Letters/Discussion Forums
SAJBD’s opacity raises questions
No matter what explanations Mr Zagnoev tries to spin (Letters: SA Jewish Report, 6 March 2020), the facts can easily be determined by simply examining the Joffe Report, the opinion of Cecil Wulfsohn, and the PAIA (Promotion of Access to Information Act) documents. I therefore challenge the leadership of the Board/National Executive Committee to make the Joffe Report and Wulfsohn opinion in their full and original form available to anyone wishing to examining them.
Dennis Wiener, Israel
These documents, together with my PAIA application, which I explained are already in the public domain, will reveal all. The Board claims transparency and good governance. If it has nothing to hide, it should release these reports. It would then be incumbent on every interested member of the community to acquaint themselves with the contents of the documents, reach their own conclusions, and if necessary, demand a forensic audit of the trusts and the Board.
The second paragraph of Zagnoev’s answer further muddies the waters. His statement that the “SJCA [Small Jewish Communities Association] was formed for the purpose of assuming responsibility for the national Board’s country community function” implies that the Board has become irrelevant to country communities. Why, then, is it still reluctant to transfer to the new organisation all of the remaining assets of the individual community trusts let alone making good the damages it caused to these trusts? Zagnoev seeks to have it both ways.
It’s time for the Board to account for its actions, and demonstrate precisely what it really stands for when transparency, accountability, and governance are concerned. Continuing with its opaque approach raises obvious questions.