HALIFAX — Shulamith Medjuck of Halifax was elected president of the Atlantic Jewish Council at the organization’s biennial conference Nov. 21.
Shulamith Medjuck [Joel Jacobson photo]
Originally from Glace Bay, N.S., the Halifax resident replaced Howard Conter, also from Halifax, who served a two year term and is now past president.
Medjuck retired as a senior director of Federal/Provincial Social Initiatives in the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services in 2007 after 26 years. She was vice-president of AJC from 2008 to 2010.
In an interview, Medjuck, to serve through 2012, expressed pleasure that two younger members of the community have joined the executive.
“We need to be concerned that we, the executive and board of AJC, and the communities generally, are aging, and we need younger people coming behind us. Joanna Wexler, [Halifax] as second vice-president, and Mark Goldhar, [Halifax] as secretary/treasurer, both under 35, give us great potential for our future leadership.”
She discussed several points brought forth at the conference.
Immigration of Israeli-Russians to the region will mean future growth, she said.
“If we make the connection with them while they’re going through the process of settling into new homes, learning a new language and new customs and a new culture, they will become involved in our communities.
“We can’t ask them to join a shul on day one. That will alienate the families as they try to settle, but we’re building a community with them. There certainly are questions as to how long communities can survive if the newcomers don’t become involved soon after their arrival, but that’s a problem we have to examine.”
She said limited staff and budgets at the Atlantic Jewish Council office challenges programming concerns through the region.
“It’s difficult for one area programmer to spread himself or herself. The region is large and we can’t have people everywhere all the time.”
She was concerned with a perceived low attendance at the conference, under 100 people. “I’d love to see more young people attending. If we have to change the format, if we have to refresh it, it might bring the next generation to us to hear the issues and help us move forward.”
Other executive members include Michael Argand, Halifax, first vice-president and legal advisor Jack Haller, Moncton. Communities throughout the region select their representatives at a later date.
