In my father, I have had a great role model for community involvement. My father was part of a group that founded the Communaute Sephrade du Quebec (CSQ), bringing to Montreal some of our most respected Rabbinic authorities. Growing up my house was always full of people meeting to discuss the local synagogue, which my father founded and was president of for more years than I can remember.
Growing up I learned that institutions and services in the Jewish Community exist because there are people who are willing to step up to the plate and be counted.
I have been involved with Jewish Student groups since my first year in University. I was on the Hillel board, I was part of a group that brought The Jewish Student Network to Montreal. I organized conferences, shabbatons, speakers, and social events for Jewish Students on campus. With others I protested for Soviet Jewry and lobbied in Ottawa for loan guarantees for Israel.
At Concordia I represented the faculty of Commerce on the student government and fought constantly to defend Israel on campus.
At the Town level, I have volunteered on the security committee, and the public works committee. From these committees I have learned two things. The first is that there is a great deal of untapped skill in this town that can be used for our greater good. One example is Derek Stern, who also volunteered on the Public Works Committee. His expert knowledge of heavy machinery and construction is invaluable. The other thing I learned unfortunately is that the town does not promote volunteerism. The security committee met a few times at the beginning of its mandate and was then discontinued. The Public works committee required much pushing on my part to get it started and was also left to flounder. The result is citizens who do not buy in to the process of local governance. When people feel disenfranchised that can breed animosity. This animosity is reflected in our quarrelsome and aggressive public meetings.
Since my children have begun attending Hebrew Academy I have chaired the I.T. committee, I have been a member of the board, I have been on the executive and for the last two years I have been the Chairman of the Board. My mandate as Chairman of the Board continues for one more year. There is a lot of work that has been done and there remains much to do. Having excellent education in three languages while meeting all of the requirements of the Ministry of Education while maintaining fees at an affordable level is not self evident. I have been fortunate to work with some great Presidents, including Marla Veres, Dov Wolman and David Novoseller. The professional staff including Linda Lehrer, the executive director and Rabbi Perton, the educational director, makes the volunteers jobs that much easier.
I have learned through my time at Hebrew Academy that institutions are a collaborative endeavor. I have found that people who are involved in a decision or process are committed to its success. It’s important to me that stake holders feel that they are an important part of the process. They need to feel that their opinions are heard and that there are no forgone conclusions.
Having attended many Hampstead Council meetings, it is evident that there is a lack of trust and respect among various councilors and between the council and the citizens. Council, in my opinion, should work like a well functioning board of directors. Council should provide oversight and vision, while entrusting the day to day management of the town to qualified and trusted staff.
I would like to see the residents of Hampstead be involved in town affairs in the same way we have parent volunteer groups at Hebrew Academy. The town of Hampstead, like Hebrew Academy, is full of highly qualified, skilled and intelligent people. Volunteer committees allow those who are interested to work towards bettering our institution, be it town or school. Working together builds a sense of trust and partnership among citizens and between council and the citizens.
Justice Louis Brandeis wrote that “ The most important position in a Democracy is that of citizen.”
I humbly concur.
Jack Edery