New president for the JCCWA
A well-attended Jewish Community Council of Western Australia AGM last week saw significant changes to the Executive.
Back row: Stanley Keyser, Leon Schneider, Gaby Reubenson, Jake Leibowitz, Robin Cohen, David Freilich Front row: Frances Crewe, Geoff Midalia, Joan Hillman, Warren Kruger, David Denver
Joan Hillman has ended her four-year term as president and the meeting endorsed Geoff Midalia as the new president.
A former president said: “Joan has been a very able and extremely hard-working president, and her unstinting efforts have enhanced the Jewish community’s profile in WA.”
Geoff Midalia and Joan Hillman
The co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Peter Wertheim, zoomed in to the meeting to pay tribute to Joan’s success in her role and particularly in facing the challenges of the COVID pandemic. New president Geoff Midalia has stepped up from vice-president with a desire to build on Joan’s achievements with a program to further integrate all arms of our community in a collaborative and cohesive way.
Long-serving Director of Public Affairs Steve Lieblich relinquished that position and has taken on a role as one of the two vice-presidents. Steve’s work in the area of public affairs began during the late Joe Berinson’s presidency and his contribution to our community has been immense and incredibly effective. His knowledge of Jewish and Israeli affairs and history is unparalleled and his state and national network of politicians and community leaders vast. His advocacy work to the wider community, resisting antisemitism and defending Israel has been of enormous value over the past 20 years and the WA Jewish community owes him a deep debt of gratitude.
Replacing Steve is Stanley Keyser who has been active in the Perth Jewish community for a number of years starting with Habonim Dror and the Australian Union of Jewish Students. A board member with the State Zionist Council, Stanley has led a delegation of politicians and young students to Israel and is a member of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s Jewish Advocacy and Leadership Corps, mentoring young Jews interested in community leadership. We wish Stanley well in his new and challenging role.
The meeting heard a very informative presentation by guest speaker Jonathon Silbert, Project Manager of the new Jewish Centre redevelopment. Jonathon took us through the features of the strikingly designed building, describing the components of its multi-functional plan. Comprising a new Holocaust Education Centre, Youth Wing, Function Room, Lecture Theatre and a childcare centre, together with community organisations’ office space and meeting rooms, this welcome new facility will no doubt serve the Perth Jewish community for many years to come. The design is on the verge of obtaining council approval and demolition of the existing centre is expected to commence in late November.
JCCWA Executive for 2021-2022
President: Geoff Midalia
Immediate Past President: Joan Hillman OAM
Vice Presidents: David Denver; Steve Lieblich
Hon Secretary: Frances Crewe
Hon Treasurer: Warren Kruger
Director of Public Affairs: Stanley Keyser
Director for Community Security: Robin Cohen
Director for Interfaith Interests: Rabbi David Freilich OAM
Member for Youth Interests: Jake Leibowitz
Member for Women’s Interests: Gaby Reubenson
Ordinary Members: Leon Schneider (plus one vacant position)
Report from David Denver, JCCWA Vice-President
