It has been an honour to serve

In A few short months, my six-year term as president of JCA will come to an end.

As I prepare to hand over the reins, I find myself reflecting on what has shaped our community, what has sustained us through challenging times, and why I remain optimistic about our future.

JCA was born from a simple but powerful idea: that our collective future depends on shared responsibility. The organisation was established in 1967, when the Six-Day War galvanised the Jewish community to come together in support of 10 founding organisations. The first campaign raised $340,000. Nearly 60 years later, JCA supports 24 organisations serving Jewish life across New South Wales and the ACT, helping fund education, aged care, security, advocacy, welfare, engagement and cultural life.

That growth did not happen by accident. It happened because generations of leaders, volunteers and donors believed that a strong community requires collective investment.

My own involvement with JCA spans more than two decades. Serving as CEO from 2006 to 2013 gave me a deep appreciation of what JCA truly does. It is not simply a fundraising organisation. It is a planning and allocation body that helps ensure resources reach where they are needed most and that no member of our community is left behind.