28/05/2026
On Tuesday evening, we assembled in the Neuweg for our 2026 Annual General Meeting, the final of these yearly gatherings for Grant McCorquodale as our President, who concluded his term as leader of our board and marked 16 years of community leadership across Emanuel School and Emanuel Synagogue.
Grant was elected as a Board Director on 25 May 2021 and, just two years later, as President on 23 May 2023. Over the course of his presidency, he shepherded our congregation through some of the most challenging times – COVID, major building works, the aftermath of October 7th, the rise of antisemitism, and the impact of Bondi – and led projects of lasting impact, including raising $10M in the Heritage Sanctuary capital appeal that resulted in the glorious restoration of one of our most-used spaces, establishing the Emanuel Synagogue Foundation and now the Jeffrey B. Kamins OAM Endowment Fund to secure the future of our congregation, reuniting the Synagogue with Emanuel Woollahra Preschool, and much more. Grant has represented us and advocated for us at the highest levels, giving us a voice and an active presence in the wider Jewish community and Australian society more broadly. In addition to all of this, over the last year, he has navigated a landmark transition in leadership with our senior rabbi and championed a project of such profound artistic merit that we will delight in revealing on 21 June at the celebration of Rabbi Kamins.
Grant achieved all of that with his signature courage, conviction, heart and integrity.
As a small gesture of our heartfelt appreciation for his service and commitment, we presented Grant with a tallit featuring the vibrant tartan of the McCorquodale Clan, a perfect match for his kippah. Pulling this off was only possible with the help of Grant’s wife, the incredible Ilana McCorquodale, who, together with their beautiful family, has supported and encouraged Grant throughout this important mission with us.
Also at Grant’s side through this time was our Vice President, Ian Rathmell, and at the conclusion of the AGM, the board unanimously voted Ian as Grant’s successor.
We are proud to announce that Ian Rathmell is the President of Emanuel Synagogue.
Ian has been a fixture at Emanuel since he first arrived in Australia, and in that time has given so selflessly to our community, including as Treasurer on our board and as a proud representative of our congregation in LGBTQ spaces. Ian’s term has now officially commenced, and we look forward to embarking on this new adventure together.
