TEMPLE BETH-EL OF CITY ISLAND

Your Shul by the Sea”

480 City Island Avenue
(Mailing Address: P.O. Box188)
City Island, New York 10464

       ABOUT REB DAVID
Reb David Markus brings to Temple Beth-El of City Island a joyful passion for Jewish expression in many forms -- traditional and innovative liturgy, classical and modern music, spiritual poetry, uplifting text study and heart-centered humor.

Reb David came to Temple Beth-El of City Island as rabbinic intern in 2009 while studying with Rabbi Shohama in the ALEPH Rabbinical Ordination Program, a "seminary without walls" emphasizing Jewish spirituality.  After he completed his internship, the community voted to promote him to Associate Spiritual Leader in 2011.  Reb David now co-leads services with Rabbi Shohama and officiates at community celebrations and life cycle events, while continuing to study with ALEPH toward dual ordination as rabbi and mashpia (spiritual director).  Reb David also serves as a fellow of CLAL's Rabbis Without Borders, and has led services from Maryland to Massachusetts.
 
In the secular world, David Evan Markus is a full-time attorney: he currently serves as Deputy Chief Counsel under New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, and Referee in New York Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District.  His prior positions in law and government include Senior Counsel to the Leader of the New York State Senate, Deputy Director for Voter Protection of a major presidential campaign, counsel in a regional law firm specializing in estate planning and disability law, senior law clerk with the New York Court of Appeals, legislative director in the New York State Assembly, and policy associate to environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
 
Markus has taught graduate public administration at Pace University and undergraduate political science and public policy at Fordham and Pace Universities.  He is a regular lecturer in continuing legal and judicial education programs across New York State.
 
Reb David also is an accomplished vocalist, pianist, composer and director; as well as a poet (his first book of Torah poems is in the works).
 
He earned his Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Williams College; his Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, which named him Wilmers Fellow for State and Local Government; and his Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.
 
Reb David lives in Westchester and divides his time between Westchester, Manhattan and Albany.