Waksing lyrical about future of ACT
TWO ex-Melburnians are now at the helm of the ACT Jewish Community, following an annual general meeting held last week.
TWO ex-Melburnians are now at the helm of the ACT Jewish Community, following an annual general meeting held last week.
Manny Waks, 34, who was elected unopposed as president, is one of the youngest people to hold office. Having arrived in Canberra 18 months ago, he served as vice-president on the community’s outgoing board, and set up the Capital Jewish Forum, an organisation for Jewish professionals.
Professor Kim Rubenstein won the vice-presidency in a contested election against former president Bill Arnold. Professor Rubenstein moved to Canberra in 2005 to become director of the Australian National University’s (ANU) Centre for International and Public Law in the ANU College of Law.
“I am delighted, honoured and humbled to have been elected president of the ACT Jewish Community,” Waks said.
He explained that his goals include improvements in board responsibilities and accountability, more youth activities, and a membership drive extending beyond Canberra. He said that outreach would include young families coming into Canberra and Israeli residents, while challenges entail addressing anti-Semitism in the capital’s schools and continuing the successful arrangement of Orthodox and Progressive congregations worshipping separately under one roof and sharing communal activities. Another challenge is to find capital and operational funding to support staff, programs and facilities, he asserted.
Waks added that he plans to strengthen ties with local Chabad representatives, Rabbi Dan Avital and his wife Naomi.
While some speakers at the AGM questioned both his experience of the community and his commitment, Waks rejected these claims. He also welcomed the fact that the vice-presidency had been contested, seeing it as a democratic demonstration of “the vibrancy of our active and dedicated community”.
Stepping down after three years, the maximum allowed under the community’s constitution, Dr Anita Shroot expressed delight that younger families were stepping into leadership positions.
SYLVIA DEUTSCH
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