Kedma welcomes four new board members for fall semester

By Abby Wallisch
For the Mitzpeh
@Mitzpeh

The orthodox Jewish community, Kedma, recently held their semesterly elections and President Aaron Yitzhaky a junior kinesiology major is excited for what the newest board members will contribute to the community and planning of Kedma.

Aaron Yitzhaky, incoming president of Kedma. Photo courtesy of Aaron Yitzhaky.

The Kedma executive board consists of three positions: president, vice president and treasurer. Yitzhaky took over as president after holding vice president fall semester, Elisha Galler moved from social chair to vice president and Avi Denicoff was elected as treasurer.

Additionally, Kedma has six officer positions and this semester welcomed two new Kedma officers: social chair and Shabbat chair. Shira Clements, a sophomore kinesiology major, is taking over Galler’s position as social chair and Shoshanna Kott, a freshman public health major, will be stepping in as Shabbat chair.

Yitzhaky is excited to combine the new and returning board members and hopes the two groups will be able to plan a great semester for the Kedma community.

“We are directing our efforts into bigger programs and bigger events rather than smaller ones throughout the semester,” said Yitzhaky. “I’m hopeful it’ll be a superb and great semester for everyone.”

Elisha Galler, incoming vice president of Kedma. Photo courtesy of Elisha Galler.

Sophomore economics and philosophy major Elisha Galler was recently elected as vice president after first serving as social chair last semester.

“I decided to run for VP on the exec board to further the impact that I feel I’ve had this semester as social chair,” said Galler, “ and [I hope to] continue that forward for the next year.”

Galler will be in charge of sending out weekly emails and learning everything there is to know about Kedma so he can accurately make decisions on policies for community. It is customary to serve as vice president for one semester and then move up to president the following, meaning Galler will succeed Yitzhaky as president in the fall.

Shira Clements, incoming social chair of Kedma. Photo courtesy of Shira Clements.

The social chair’s main responsibility is planning community events. Clements is excited to plan activities like basketball tournaments and yoga events which will build a stronger connection between those in the Kedma community. Her ultimate goal is to provide the rest of Kedma with an all around great time and good vibes, said Clements.

Avi Denicoff, a junior finance major and treasurer-elect, is excited to start working in his role on the executive board so he can help provide Kedma with more external grants from this university’s SGA. The SGA allows clubs with 25 or more members to receive funding, so Denicoff is focused on using his skills as treasurer to ensure Kedma receives necessary funding.

Kott was unavailable to comment on her new executive board position, but will be in charge of organizing and running the Kedma shabbat experience.

As Shabbat chair she will coordinate sponsors and find speakers to come to the Shabbats Kedma hosts during the year.

Avi Denicoff, incoming Kedma treasurer. Photo courtesy of Avi Denicoff.

Shoshana Kott, incoming Shabbat chair. Photo courtesy of Shoshana Kott.

Yitzhaky’s biggest expectation for the board this year is that it can create and inspire the Kedma community to be inclusive to everyone.
“Whether [on the] board of Kedma or not, you have a huge say and you have a huge impact on the community [and] we want to relay that empowerment over to them and increase the cohesion,” said Yitzhaky.