Members elect a Council of up to 15 members annually
Council
Each year at the Synagogue Annual General Meeting (usually held in November), the members present elect a Council of up to 15 members who take responsibility for a variety of roles on behalf of the membership. When there are fewer than 15 candidates there is no election.
The Council then elects its officers, being Chair, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Senior Warden. Any member of the community is welcome to attend council to observe. Council meetings are advertised in the synagogue magazine, ‘Kehillah.’
Co-Chairmen: Patrick Bower and Stella Mason
Other council members and officers are:
- Yvette Ball – Hon Secretary
- Josie Knox – Senior Warden
- Roberto Lampl – Hon Treasurer
- Jeff Ehrenkranz – Education
- Robert Glaser – Security
- Lucy Hammond – Care Group
- Carra Kane – Education and Events Group
- Andres Kupfer – Fundraising
- Adam Parker – Young Adults
- Jack Steinert – Adult Education
Representatives on the Board of Deputies
- Stephanie Brada
- Noemi Zell
New representatives Sharon Coussins and Michael Freedman will take over in May 2108.
We also have an Honorary President, Julian Samuels, and two Vice Presidents, Anton Fishman and Yvonne Mason who attend Council and the Executive.
The Council is formed into or liaises with working groups as follows:
Committee | Chair | Meeting frequency | Role of committee |
Care Group
|
Lucy Hammond | Quarterly | The Care Group will decide who in the community may need extra support and agree and deliver this. |
Education
Adult Education
|
Stella Mason (temporary)
|
One per term | Education includes Cheder, youth education. adult education, and education of the wider community (which includes school visits). |
Events
|
Ruth Magnus | 6 weekly | To organise programmes and events for all members of the community of an entertaining and interesting nature and to ensure there are funds raised for the benefit of the Synagogue and occasionally any other specifically-named charity. |
Finance
|
Treasurer | Twice per year | To review Synagogue Finances,
and the budget prepared by the Treasurer and recommend subscription levels. |
Israel
|
Judy Weleminsky | 3 times per year | To raise the profile of and engagement with Israel throughout all the activities,
communications and presentation of the synagogue community. |
Members’ group
|
Judith Ish-Horowicz
Camilla McGill |
3 times per year | To hear the voices of the membership and of prospective members |
Planning for Judaism
|
Senior Warden | 1-2 monthly | The lead body that looks after the ritual affairs of the Synagogue |
Young Adults
|
Adam Parker | Ad hoc | To implement a strategy for community to engage young adults |
Additional responsibilities
The Synagogue office supports the Council and committees with responsibilities which include new members, social functions, youth, pastoral care and member communications. The office has a direct relationship with the marketing of the synagogue which includes lettings, PR, website, research and fundraising. Contact office@wimshul.org for communications, Ruth Magnus for Events and Judith Ish Horowitz and Camilla McGill for membership.
Responsibility for Operations and Infrastructure which includes premises, the Synagogue building infrastructure, hospitality and security is taken by members of Council with premises help from Melvyn Simonson.
Most of the working groups are led by a Council member, but can (and ideally should) involve community members who are both Council and non-Council members. Anyone can take on a portfolio within the working group, take on part responsibility, or an interim role.
The working groups are, of course, subordinate to the elected Council. Council members may be involved in many of the working groups and do not have to lead any of them, but each Council member will be a member of at least one working group unless they have the express agreement of the Council not to be an active working group participant or they have a role/responsibility that falls outside of these working groups (e.g. Council Chairman).
The working groups produce reports to Council that minute each of their meetings whenever they take place and capture the progress on actions and activities.
Copies of all Council meeting minutes (once signed off by Council) and the reports of the working groups are available on application to the Synagogue office.