Barry Marcus

Rabbi Barry Marcus (born 28 October 1949) is a South African rabbi. He retired as senior minister of Central Synagogue, Great Portland Street in London in 2018 after serving the congregation for over 23 years. He is notable for his rabbinical and pastoral duties in the UK, Israel and South Africa.

In 2015 he was appointed MBE in the New Year Honours for services to Holocaust education.

Background Marcus was born in Cape Town, South Africa on 28 October 1949 and raised in Vredehoek, a residential suburb at the foot of Table Mountain and Devil's Peak. He attended Herzlia School, a local Jewish school.

Controversy In 2015 Rabbi Marcus spoke out in defence of the fashion designer John Galliano, who was found guilty of racism and antisemitic abuse in 2011.

Following a National Crime Agency investigation beginning in October 2022 into money from the charities Dalaid and the Schwarzschild Foundation being held in Marcus' personal bank accounts, Marcus agreed in January 2024 to return £2.35 million to the two organisations.

Holocaust education Times religion correspondent Ruth Gledhill films a visit to Auschwitz in November 2008, hosted by Rabbi Barry Marcus and the Holocaust Educational Trust, of nine faith leaders headed by Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams. Other faiths represented were Baha'ism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.

Since November 2008 Rabbi Marcus has been organising educational trips to Auschwitz together with the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Awards and notable appointments In 2014, Rabbi Marcus was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for Holocaust education and for fostering dialogue and building bridges with Poland. He is a member of the advisory board for the Lithuanian Jewish Heritage Project.