The Kadimah’s AGM held on Sunday 20 June celebrated the contribution of two great luminaries of the Kadimah. Firstly, it was with great pride that the Kadimah honoured Evelyn Krape with a life membership. Evelyn’s involvement with Yiddish Theatre began as a 9-year-old at the Kadimah in Carlton. Later she innovated with Tomi Kalinski and Elisa Gray with Ek Velt, the seminal production dramatising the lives of the great Yiddish actors and directors who made Australia their home, and toured the show to Montreal and New York. As Artistic Co-director of the Kadimah Yiddish Theatre Evelyn has directed, performed in or written many productions which have placed the KYT firmly on the cultural map of Melbourne.
Similarly, it was with tremendous pride and much sadness that we thanked Renata Singer as she stood down after 7 years as President and Co-President. In reflecting on her time as President, Renata said her achievements were unremarkable compared to previous presidents and paid tribute to her predecessors including Samuel Wynn, Yasha Sher, Sender Burstin and Alex Dafner. But the whole meeting and the wider Kadimah community thanks Renata for her extraordinary leadership in steering the Kadimah into a modern, focused, cultural organisation with cutting edge arts productions, Yiddish language and cultural programs attracting the next generation of Yiddish speakers and introducing new audiences to Yiddish culture and Ashkenazi heritage.
Mazeltov to new President Joe Tigel and the Board, which includes Executive Members Vice President Rachel Chrapot, Secretary Alex Dafner, newly elected Board Member and Treasurer Phil Aarons, and Ordinary Members Kathy Laster, Mandi Katz, Judith Reuben, Renata Singer and Leon Jacobs.
Lilly Kochen and Sam Rosenberg both stepped down from the Board after making significant contributions, Lilly most notably as chair of the Kadimah Governance Committee and Sam as Treasurer. Both were heartily thanked and it is hoped that they will return to the Board in the future.
