Celebrating Pesach

Celebrating Pesach at COA starts weeks before the festival with our own special Seder lunch. It is held at least 3 weeks prior to Pesach because we keep the tradition of not eating matzo for some weeks prior to sitting down with our families for Seder night, so the matzo feels like a “new” experience. Our Membership Engagement Manager Mordechai Levin, who is also a trained Chazan, led the Seder. Tables were set with mock Seder plates festooned with bowls containing the traditional items found on our Seder plates at home. Tables also had copies of our own cut down version of the Haggadah with pages of Pesach songs to sing together. Meanwhile thanks go to our volunteers who set the tables, and created the Seder meal with traditional menu items such as matzo balls and charoset.

But our Seder is just the start.

The next week work starts in earnest to provide parcels to Jewish residents in aged care facilities, as well as special hardship parcels filled with kosher for Pesach staples and extra goodies for those suffering financial distress, to help them get through the festival. This year we also packed small parcels with matzo and grape juice for those living in the B'nai B'rith retirement villages in Rose Bay, Double Bay and Waitara. This year the total of parcels was over 500! The packing and sending of all these parcels falls to Ranmalie de Silva and her small army of volunteers. We are ever grateful for their work in providing this and many more services to our community.

But why all the fuss?? We gift these parcels our to all Jewish residents in aged care, regardless of their association with COA, because it makes them feel loved and connected to their community and heritage at Purim, Pesach and the High Holidays. Community connection is vital to healthy ageing and it is hoped these simple gifts will spark memories and create joy for residents. This annual project is undertaken in partnership with Jewish House and we thank them sincerely for helping to make the gifts possible, and providing their ongoing support to COA.

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Join the Minyan Men

Become part of the community's failsafe for those Jewish people who pass with little or no family to make minyan for them.
Moadon Art Show 2023

Annually Moadon (also known as the Jewish Folk Centre) holds a community art exhibition in their Centre on Rowe St. This year COA joined in with a table advertising our sensational art class and selling packs of greeting cards made by regulars at the art classes on Tuesdays at COA.
New General Manager for COA

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Kosher meals on wheels

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Our staff

COA is manned by a small paid staff who work hand in glove with over 200 active volunteers; coordinating and delivering services, providing organisational administration, taking enquiries from members, and ensuring compliance with government guidelines.
Volunteering opportunities

volunteering, stay active, help, provide support, volunteer roles, give back, help others, help seniors,
What we do

COA is a not-for-profit organisation in Eastern Sydney caring for the needs of Jewish and other seniors. We live our ethos by providing our clients connection to a social network of peers, activities in large and small groups 6 days weekly, and opportunities to access volunteer work, services, and support, to remain independently in their own homes for as long as practical. In all possible ways we aim to enrich the lives of Jewish seniors.
Management Committee

COA is governed by a volunteer Committee of Management whose members provide daily support to staff with running of activities, administration processes, and governance at the COA Centre. They determine our strategies going forward and ensure COA can provide the best quality services possible while remaining financially and legally secure.
Jobs

Work with a dedicated team of paid staff and volunteers in the heart of Sydney's Jewish Community. Do more than just earn a wage, become part of the COA 'family of friends', and help us improve lives by providing options for in-home services, Centre based services, and peer connection to frail aged seniors.
COA Centre Activities

As COA undergoes a transformation some of our usual activities offered at the COA Krygier Centre have moved offsite, whilst others remain at the Centre, and new activities will be added as they become available.
Become a COA Member

COA Membership is a great way to support the crucial services COA provides to Jewish seniors and the community.
COA Fresh

COA Fresh is a weekly delivery of fresh produce and other items going to over 200 homes in our community. The program helps to provide food security to those who are unable to attend the shops and may not have the finances to afford fresh fruit and vegetables each week.