By COLlive reporter
The Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) held its annual general meeting last week at Jewish Care’s Munzer Community Residence. The meeting, followed by a Jewish Care Leadership lunch, was very well attended, with dozens of rabbis and community leaders present.
Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick was elected President unopposed.
Rabbi Gutnick has served the Australian Rabbinate for almost 40 years in a number of leadership roles. He has served as president of the Federal Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia (ORA) and is currently Rabbi of Elwood Shule, Senior Dayan of the Melbourne Beth Din and Rabbinic Administrator of Kosher Australia. His father, Rabbi Chaim Gutnick, was President of the RCV for more than 30 years.
Immediate Past President, Rabbi Yaakov Glasman thanked outgoing President, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant for his tireless work and dedication in establishing a sustainable structure for the RCV and initiating a strategic review and 5 year plan.
Rabbi Gutnick echoed Rabbi Glasman’s sentiments, thanking Rabbi Kluwgant for his continued and dedicated leadership of the RCV and for his role in ensuring that rabbinic leadership is at the forefront of community issues and direction.
In his outgoing President’s report, Rabbi Kluwgant discussed the many projects that had taken place throughout the year, including professional development in couples counselling and a reinvigoration of the Rebbetzins’ network; including dedicated Rebbetzin training session at Monash University on ‘Women in Leadership’. “Such projects are only possible thanks to our partnership with OMAC, Monash University and our generous supporters.”
Rabbi Gutnick said that he looks forward to working with his new Executive Committee and the membership of the Council in general to continue the many projects instigated by his predecessors and developing those and further programmes.. “It is essential that the Rabbinate ensure the ongoing development and dissemination of authentic and expert rabbinic and spiritual leadership and guidance in all areas of communal endeavour,” Rabbi Gutnick said.
The Executive Committee is, Rabbi Daniel Rabin, Vice President; Rabbi Elisha Greenbaum, Secretary; Rabbi Yirmi Garfunkel, Treasurer; Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant, Immediate Past President and Rabbi Ralph Genende and Rabbi Moshe Kahn committee officers.
The meeting saw a number of resolutions passed including a commitment to ensure every Victorian Synagogue implements an accredited Child Protection Policy The complete set of resolutions are attached to this media release.
The Key Note speaker at the AGM was Mr. Danny Lamm, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia. Mr Lamm addressed the members regarding the current situation in Israel.
RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF VICTORIA Inc. Reg No A0042905Y
“That the Association endorses and adopts the RCV Organisational Review and Five Year Strategic Plan Report attached to the notice of this meeting and tabled at this meeting.”
“That the Association supports the formation of a centralised system of halachic marriage authorisation and the certification of Jewish status in Victoria, under the auspices of the Melbourne Beth Din (MBD) and that each member will be bound by the ruling of the Melbourne Beth Din”.
“That the Association recommend that the Melbourne Beth Din establish a register for authorized Mohalim and in the case of the MBD’s failure to do so, that the RCV will establish
“That the Association supports a formal policy that all members will to their best efforts ensure that their Synagogue and place of worship will implement and maintain an accredited child protection policy by July 2016.”
“That the Association alter its Rules by deleting the existing Rules in their entirety and replacing them with the new Rules attached to the notice of this meeting and tabled at this
Mazel Tov!!1