Board beaten in battle over rabbi

GOLD Coast Hebrew Congregation (GCHC) members have overruled the shul’s board and voted to keep their rabbi.

Rabbi Nir Gurevitch, who was employed by the synagogue on a part-time basis, was told earlier this year that his contract would not be renewed when it expired on September 1.

But at an EGM on Sunday, members rallied behind the rabbi, voting 56 to 31 to keep him on a full-time basis.

Rabbi Gurevitch has been given a one-year contract but as part of the deal he will have to stop working at the Gold Coast Jewish Centre, which is a Chabad community he started.

Long-time GCHC member Gerald Moses, who was pushing to keep the rabbi, said that a positive solution had been found for the community.

“The result would suggest that the members have overridden the board, but I don’t think it was done in that spirit or with that frame of mind,” Moses told The AJN.

He said now that the board has heard the voice of the congregation, they will hopefully work together for the common good.

“United we stand but divided we fall, and so my plea to the community is to unite as one.

“With Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur coming up I think we can all start fresh and have a positive mood going forward.”

GCHC president David Rebibou said that despite the decision by the members, the board still has the support of the congregation.

“The congregation told the board that the rabbi was not doing his job, and I think the rabbi now understands that the members are the ones who are paying his salary and he has to try and make everyone happy,” Rebibou said.

“The rabbi will only concentrate on the GCHC to work closely with the board and the members.”

Rabi Gurevitch welcomed the decision by members.

“There was overwhelming support for me to stay as the rabbi, and we are going to put Chabad on ice and review the situation in a year, when my position at the congregation is reviewed,” Rabbi Gurevitch said.

JOSHUA LEVI

Rabbi Nir Gurevitch.