Former Liberal Judaism chair Karen Newman has won the by-election for vice-president of the Board of Deputies in a tightly fought contest.
She defeated former senior vice-president Sheila Gewolb, who was bidding for a third stint in the role, by 119 votes to 104 after the poll closed on Tuesday afternoon.
Newman will provide a female presence among the previously all-male honorary officer team of five and is the only one representing a Progressive Judaism constituency.
She is believed to be the first openly LGBT+ member of the community to be elected as a Board officer.
Already a member of the Board’s constitutional committee and one of the two independent chairs of its plenary meetings, she fills the vacancy left by Andrew Gilbert, who resigned as one of the Board’s three VPs in January.
Board president Phil Rosenberg said: “Mazal Tov to Karen on becoming our new vice president. She has both the expertise and experience to make an incredibly valuable contribution as we represent British Jews through turbulent times and pursue a brighter future for the UK Jewish community.
“My thanks also go to Sheila who fought an excellent campaign. I am delighted that she too will continue to serve in our leadership in her role as chair of the Board’s Regional Council.”
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