A crisis organisation
for everyone.
Rooted in Jewish values, Jewish House provides
immediate crisis support, for all people facing difficult
circumstances.
Who we are
Our work is grounded in Jewish values
Jewish House has supported people through crisis for more than 40 years.
What began as a small community initiative has grown into a 24/7 crisis organisation providing mental health care, accommodation, practical assistance, and community support. While our roots are Jewish, our services are open to everyone. We support people from all backgrounds, cultures and religions, responding to need wherever it exists.
The values that shaped Jewish House in 1983 continue to guide how we work today.
The world
Tikkun Olam
Supporting people and creating pathways forward.
We believe we each have a responsibility to help people through hardship, crisis and isolation. By supporting one another, we don’t simply respond to immediate need – we help create the foundations for a stronger future.
Respect
Tzedakah
Giving and receiving with dignity. Support is never one-sided.
It depends on both the willingness to give and the courage to receive. We believe everyone has something to contribute, and everyone deserves the opportunity to be supported. Together, this creates balance, dignity and shared responsibility.
Warmth
Chesed
Meeting every person with compassion and individuality.
No two people experience crisis in the same way. We listen first, respond with compassion, and recognise the unique circumstances, strengths and needs of every individual as we help them navigate the supports that are right for them.
Sanctity
Kedusha
Seeing the value in every person.
We believe every person is created in the image of G-d and deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion. This belief shapes every interaction and every decision we make as we walk alongside people through life’s challenges.
Where we started
In 1983, with the blessings and inspiration of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson OBM, brothers Anthony and Roger Clifford purchased a house in Bondi that would become the Jewish House Crisis Centre.
The organisation initially supported people experiencing drug and alcohol dependency — many of whom had few places to turn for help.
As community needs changed, so did the organisation. Services expanded to include crisis accommodation, mental health care, homelessness support, children’s services, employment programs, and a 24/7 crisis line answered by a real person.
Over the next four decades, that small community initiative grew into a 24/7 crisis organisation supporting people from all backgrounds, cultures and religions across Greater Sydney.
Much has changed. The mission has not.
Milestones
More than forty years of responding to changing community needs.
Founded at 17 Flood Street
Jewish House opened its doors in Bondi with a 24-hour Care Line, crisis accommodation, counseling services and practical support for people experiencing crisis.
Cult Help Program
One of Australia's first specialist support programs for people leaving cults, including rescue and recovery support.
24/7 Crisis Line Formalised
The crisis line expanded into a fully structured 24-hour service with trained volunteers and the systems needed to coordinate emergency responses when required.
Rabbi Mendel Kastel Appointed CEO
Rabbi Kastel joined Jewish House as CEO, helping expand the organisation's reach, partnerships and ability to respond to emerging community needs.
Project 2500
Launched at NSW Parliament, Project 2500 committed to supporting 2,500 people experiencing homelessness over three years through a combination of government partnerships and community support.
Bondi Road Accommodation Facility
Jewish House expanded its accommodation services, creating additional capacity for people requiring immediate support and housing.
Fashion Forward
What began as a small community initiative has grown into a volunteer-run social enterprise raising more than $1 million for women and children in crisis, while saving thousands of designer garments from landfill.
NDIS Services
Jewish House expanded into disability support, helping NDIS participants navigate systems, access services and achieve their goals.
Ashfield – A New Chapter of Care
Jewish House opened its 9th and largest property in Sydney's Inner West – providing 50 rooms for men experiencing homelessness as part of the southern hemisphere's largest meanwhile-use housing initiative.
Bondi Beach Attack Response
Within hours of the Bondi Beach attack, Jewish House mobilised support services, distributed more than $2 million in relief and assistance, and established pathways to mental health support for those affected. The work continues.
How we work
Available around the clock
Immediate Crisis Services
Wraparound Support
Trusted referral pathways
Prevention and
recovery
Practical support
through innovation
Jewish House combines direct crisis support with strong partnerships, community knowledge,and a willingness to adapt when needs change.
The result is a model that is responsive, connected, and designed around real-world challenges.
Using technology to improve access and care
Technology should make support easier to access, not harder. In 2025, Jewish House launched an AI Voice Agent pilot at one of its accommodation facilities. Residents who forget their room access codes after hours can verify their identity and regain access immediately, without needing to wake staff overnight.
The result is simple: residents receive help when they need it, and staff can focus their attention where it matters most.
We are also exploring tools that reduce administrative work for clinicians and case managers, allowing more time to be spent supporting people directly.
Responding quickly to emerging needs
Communities do not experience crisis on a schedule.
When the Bondi Beach attack occurred in December 2025, Jewish House worked alongside government, clinicians, and community organisations to help coordinate support for those affected.
When Ukrainian families arrived in Sydney requiring emergency accommodation in 2022, partnerships were activated to secure housing within days.
The ability to respond quickly comes from long-standing relationships, flexible systems, and experience working in complex situations.
Understanding need through data
Good decisions require good information.
Jewish House uses community data, service trends, and client feedback to understand where needs are emerging and where resources can have the greatest impact.
This helps ensure services are informed by evidence rather than assumptions.
Connected support, not disjointed services
No single organisation can meet every need.
Jewish House works closely with hospitals, GPs, police, housing providers, schools, and
community organisations to help people access coordinated support.
Our role is often to connect services together, making it easier for people to navigate systems during already difficult periods.
Many ways to access support
People contact Jewish House for different reasons.
Some need accommodation. Others need counselling, financial assistance, children’s services, employment support, NDIS guidance, or help responding to antisemitism.
Because these services sit within one organisation, people can access support without needing to start again each time their circumstances change.
Our Board
Roger Clifford OAM
Roger, together with his brother Anthony, founded Jewish House in 1983. He is a prominent businessman and owns the Arc Fashion group. His business acumen and compassionate regard for his fellow humans has always been an invaluable guide for Jewish House and its staff. He and his brother Anthony were recently awarded an OAM in recognition of service to the Jewish community of Sydney.
Ron Hirsch
Ron’s experience in the corporate world extends over 25 years and includes investment banking in mergers and acquisition and CEO positions in Australian publicly listed ASX companies.
Ron is Chairman of The Fresh Venture Group, an award-winning corporate services company with multiple fresh produce brands that service both B2B and B2C markets nationally. He is a director of several private companies and was the CEO of The Executive Connection, the world’s leading international mentoring organisation for chief executives and business owners. Ron is also a past director of Redkite and The Australasian Football Institute. He is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives.
Rabbi Mendel Kastel OAM
Rabbi joined Jewish House as CEO at the beginning of 2008. He has been providing rabbinic expertise to the Sydney community for almost 30 years, is a rabbinic fellow of the Great Synagogue, Board member of NCOSS and Ending Street Homelessness, the Jewish Chaplain of the NSW Police Force, and is a commissioner on the National Mental Health Commission. His deep community and social welfare experience, passion for the cause and collaborative approach has seen Jewish House grow and continue to develop. Both he and Jewish House are well recognised for applying innovative best practices to the provision of expert crisis services in the Sydney community.
Jonathan Tolub
Jonathan is a Director at InvestSense, portfolio construction and consulting company he co-founded in 2014. Jonathan has over 20 years of experience in financial services in New York, London, and Sydney. Prior to co-founding InvestSense, Jonathan was a senior asset consultant with van Eyk Research, providing dealer groups and financial planners with asset allocation and manager selection advice. Jonathan was previously a vice president with Lyxor, a specialist asset management group in New York, following many years of trading experiences in London and New York with investment banks such as Societe Generale and Dresdner Bank. Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science degree (majoring in Finance) from Yeshiva University in New York.
Eli Fisher
Eli Fisher is Legal Counsel at Paramount ANZ, specializing in media, entertainment, and technology law. Eli has navigated diverse legal matters for major institutions, airports, media organisations, and technology providers. He currently manages the Communications Law Bulletin, sits on the board of CAMLA, and holds a Master of Laws degree with dual specialisations. Eli joined the board of Jewish House in 2023, and his extensive legal background uniquely positions him to make valuable contributions to the organisation. His expertise in navigating regulatory landscapes and a deep understanding of privacy, cybersecurity, and technology law are instrumental in addressing legal challenges and ensuring compliance.
Robert Clifford
Robbie was appointed to the Board of the Jewish House in 2019 after two years of contribution as a Board Observer. Robbie is a Master of Law, an active member of the Jewish community, and is passionate about social welfare. With a background as the former Managing Director of Pipeline Marketing and COO at the Australian Jewish Fertility Network, his commercial experience in organizational development and the not-for-profit sphere now positions him as the General Manager for COA.
Cerina Filipczyk
Cerina Filipczyk (nee Weisz) has a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work in Couple and Family. Cerina has worked in the field of child protection and trauma for the past 25 years as a caseworker, counsellor, manager, and supervisor. She is an educator in social work both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level as well as training and supervising child protection staff. Cerina has been part of advisory committees relating to sexual assault and women’s housing programs.
Cerina has previously worked with the staff of Jewish House as part of her role at the University of New South Wales in Field Education.
Roger Clifford OAM
Roger, together with his brother Anthony, founded Jewish House in 1983. He is a prominent businessman and owns the Arc Fashion group. His business acumen and compassionate regard for his fellow humans has always been an invaluable guide for Jewish House and its staff. He and his brother Anthony were recently awarded an OAM in recognition of service to the Jewish community of Sydney.
Ron Hirsch
Ron’s experience in the corporate world extends over 25 years and includes investment banking in mergers and acquisition and CEO positions in Australian publicly listed ASX companies.
Ron is Chairman of The Fresh Venture Group, an award-winning corporate services company with multiple fresh produce brands that service both B2B and B2C markets nationally. He is a director of several private companies and was the CEO of The Executive Connection, the world’s leading international mentoring organisation for chief executives and business owners. Ron is also a past director of Redkite and The Australasian Football Institute. He is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives.
Rabbi Mendel Kastel OAM
Rabbi joined Jewish House as CEO at the beginning of 2008. He has been providing rabbinic expertise to the Sydney community for almost 30 years, is a rabbinic fellow of the Great Synagogue, Board member of NCOSS and Ending Street Homelessness, the Jewish Chaplain of the NSW Police Force, and is a commissioner on the National Mental Health Commission. His deep community and social welfare experience, passion for the cause and collaborative approach has seen Jewish House grow and continue to develop. Both he and Jewish House are well recognised for applying innovative best practices to the provision of expert crisis services in the Sydney community.
Jonathan Tolub
Jonathan is a Director at InvestSense, portfolio construction and consulting company he co-founded in 2014. Jonathan has over 20 years of experience in financial services in New York, London, and Sydney. Prior to co-founding InvestSense, Jonathan was a senior asset consultant with van Eyk Research, providing dealer groups and financial planners with asset allocation and manager selection advice. Jonathan was previously a vice president with Lyxor, a specialist asset management group in New York, following many years of trading experiences in London and New York with investment banks such as Societe Generale and Dresdner Bank. Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science degree (majoring in Finance) from Yeshiva University in New York.
Eli Fisher
Eli Fisher is Legal Counsel at Paramount ANZ, specializing in media, entertainment, and technology law. Eli has navigated diverse legal matters for major institutions, airports, media organisations, and technology providers. He currently manages the Communications Law Bulletin, sits on the board of CAMLA, and holds a Master of Laws degree with dual specialisations. Eli joined the board of Jewish House in 2023, and his extensive legal background uniquely positions him to make valuable contributions to the organisation. His expertise in navigating regulatory landscapes and a deep understanding of privacy, cybersecurity, and technology law are instrumental in addressing legal challenges and ensuring compliance.
Robert Clifford
Robbie was appointed to the Board of the Jewish House in 2019 after two years of contribution as a Board Observer. Robbie is a Master of Law, an active member of the Jewish community, and is passionate about social welfare. With a background as the former Managing Director of Pipeline Marketing and COO at the Australian Jewish Fertility Network, his commercial experience in organizational development and the not-for-profit sphere now positions him as the General Manager for COA.
Cerina Filipczyk
Cerina Filipczyk (nee Weisz) has a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work in Couple and Family. Cerina has worked in the field of child protection and trauma for the past 25 years as a caseworker, counsellor, manager, and supervisor. She is an educator in social work both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level as well as training and supervising child protection staff. Cerina has been part of advisory committees relating to sexual assault and women’s housing programs.
Cerina has previously worked with the staff of Jewish House as part of her role at the University of New South Wales in Field Education.
Executive Team
Rabbi Mendel Kastel OAM
Rabbi joined Jewish House as CEO at the beginning of 2008. He has been providing rabbinic expertise to the Sydney community for almost 30 years, is a rabbinic fellow of the Great Synagogue, Board member of NCOSS and Ending Street Homelessness, the Jewish Chaplain of the NSW Police Force, and is a commissioner on the National Mental Health Commission. His deep community and social welfare experience, passion for the cause and collaborative approach has seen Jewish House grow and continue to develop. Both he and Jewish House are well recognised for applying innovative best practices to the provision of expert crisis services in the Sydney community.
Brenda Kaplan
Brenda Kaplan leads fundraising and community engagement at Jewish House, building the partnerships and relationshipsthat sustain the organisation’s work. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Cape Town and bringsexperience from previous roles at Montefiore and JCA NSW/ACT, as well as Westpac. Her legal background and extensivenot-for-profit experience position her as a key bridge between Jewish House’s community supporters, philanthropic partners,and the operational team.
Rosana Coelho
Rosana Coelho has been Head of Social Services at Jewish House since 2012, playing a central role in transforming theorganisation into a leading crisis service with more than 70 staff members. Originally from Brazil and now based in Sydney,Rosana holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health. Her deep commitment to social justice,equality, disability rights, and mental health has shaped the organisation’s clinical and social services over more than adecade. She serves on the Clinical Governance Committee and the Advisory Committee of ACAP for the School of SocialWork, and has been a dedicated mentor to psychology students throughout her career.
Yolanda Lu
Yolanda Lu is a CPA-qualified finance leader with more than 20 years’ experience across the not-for-profit, higher education,consulting, engineering and financial services sectors. She is Head of Finance at Jewish House.Working closely with the CEO, executive team and Board, Yolanda leads financial strategy, governance, reporting andorganisational performance. She also oversees HR, IT, compliance, administration and property management, helpingensure the organisation operates effectively and sustainably.
Eva Taase
Eva Taase brings a strong background in project management, program delivery, and organisational strategy to her role atJewish House. Eva’s career spans project management across data and digital transformation, quality and changemanagement, and strategic program leadership in the not-for-profit sector. She previously served as Global ManagingDirector and Program Manager at She Loves Data, where she directed organisational strategy and built strategic alliancesacross the technology sector.
Rabbi Mendel Kastel OAM
Rabbi joined Jewish House as CEO at the beginning of 2008. He has been providing rabbinic expertise to the Sydney community for almost 30 years, is a rabbinic fellow of the Great Synagogue, Board member of NCOSS and Ending Street Homelessness, the Jewish Chaplain of the NSW Police Force, and is a commissioner on the National Mental Health Commission. His deep community and social welfare experience, passion for the cause and collaborative approach has seen Jewish House grow and continue to develop. Both he and Jewish House are well recognised for applying innovative best practices to the provision of expert crisis services in the Sydney community.
Brenda Kaplan
Brenda Kaplan leads fundraising and community engagement at Jewish House, building the partnerships and relationshipsthat sustain the organisation’s work. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Cape Town and bringsexperience from previous roles at Montefiore and JCA NSW/ACT, as well as Westpac. Her legal background and extensivenot-for-profit experience position her as a key bridge between Jewish House’s community supporters, philanthropic partners,and the operational team.
Rosana Coelho
Rosana Coelho has been Head of Social Services at Jewish House since 2012, playing a central role in transforming theorganisation into a leading crisis service with more than 70 staff members. Originally from Brazil and now based in Sydney,Rosana holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health. Her deep commitment to social justice,equality, disability rights, and mental health has shaped the organisation’s clinical and social services over more than adecade. She serves on the Clinical Governance Committee and the Advisory Committee of ACAP for the School of SocialWork, and has been a dedicated mentor to psychology students throughout her career.
Yolanda Lu
Yolanda Lu is a CPA-qualified finance leader with more than 20 years’ experience across the not-for-profit, higher education,consulting, engineering and financial services sectors. She is Head of Finance at Jewish House.Working closely with the CEO, executive team and Board, Yolanda leads financial strategy, governance, reporting andorganisational performance. She also oversees HR, IT, compliance, administration and property management, helpingensure the organisation operates effectively and sustainably.
Eva Taase
Eva Taase brings a strong background in project management, program delivery, and organisational strategy to her role atJewish House. Eva’s career spans project management across data and digital transformation, quality and changemanagement, and strategic program leadership in the not-for-profit sector. She previously served as Global ManagingDirector and Program Manager at She Loves Data, where she directed organisational strategy and built strategic alliancesacross the technology sector.
Our Team
Heidi Baltineshter
Heidi has been part of Jewish House for over two decades, building meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers andthe wider community. She oversees events and community engagement, helping bring people together in support of JewishHouse’s mission. Passionate about connection and giving back, Heidi plays an integral role in fostering the strongcommunity spirit that underpins the organisation’s work.
Heidi Baltineshter
Heidi has been part of Jewish House for over two decades, building meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers andthe wider community. She oversees events and community engagement, helping bring people together in support of JewishHouse’s mission. Passionate about connection and giving back, Heidi plays an integral role in fostering the strongcommunity spirit that underpins the organisation’s work.
Partners
Memberships
