NEW FACES
With the significant increases in responsibility and activity that ARZA will be addressing over the coming months, the organisation is about to review its own structures and sources of support in order that it can fully represent the Progressive Jewish community both locally and within the World Zionist movement.
We are most fortunate that three outstanding people have stepped forward as volunteers and have been co-opted to the Executive Committee of ARZA.
Caryn Granek – Caryn has been involved in the Progressive movement for many years, first at TBI, then at Kedem and ARZA. She was President of ARZA from 1998-2002 and has retained her close connection to Israel through Israeli folk dancing since then. Caryn is a retired lawyer. She completed a Masters degree in Jewish civilisation at Monash University in 2011 and taught classes in Middle East Studies and Israel-Arab conflicts in the Australian Centre of Jewish Civilisation at Monash. Caryn comes back into ARZA with a vision of engaging a new generation of Progressive Jews with Israel and assisting in making ARZA a loud advocate for Israel in these complex and troubling times.
Eric McDonald is a retired policy analyst and advisor in the Australian Public Service where his focus was on health and age care policy both for Australians in general, and for veterans in the latter part of his career. Eric has a particular concern for social justice especially in the area of the health and aged care needs of Indigenous Australians, especially in rural and remote Australia.
Eric has a Masters in Anthropology from the Australian National University and is a member of both the ACT Jewish community and of Emanuel Synagogue, Woollahra. Eric has been a passionate Zionist from the time he could think. He has been married to Sally, for almost forty years. Eric had his first visit to Israel last year on a JNF mission and is very eager to participate with ARZA in enhancing the defence of Israel, to advocate for Israel among Australians, and to work for a more democratic and inclusive Israeli society.
Adam Hofbauer – A leader of Netzer from 1997-2001 Adam is a qualified barista and graduate of Hospitality School. He also has a Qualification in Business Management. Having worked as a Barista in many Eastern Suburbs eateries, in 2011 he and his partners opened ‘Shirt Bar’ – a most successful bar and bespoke shirt shop in the Sydney CBD. Adam is married to Aliza and they have a 2-year old son, Samson. Adam has a great interest in the future of Israel and is keen to work to ensure that the Jewish State is a democratic and inclusive home for all Jews.