About

Jewish Care is about people - those who we help and those who support us. Our success is measured by the life-changing impact we have on individuals and families within the Victorian Jewish community. We are here to provide aid to Jewish elderly, Jewish families, Jewish youth in times of hardship and crisis, and to offer services that enable individuals in our community to thrive. By providing support and opportunities for individuals and families, we seek to strengthen the wellbeing and resilience of our community.

Our people change lives

Jewish Care has built its strong caring reputation on its extensive experience and the compassion of its people. By assisting over 5000 individuals from all walks of life in the Victorian Jewish community each year, we effectively impact the lives of over 15,000 people in our bouyant Jewish community. These lives are touched by the positive outcomes of all our services: our support for older people, both in their homes and within our residential accommodation facilities, services for adults and children with a disability, and a host of community services for young and old.

Dedicated staff and volunteers

The people who access Jewish Care’s services every year represent a diverse range of Jewish backgrounds. They speak over 10 languages, come from many different countries of origin, and follow varying levels of religious observance. When assistance is needed, our professional staff are here to work together with you, finding appropriate solutions to make your journey easier.

We employ over 600 highly dedicated staff and are supported by 400 passionate volunteers and thousands of generous supporters, all of whom share a common desire: to enrich the lives of others. Their daily actions are a testament to their desire to translate our cherished values into the highest standard of care. It is the collective expertise, compassion, generosity and cultural understanding of our staff, volunteers and donors which makes Jewish Care a truly supportive hub for our community.

Pastoral Care - 'Care is what we do. Jewish is who we are.'

The community we serve is a diverse multi-ethnic group encompassing a vast spectrum of religious observance and cultural expression, united by common traditions, heritage and legacy. Understanding and sensitivity to the diverse cultural backgrounds of Jewish people are qualities which set Jewish Care apart in its capacity to meet the needs of our clients, including Melbourne’s large population of first and second generation Holocaust survivors, their families and carers.

Jewish Care’s Cultural and Spiritual Centre provides practical and meaningful pastoral support to residents, volunteers, staff and their families across all of our residential facilities including Montefiore Homes Community Residence, Smorgon Family Nursing Home, The Mark and Dina Munzer Community Residence and Gary Smorgon House. Over the past year the team has made over 4,500 visits to people. We also look after clients and their families who participate in our wide range of community care programs.

Many of Jewish Care’s clients are not affiliated with a particular synagogue or cultural organisation and may find themselves alone in times of crisis, with no one to share their concerns. The dedicated and sensitive staff of the Cultural and Spiritual Centre are able to provide the necessary support to empower the person in need and their family to assist them to work through their challenges within a culturally appropriate framework.

More than half of our elderly residents are Holocaust survivors who often struggle with spiritual issues especially towards the end stages of their life. Their ability to find peace within themselves and with their family members often requires the sensitive intervention of staff from the Cultural and Spiritual Centre. Our staff can also arrange Jewish funeral services for people who have no family or who may be unknown to a local Rabbi.

To find out more about pastoral services, contact the Cultural and Spiritual Centre on (03) 8517 5609 or rabbi@jewishcare.org.au