The Coogee Board is charged with the responsibility of maintaining a viable and vibrant organization and providing religious and educational services to our community. A significant amount of coordination is required to ensure the smooth running of the week to week Shabbat services, including Shabbat Kiddush. Many more specific arrangements must be put in place for High Holiday services.
The Board is also undertaking a program to provide several educational lectures throughout the year in conjunction with BINA. Hopefully this will stimulate interest and discussion and encourage greater involvement by our members.
The Board is constantly reviewing our Bar and Bat Mitzvah program to help our younger members take a more active role in Shul services and attract more families to our community. If we can increase the number of young families in our membership, we will strengthen our future. Recruitment is always an important aspect of the Boards’ program. This also involves the provision of Youth services run by our new Youth Director, Rabbi Shuie Gestetner, that will be specifically targeted in the New Year.
Fund raising is an ongoing commitment of any organisation and specific efforts are being put in place to improve our bottom line without significantly raising fees. The Board takes its financial responsibilities very seriously and indebted to our Treasurer for his efforts.
The Board maintains close ties with the Kindie to try and enhance increased participation by Kindie families in Shul activities. The Kindie continues to run at full or near capacity and has the full support of the Shul Board.
Security is a major concern for the Board and unfortunately it remains a constant priority. Our security team, run by and trained under the auspices of the Community Security Group, CSG, ensures we are well protected.
As always, constructive comments are welcome and any help in Board activities is gratefully accepted.
If you have any community issue you wish to raise with the Board please contact us via Lisa Greenstein our administrator. The matter can be dealt with privately or you can elect to address the whole Board at 8pm at one of our monthly meetings (usually the 2nd Tuesday of each month).
Who are we?
President – Andrew Silvers
Andrew has been a Board member for 6 years. He epitomises teamwork and leadership. His work background is in the sphere of international business and he brings these skills, his experience and his enthusiasm to our Board.
Immediate Past President – David Ende
David has been a board member for 10 years and President for 4 of the past 5 years. He took over just as we gained possession of the newly revamped Shul at Brook Street and under his guidance we have grown from strength to strength.
Vice President – Billie Glass
Billie has been a Board member for 6 years and took over her current position about a year ago. She has instituted and runs our Bar/Batmitzvah Program. She has with the aid of Micha Goldfine set up this website and aims to keep it up to date.
Deputy Vice President – David Brem
David first joined the Board too far back to accurately record here, but rejoined about a year ago in his current position. He is our Security Liaison where he liaises with CSG, Alarm companies etc etc..
Treasurer – Harry Bernfield
Harry has been a Board member for about 10 years and Treasurer for 5. He keeps us solvent, pays our staff and ensures we all pay or Shul fees! If anyone feels they need to discuss any aspects of Harry’s portfolio with him please contact him via administration@coogeesynagogue.org
Secretary Michelle Serebro
Michelle is our dynamo. Every committee has to have one. She is a ”can do”, and a ”will have already done it” person. She organises and cooks for our Community Shabbatons. She is our Kindie Liaison person. She is our Functions organiser and ‘ ideas’ person.
Now she has just taken on the position of Synagogue Secretary. She is the one now responsible for all Shul official notifications. She’ll be organising the minutes for the Board meetings. She can be contacted on secretary@coogeesynagogue.org .
Board Members
Ivan Devai
Ivan has been a Board member for many years an acts as a mentor and a guide to the rest of us. His community knowledge is invaluable.
Tzvika Charlupski
Zvi has more recently joined the Board and has already proven to be a valuable asset and has been organising new covers for the Torahs which you will all see on Shabbat and of course Yom Tov
Ronny Schnapp
Ronny has been a Board member for 2 years and has taken on the mandate of Adult education. He has been liaising with BINA and has been responsible for our recent Adult education lectures and more to come. Watch for our special event happening in November.
Ricky Levy
Ricky has been a Board Member for 2 years and has been working with Rabbi Shuie Gestetner our new Youth Director to put together an exciting new program for our youngsters Coogee Synagogue Youth-catch the associated facebook page.
