Changing of the NCJWA guard
FORMER AJN Canberra correspondent Sylvia Deutsch and Sydney’s Victoria Nadel were jointly appointed to lead the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (NCJWA) at the organisation’s annual plenary in Canberra this week.
FORMER AJN Canberra correspondent Sylvia Deutsch and Sydney’s Victoria Nadel were jointly appointed to lead the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (NCJWA) at the organisation’s annual plenary in Canberra this week.
The pair take over the role from Melbourne’s Rysia Rozen.
As well as hearing from Israeli ambassador Shmuel Ben-Shmuel, the gathering saw the NCJWA issue a statement condemning the Israeli government’s decision to resile from its commitment regarding the establishment of an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, calling the decision “a blow to Jewish pluralism within Israel and the Diaspora”.
They also expressed concern over the legal issues impeding the extradition of Malka Leifer from Israel to face 74 charges of sexual abuse against students at Melbourne’s Adass Israel school.
Describing NCJWA as “a truly inspiring organisation for the Jewish women of Australia”, Deutsch told The AJN, “I am looking forward to streamlining the organisation and equipping it to face the challenges of the future.”
Deutsch added that NCJWA is the only Jewish women’s organisation in Australia that works for social justice causes both in the Jewish and the wider community.
“Through our affiliation with the International Council of Jewish Women, Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Zionist Federation of Australia, we connect to the Jewish world beyond Australia,” she said. “I believe that this organisation can be a thought leader and an activist organisation for Jewish women in Australia.”
As well as expressing her delight at working with Deutsch, Nadel reflected, “It was incredibly rewarding and inspiring to meet with like-minded women from around Australia. NCJWA has a long history of activism, and we will continue to advocate as need arises on social justice issues of concern to the Jewish and wider community, and Israel.”
She also thanked Rozen for her years of commitment to the organisation, describing her as a “remarkable woman, who stepped up at a critical time for the organisation, and has devoted her life to community service”.
“The NCJWA has been left in the hands of capable and enthusiastic women, who will help us grow into a bigger, stronger organisation,” Rozen told The AJN. “I’ve been lucky to have had the opportunity to lead an organisation with such a rich history, and now Sylvia and Viki will help us continue to grow and expand our advocacy work.”
Recognition and thanks were also given to Jill Green and Anita Shroot, who stepped down from the board.
YAEL BRENDER
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