AS THE only nominee for president in the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) elections, Nina Bassat will replace John Searle when he steps down after three years in the role.

According to Bassat, a former president of the JCCV and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, it’s an exciting time to take over.

“I think we are at a stage in communal life where we must work together.

“If there’s one thing I’d like to see happen it’s collaborative communal activity,” she told The AJN.

In a distinguished communal career, Bassat has been a tireless campaigner and facilitator for Holocaust restitution, for resettling Jews from the former Soviet Union, and for dealing with the aftermath of the Maccabiah bridge disaster. In 2003, Bassat, who has an Order of Australia medal, was added to the Victorian Women’s Roll of Honour. Having headed the JCCV from 1996-1998, Bassat currently presides as vice-president and is highly regarded by Searle.

“Nina Bassat has a wealth of experience and skills to offer our community and will no doubt do an outstanding job as president of this organisation. I wish her every success,” he Searle.

He said he felt confident that the JCCV was well placed to fulfil its mission to be the recognised and responsible peak body and voice of Victorian Jewry.

Basset will be joined by current board member Dr Helen Light as vice-president and Ian Jones as treasurer.

Meanwhile, the Jewish community has expressed unprecedented interest in joining the JCCV’S executive, with nine nominations received.

“We attribute this to the sensational job the JCCV has done over the last few years, the respect afforded to it by members of our community and the wider Victorian community as well as to our restructure, the reformulation of our mission and goals, and the introduction of clearly defined portfolio position descriptions,” Searle said.

He said interest in the organisation had been generated by its increasing relevance and high-profile in the community.

At the JCCV’S annual meeting on November 21, five executive members will be elected from current executives John Searle, Dvir Abramovich and Rimma Sverdlin and new nominees Ashley Browne, Daniel Fox, Jennifer Huppert, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant, Atida Lipshatz and Jackie Phillips.