Moses: Who speaks my name? It sounds as though the bush is calling to me.

God: Moses, do not fear! I am the Lord God of your ancestors. I have come to free My people from slavery, and lead them up to a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Moses: God, I have a suggestion.

God: And what is that?

Moses: If you will change the heart of Pharaoh Ramesses II from evil to good, so that he no longer oppresses us, we will be able to live in peace with the Egyptians.

God: That is not part of My Divine Plan. I wish for my people to descend from Egypt, and afterwards enter the Promised Land, there to dwell in peace and security.

Moses: Pardon me, Lord—is this Promised Land currently inhabited? Or does it lie spacious and empty of people, waiting for Your Israelites to enter?

God: It happens that there are seven pagan tribes living there, from Canaanites to Jebusites. Also Hittites and Hivites. And—

Moses: Are these peaceful tribes, or will we have to conquer them?

God: Some are peaceful and will live with you in peace. Others are warlike, and you will have to subdue them. But I will be with you.

Moses: Are you currently with Your people, the ones who live in Egypt?

God: Why, yes: of course I am.

Moses: Then how did it follow that the wicked Pharaoh was able to enslave them? Where were You then?

God: I wish to work wonders and miracles when I free My people from Egyptian slavery. First, I will send a plague of blood to convince Pharaoh to let them go. Afterwards, frogs, and—

Moses: Forgive me, again, Lord; I am mere flesh and blood, while You exist in the world You created, eternally. Why is it necessary to send all these plagues? They surely mean that You repent of ever having created the Egyptians, and that You changed Your mind about them. And they are a mighty nation.

God: What are you asking me, Moses?

Moses: Well, if You are truly the God of Heaven and Earth, why can You not correct human faults? Make the Egyptians weaker, and Your people will be able to stop the slavery by themselves. They have free will—

God: Yes, but I am still in charge. Human free will can only go so far. You cannot will yourself to fly, for instance. You will have to go by foot down to Egypt

Moses: Will I have an easy time of it, freeing our people?

God: No; sorry. Many Egyptians will have to die, and, perhaps, some Israelites, to work My will on earth. The plagues, as I mentioned—

Moses: And why send plagues at all? Why not overthrow Ramesses, and appoint a pharaoh more amenable to living in peace with the Israelites?

God: Again, Moses, you are not, for all your incipient wisdom, the one who writes history. That is what I do.

Moses: Working through our free will? Then, it’s not truly free—

God: But I work from behind the scenes.

Moses: Going back to our conquest of the Promised Land, Lord: why must there be bloodshed and suffering? Can you not find another land for the Canaanites, etc.?

God: No: I cannot interfere directly. I can send plagues or blessings: they are my agents on your earth. But it will be as I will?

Moses: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justly? And I have another question—

God: Hold your questions, Moses, please—we will speak again.

Moses: Good.
 

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.”

Your connection to the Jewish faith
is a vital part of who you are, and your family.

At Temple Sholom, congregants join together to celebrate our faith in a warm, comfortable and supportive environment, where all are welcome.

    We are a modern, egalitarian congregation, and encourage full participation by women in synagogue life, as well as offer full access to Jewish worship and religious experience for all of our members. At the same time, we cherish our Jewish traditions, and work to preserve them as a precious legacy for ourselves and our children.

Visit us and let us make you feel at home.