Submitted

Rabbi Edward Maline

Kathleen Tuttle/Special to the Eagle

Cantorial soloist Hari Jacobsen and Rabbi Edward M. Maline, D.D. before the start of the Rabbi's first service at the Jewish Community Center on Aug. 15.

Submitted

Rabbi Edward Maline

Warmth and joy permeated the air as the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island welcomed new senior rabbi, professor, grandfather, and former Fulbright Scholar, Rabbi Edward M. Maline, D.D.

He officiated his first service on Marco, followed by a reception, on Aug. 15.

Maline is one of five new clergymen to come to Marco Island this year — the Rev. William A. Beebe, minister of Wesleyan United Methodist Church; the Reverend Dr. E. Neil Hunt, senior minister for the United Church of Marco Island; the Rev. William Lyle, senior pastor of Marco Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Kevin A. Koenig, pastor of Marco Lutheran Church.

Maline joined cantorial soloist, Hari Jacobsen. The congregation had been without a rabbi since the passing of Rabbi Howard Greenstein in October of 2006.

Maline is a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, where he majored in Romance Languages and Philosophy. While at Middlebury he sensed the call to the rabbinate and founded the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation, Jewish association for college youth, which is now in its fiftieth year.

Upon graduation he was awarded a Senator Fulbright Fellowship to study in Paris at the Sorbonne and the International Institute for Hebraic Studies. The international institute was founded by the World Union for Progressive Judaism.

He continued his studies at the Hebrew Union-College Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Hebrew letters and later was ordained rabbi.

He interrupted his rabbinic studies to serve as rabbinic intern at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London, England. At a time when there was critical shortage of rabbis in Europe.

He returned to the states and served as Associate Rabbi at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, Mass., and later served congregations in Boston and Philadelphia before coming to South Florida. He served 20 years as rabbi of Temple Emanu-El of Greater Fort Lauderdale, the oldest temple in Broward County. He recently served as adjunct professor of Judaic studies at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton and lectured frequently for the Elder Hostel Program of Palm Beach County.

In 1989, after twenty-five years of distinguished service as a rabbi, Maline was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Hebrew Union College. He has been a rabbi for forty-five years, has been greatly influenced by Jewish philosophers Abraham Heschel, Mordecai Kaplan, and Martin Buber.

In addition to being the senior rabbi at the Jewish Community of Marco Island (JCMI) Maline is Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Emanu-El. During his tenure at Temple Emanu-El, a new sanctuary was built and he instituted adult education programs. He also introduced creative worship services.

He plans to enhance the adult education programs at JCMI and hopes that: “[JCMI] will experience some growth with the new programs and any changes that I initiate. That the changes are met with an open minded attitude, as change is hard for people to accept.”

JCMI and his former congregations are, “very different, like night and day, a bigger congregation with a religion school, bar mitzvah instruction, many children. Here the congregation is much older.”

In addition to teaching, preaching and serving the pastoral needs of the congregation, he also plans to continue interfaith activities and to be of service to the community.

He has also been a member of the rabbinic cabinet of the State of Israel Bonds and frequently travels to Israel to promote investment there. Travel is one of his favorite pursuits.

He has been married to Marilyn Diemont for forty-three years. They met when he served as associate rabbi in Boston. Maline and Marilyn are the parents of two children — a son, Michael, a practicing attorney in New York City and a daughter, Pamela, a Doctoral Candidate at the Carlos Albizu University in Miami. They are also grandparents of five grandchildren.

JCMI had its start in December of 1982 when a few residents interested in starting a Jewish congregation placed a classified ad in the Eagle. On January 14, 1983, sixty enthusiastic people responded and they became the core of the Jewish congregation of Marco Island. They first met in the French Village Condominium. As their numbers grew, they rented a room at the Beach Club and then later moved to the Art League. Marjorie Seltzer and Elena Rosner contacted the Deltona Corporation and that resulted in the gifting of the 2.7-acre property on Winterberry in 1983.

“The Christian clergy contributed monetarily and with encouragement. Our first Seder was at San Marco Catholic Church. Their encouragement shows the deep fiber and support of the religious community on Marco,” states JCMI President Bert Thompson.

By August of 1985 the congregation grew to fifty-four families and broke ground for their first building. Marco Presbyterian Church also allowed use of its facilities at that time. In 1994 when the Presbyterians were remodeling their sanctuary and needed a place for Sunday services, the Jewish community welcomed them.

The JCMI building was completed in July of 1986 and dedicated, February 1987. In 1986 the JCMI appointed Dr. Mel Raskin as lay leader. He served until 1995 when scholar and writer Rabbi Howard Greenstein was persuaded to come to Marco. The congregation continued to grow and they began their second expansion in 1992. It was completed and dedicated in 1993. The new portion became the sanctuary and bemah (the elevated platform where the Torah is read.) The old portion became Raskin Hall, Harold and Sylvia Brownstein Judaica Shop, and kitchen. The third and final renovation was donated in memory of Norma Meer by her husband in 1999 and was dedicated in December 2000. It consists of the current office and the Meer Meeting Room.

Current JCMI membership exceeds 200 families.

The JCMI is also home to the Saul Stern Cultural series, a mixture of noted speakers, and musical programs and the Sidney Hoffmann Jewish Film Festival supported by the Jewish Federation of Collier County. Additionally, there is an active Sisterhood, Men’s Club, and library.

Sept. 20 is the first of the High Holy Day Services. Selichot will be celebrated with a 6 p.m. dinner, music program and service.

“We fill the stomachs, charm them with music, to set the tone to experience the spirituality of Judaism and the High Holidays,” states Thompson.

The temple is located at 991 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island.

Services are held Friday at 8 p.m. followed by an Oneg Shabbat, joy of the Sabbath, a time of food and socializing.

Information at 642-0800 or marcojcmi.tripod.com.

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