David Rothberg is a composer, musician, teacher and spiritual leader who builds community through musical/spiritual experiences. David's music lifts the spirit, engages the senses and inspires communities to sing. When you listen to David's music you will hear many diverse influences -- folk, folk-rock, classic rock, jazz, blues, reggae, and Jewish music of all kinds -- delivered with a strong, soothing voice and sophisticated guitar accompaniment.
David's new song, "There's a Light," is a song of hope when times are tough, available on this site and whereever you listen to music. Coming soon is the release of his debut album, "Rockin' Shabbat Eve," a joyful and energizing rock setting of prayers from the Friday night Shabbat service.
An ordained interfaith minister, David would love to create and officiate at a beautiful wedding or other lifecycle event, tailored to your needs. He believes that music has a unique power to create community and elevate the soul, and would love to share his passion with you.
He honed his guitar and vocal skills in rock and jazz bands throughout his high school and college years, and afterwards delved into songwriting. He changed his career -- and life -- moving from the business world to pursue his growing passion for Judaism. That led him to Israel to study Jewish texts and tradition at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. While the original idea was for a one-year sabbatical, he stayed for three, enrolling in the Pardes Educators program, and earning a Master's Degree in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Upon returning to the United States, David taught Judaic studies at the High School and Middle School levels in Jewish Day Schools.
With a Jewish journey that has included living and practicing Judaism as understood by the Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist and Reform movements, David's background gives him an unusually deep pluralistic perspective and knowledge. While he has led services from a young age, and refined those skills during his years in Israel, he was first drawn to contemporary Jewish music as a Jewish day school educator. At that time, he first participated in Hava Nashira, Reform Judaism's song leading conference. That experience led him to combine his passions for music, Judaism and education, and to becoming a synagogue professional. As Jewish Musical Leader at Temple Chayai Shalom, in Easton, MA, David has had the opportunity to create a musical culture, lead worship, write original prayer settings, and teach everyone from pre-schoolers to grandparents. He has created innovative events, such as:
- Rockin' Shabbat Eve, led by a rock band with David on electric guitar, and featuring original rock settings of the Friday night Shabbat liturgy
- Hippie Shabbat, a fun, joyous service that sets the Shabbat prayers to some of the best music of the 60s and 70s
- Martin Luther King Day Shabbat, with a choir leading the congregation in African-American spirituals and his own "My Feet Are Praying," a rousing ode to Abraham Joshua Heschel and Martin Luther King
- Shabbat NaShirah (Shabbat Let's Sing!), a circle of sacred song that raises the spirit, featuring congregants co-leading with their instrumental and vocal talents