Handover time at NSW Council of Orthodox Synagogues
After four years at the helm, inaugural COS NSW President, Rosalind Fischl, former President and now Governor of The Great Synagogue, has stepped down.
Ken Wolfsohn and Ros Fischl
Malcolm Kofsky, Ken Wolfsohn, Gary Inberg and Karen Smith
The new president is Ken Wolfsohn from North Shore Synagogue.
Sixteen Sydney synagogues are affiliated with COS NSW, which was founded to provide lay leadership for the Sydney orthodox community, and to discuss issues of concern for all congregations. It is also an important member of the Council of Orthodox Synagogues of Australia, COSA, of which Mrs Fischl is Vice-President.
In her farewell summary Mrs Fischl said that although progress had been slow in establishing working relationships with other orthodox entities such as the Sydney Beth Din and The Rabbinic Council of NSW, many positive things are currently emerging and the incoming executive should be encouraged to continue this valuable work. An affiliation of orthodox synagogues had been tried unsuccessfully in past decades, but now that COS NSW is active and relevant, it can be part of a new era of cooperation which involves both the Jewish community and inter-communal initiatives.
Rabbi Moshe Gutnick, President of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia, Dayan of the Sydney Beth Din and Rabbinic Administrator the Kashrut Authority, addressed the gathering of representatives from the constituent synagogues. Among other subjects he spoke about the handling of the opposition to Sh’cita and circumcision worldwide, the setting up in Australia of a central marriage registry to determine halachic status before marriage, and the importance of reporting of cases of abuse within our community.
Fischl said that the discussion was “absorbing and relevant to today’s issues, and everyone present went away with more knowledge and insight into the complications that arise with respect to halachic and social issues in orthodoxy.
COS NSW would no doubt be seeking further such discussion forums to broaden knowledge and to work together with rabbonim toward solutions for the problems that arise within our communities.”
The Following representatives were elected to office for the coming year:
President …… ………. Ken Wolfsohn (North Shore Synagogue)
Vice-President………. Malcolm Kofsky (South Head Synagogue)
Treasurer……………… Gary Inberg (Montefiore Home)
Secretary ……………… Karen Smith (Bondi Mizrachi Synagogue)
