Rabbi Mendel Kastel joined the Jewish House in 2008 after spending many successful years serving the Sydney Great Synagogue community.

He brings to The Jewish House extensive experience in community welfare work. His achievements in dealing with problems amongst the city's Youth have gained him a high level of respect.

His work has also involved working with the mentally and physically handicapped, hospital and prison visits, helping those suffering from addictions and counseling services for the bereaved in conjunction with the Chevra Kadisha.

Mendel was born in 1968 and showed an early interest in the welfare of younger members of the community working with communities and schools in New York. He has had experience as a Jewish Studies teacher at the Yeshiva in Sydney and has served as a Rabbi and Community leader in Rostov on Don, playing an integral role in the re-establishment of the Russian congregation.

He has worked as a Rabbi, Cantor and Community Leader in locations as varied as Laguna Beach, California, San Francisco, Brighton and London in the U.K. As well as Toronto, Canada, the US Virgin Islands, Vienna, Wellington, New Zealand and closer to home in Launceston before settling in Sydney.

It was during his stay in Russia when Mendel tackled the problem of dealing with entire communities and he quickly learned the knack, and the importance, of establishing and making available life-changing programs for those living in the community in which he worked.

That experience has placed him in a strong position today at The Jewish House where he continues to create programs and events for the betterment of the local community.

Mendel is married and is the proud father of six children.