Board more representative

SHEILA GEWOLB

Deputy — Cardiff United Synagogue

Dr Gewolb (left) has served as a Board vice-president for the past three years. She is also running to be president but agreed to have her name put forward for the position of vice-president as well.

She told the JC that although she was also bidding for the presidency, she “wants to serve the Board in whatever capacity I can, because it’s not about just achieving the top job, it’s about carrying on the work I’ve started”.

TAL OFER

Deputy — Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue

Mr Ofer, who is in his 30s, works in e-commerce technology. He ran unsuccessully for vice-president three years ago but says he has learned a lot since then.

“I’ve been on the defence division for the last three years and the executive committee,” he says.

“So it gives me first-hand knowledge and experience in the decision making of the Board.”

Mr Ofer (above, right) wants to introduce “regular debates at plenaries on key communal issues, having binding votes on the Board’s policy, in order to empower deputies in the decision making process, more transparency and more digitisation of the Board’s works, an online forum where deputies will be able to hold the honorary officers to account and be able to interact with them between plenaries, so they don’t have to wait a month or two to ask the president or vice-president a question”.

He is also proposing “two town hall meetings per year for the communities outside London, which will help us to connect with the regions, to get in touch with constituents”. ROSLYN PINE

Deputy — Finchley Synagogue

The outspoken deputy for Finchley United Synagogue is in no doubt about what changes she would try to introduce were she to be elected.

“There are many diverse talents amongst the deputies but these are not being utilised to best effect,” she said.

“If elected I propose to work to give the rank-and-file deputies more say in decision making and increase their sense of inclusivity.”

On Israel, Mrs Pine (below) said she would “encourage” the next president to continue Mr Arkush’s stance and “represent the views of mainstream Anglo Jewry, which is very strong in its support of Israel”.

She adds: “I would aim to be more pro-active on campus to educate students as to Jewish rights in real international law to the land of Israel, including the territories.

“I would also repeatedly urge the Home Office to address the problem of intimidation and violence on campus against our students, especially when pro Israel events are disrupted and guest speakers are hounded out.

“This is not a question of free speech by peaceful demonstrators, but rather hate speech. It must be stopped.”

GARY MOND Deputy — JNF

Currently in the process of selling his financial training business, Gary Mond believes he now has the time to dedicate himself to a senior job at the Board. There are a couple of areas he wants to focus on. “It’s vitally important that we maintain and improve the work in the fight against antisemitism,” says Mr Mond (right).

“We sometimes have to work with other groups, because on our own there’s a limit to what we can do, it’s such a huge issue.”

He also mentions the need for “greater emphasis on defending the legitimacy of the State of Israel”. “The other issue from my own experiences is that the Board needs to do more in terms of arranging — and not being frightened of having — debates on different issues.”

He cites a 2013 debate on whether to scrap the organisation’s agreement with Oxfam.

“The Board officers should not feel they have to all vote the same way as if it’s some kind of attack on them.

“One of the issues at the moment is a huge debate on organ donation. I don’t have a strong opinion on it but I know that other deputies do, in both directions and I think it would help to make the Board much more relevant and of much more interest to the Jewish community if such a debate was held.”