Obituary: Remembering Rabbi Rodney Mariner
Rabbi Rodney Mariner, a respected Rabbi and former Convener of the Beit Din of the Movement for Reform Judaism, has died at the age of 83.
Born in Australia in 1941, he changed course after successful initial careers in both engineering and teaching – dedicating his life to Jewish education and spiritual leadership.
His rabbinic studies started at the Hebrew Union College and School of Biblical Archaeology in Jerusalem and were concluded at Leo Baeck College in London in 1976, when he was granted his semichah (ordination).
Rabbi Rodney served Alyth and Edgware & District Reform Synagogues, but it was at Belsize Square Synagogue where he really made his mark – serving for three decades from March 1982 to May 2011. You can read about all he achieved at Belsize Square here.
His impact extended beyond his congregation, as he contributed significantly to interfaith dialogue and community outreach. His understanding of Jewish law and modernity helped shape a more inclusive and understanding Progressive community.
Alongside his role as Convener of the UK’s Reform Beit Din, Rabbi Rodney also served as Convener of Beit Din for the European Region of the WUPJ (now known as the EUPJ) until his retirement. You can read the EUPJ’s tribute here.
Rabbi Dr Jackie Tabick said taking over the Beit Din from Rabbi Rodney, who had been in post for 22 years, was a daunting task and was full of praise for all he achieved.
Rabbi Jackie said: “He was a wonderful Convenor of the court, full of integrity and compassion for those who came before the Beit Din. He always eased their passage through the proceedings and headed off any problems that might have arisen. But he was not there just for the candidates, he also supported his colleagues and was there for them if any difficulties arose
“I thought him a wonderful colleague, even though he really made me feel inadequate at this time of the year… as he always managed not just to write, but craft, 10 absolutely inspiring and thoughtful sermons for the High Holy Days while the rest of the world was enjoying their summer break. His memory will truly be a blessing to the hundreds of people he served as a Rabbi, Convenor of the court, friend and colleague. We will miss his wisdom.”
Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, the current Convenor of the Reform Beit Din, added: “He was a model of common sense and good humour, two religious qualities whose importance are often under-estimated; as a congregational rabbi who often brought status cases to him, I learnt much from him both on Jewish procedures and, just as crucially, menschlichkeit (humanity).”
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah, Rabbi Emeritus of Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue, expressed her fond memories of learning Hebrew with Rabbi Rodney when he taught at the evening Institute at the Montagu Centre. She also paid tribute to the way he was very helpful to the Jewish Lesbian and Gay Group.
Another colleague, Rabbi Maurice Michaels of Bournemouth Reform Synagogue, said: “I recall, in particular, a matter of Jewish law that we were requested to proffer, and his exemplary handling of a difficult issue between two members of a synagogue resulted in a resolution acceptable to both.”
Speaking on behalf of the EUPJ, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein said: “Rodney ran the Beit Din with efficiency and, most importantly, with compassion.
“He begun his work for the European Beit Din in the days before the fall of the Soviet Union. It was also the time before the increase in number of Progressive rabbis across the Western side of Europe and so he was dealing largely with Germany, France and Austria; and the occasional candidate from further afield. On the couple of occasions, immediately after the end of communism, I brought cases from Czechoslovakia, I witnessed Rodney’s understanding and great sense of humour.”
May his memory be a blessing.
