Rabbi Mark is entering his 50th year in the active rabbinate. He was born in New York City and grew up attending religious schools and Orthodox synagogues on the Lower East Side. He graduated from Yeshiva University with degrees in English Language and Literature and in Bible and Jewish Education, and later continued graduate studies in English while combining teaching with his rabbinical work.
Rabbi Mark met his wife, Anbeth, while they were both working at a Reform temple in Brooklyn. They have served congregations in New Jersey, North Carolina, and New Hampshire, and came to Temple Sholom in Florida in 2009. They have two grown children.
Shemini Mini-Drash 2026
Before Pesach 2026 fades into memory, here is a way of linking Pesach, the
supreme home observance, to Rosh Hashanah, the paragon of synagogue
observance. Twice a year, we Jews go down to the river. On Rosh Hashanah’s first
day, we go to a body of water to cast away our sins, in the ceremony of Tashlich.
And on Pesach we used to draw water from wells and rivers to bake matzos. Both
the actions and times are significant.
On Rosh Hashanah, we repent out of fear and awe, because we are being judged by
God. Pesach is different; we were chosen as a special nation amid signs and
wonders, so any repentance we perform then stems from a love of God. When we
perform repentance out of love, our sins are changed into mitzvote in our favor.
God recognizes that we have returned to the selfsame river to retrieve the sins we
cast away on Rosh Hashanah, and transforms them into shining deeds of merit.
Moadim l’simcha—let us hope and pray for many more joyful occasions in our
beloved Temple Sholom!
Shabbat April 11, 2026—24 Nisan 5786
Torah Portion Shemini—9th Day of Omer
Bless the New Month of Iyar: Begins Friday Shabbat
YIZKOR
| Aliyah | Page | Chapter | Verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOHEN | 443 | 9 | 1-3 |
| LEVI | 443 | 9 | 4-6 |
| SHELISHI | 443 | 9 | 7-9 |
| REVII | 444 | 9 | 10-12 |
| CHAMISHI | 444 | 9 | 13-15 |
| SHISHI | 444 | 9 | 16-19 |
| SHEVII | 444 | 9 | 20-24 |
| MAFTIR | 454 | 11 | 45-47 |
Haftarat Shemini: p. 454, II Samuel 6:1-7:17