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David Knoll

A strategy for building stronger Jewish communities

Monday May 4th, 11 am

The Union for Progressive Judaism has begun the challenge of meeting the demographic challenges facing the Australian and New Zealand Progressive (and Masorti/Conservative) Jewish communities. Some of those challenges and the strategies now being developed to address them will assist our communities across Asia also. This session considers four of the goals the UPJ has set for itself over the next 3 years:

  • building a culture of collaboration through relational Judaism;

  • increasing our members' and participants' self-perception of the importance of being Jewish;

  • building family-centred youth engagement strategies; and

  •  innovating in the area of young-adult youth engagement strategies.

Bio: David Knoll is co-President of the Union for Progressive Judaism and a Sydney barrister.   His family have been members of Emanuel Synagogue in Sydney for decades. He has served as the Honorary Secretary of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the elected roof body of the Australian Jewish community, on the Boards of Multicultural NSW, and the Council for Jewish Community Security. He is a Past President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, the peak body of the NSW Jewish community. In 2011, he was chosen as one ‘40 Inspirational Alumni’ featured for the 40th Anniversary of UNSW Law School, and in 2010 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the Jewish community through a range of peak, religious and educational organisations, and to the promotion of interfaith relations. David is married to Karen (who hails from Cleveland, Ohio; they met in Ann Arbor, Michigan). They have three adult children.