Dayan
Dayan
Dayan
Rabbinical Co-ordinator
Rabbinical Director
Rabbinical Co-ordinator
Dayan
Dayan
Dayan
Rabbinical Co-ordinator
Rabbinical Director
Rabbinical Coordinator
Legal Administrator
Executive PA
Legal Administrator
Archive Manager
Dayan
Originally from the UK, Dayan Baddiel studied in Gateshead Yeshiva in England and then the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem before progressing to Jerusalem’s Harry Fischel Institute for Rabbinics and Dayanut to earn his Dayanut qualification.
Dayan Baddiel and his family moved to South Africa in 2009, where he joined the Beth Din in the same year. At the Beth Din, Dayan Baddiel heads the Gittin department, and is also heavily involved in providing certificates for proof of Jewish status, as well as assisting in the Dinei Torah.
In addition to his role at the Beth Din, Dayan Baddiel has been the Rabbi of the Ohr Aharon community since 2016, guiding its members with his Halachic expertise and natural leadership skills.
Born in the UK, Dayan Fox lived and studied in Israel before relocating to South Africa in 1981 where he matriculated at the Torah Academy. Following matric, he studied both locally and abroad, receiving Smicha in Australia and qualifying as a Dayan through Machon Ariel in Israel in 2019.
In 2005 Dayan Fox became the Rabbi of the Pretoria Hebrew Congregation (PHC).
His other leadership experience includes a stint as head of the South African Rabbinical Association, as well as the Dean of Yeshiva Lerabbonus Pretoria.
As founder of the organisation Shifra in both South Africa and Australia, Dayan Fox is involved in providing Halachic counselling and supervision for couples undergoing fertility treatment. In this role he works closely with the Malka Ella fund.
At the Beth Din, Dayan Fox works collaboratively with the other Dayanim and Rabbis to ensure that the Halachic needs of the community members are met with care and respect.
Son of Rabbi Dovid Smith, the late Chief Rabbi of Lithuania, Dayan Yoel Smith studied in Gateshead Yeshiva, UK and then South Fallsburg, USA, before practising as a community Rabbi in both Glasgow and Berlin.
After moving to South Africa, Dayan Smith joined the Beth Din in 2016.
He also became the Rabbi of the thriving Shaarei Chaim community.
In his role as a Dayan, Dayan Smith handles all legal matters, ranging from arbitration and mediation to litigation and any other matters of dispute which are brought to the Beth Din. Currently, he also plays an important role in the Conversion process. He considers it a great privilege to contribute towards enriching Jewish life in South Africa by serving on the Beth Din, and values the uniqueness and distinct qualities of the Johannesburg community as a whole.
Rabbi Hendler has devoted himself to South Africa’s Jewish communities for the last 40 years.
He started out as the Rabbi of the EJC community, moved on to lead the Cyreldine Hebrew Congregation, and then to the Har Hashem community. Following that, he founded a Shul and community based around his Northfield Avenue home and he has been leading this community for the last 20 years.
Originally a member of the Chief Rabbi’s office during the leadership of Rabbi Harris, Rabbi Hendler was asked to join the Beth Din to oversee Conversions.
He thus spent the last 18 years running the Conversions department, ensuring that converts to Judaism are properly vetted, educated and welcomed into their new communities.
Rabbi Hendler continues to run the annual Chief Rabbi’s Rabbinical Conference — an incredible opportunity for Rabbis from all over South Africa to collaborate and share wisdom and insight relating to their important roles.
Over the past year and a half, Rabbi Hendler has also become involved in the Beth Din’s mediations. As a community Rabbi with a wealth of leadership experience, Rabbi Hendler is well-equipped to carry out mediations with sensitivity and understanding, ensuring that conflicts are resolved in the best possible way.
Rabbi Slasky is the Rabbinical Director, responsible for overseeing the Eiruvin, Mediations and Kashrut of Mikvaot.
Born in South Africa, Rabbi Slasky spent many years living and studying in Israel before joining the Beth Din. In Israel, he learnt in Torah Ohr Yeshiva, the Mir Yeshiva and Rav Tzvi Kushelevsky’s Yeshiva, receiving Semicha from The Chief Rabbinate of Israel, Rav Zalman Nechemiya Goldberg, and Jerusalem’s Machon Harry Fischel. He has been thoroughly trained for his role as the Beth Din’s mediator, and is also up-to-date in his knowledge of modern-day, practical applications of Halacha.
Rabbi Slasky is currently studying Dayanut though Machon Harry Fishel.
Born in South Africa, Rabbi Yosef Hazdan studied at Torah Academy. At a young age he travelled to Israel and enrolled in Tomchei Tmimim Kiryat Gat, and over the next 10 years, continued his studies in various Yeshivos across the globe. He earned his Smicha from Halachic Authorities Rav Faital Levin, Posek and author of Hamafte’ach HaGadol, Rav Eliyahu Fisher a”h, Rosh Kollel of Ger USA and from Rav Yitzchok Yehuda Yaruslavski, Av Beis Din Chabad Israel.
In 2014, Rabbi Hazdan and his family relocated to Johannesburg, where they founded Chabad Torah Institute. Through the institute’s Torah classes and educational programs, they are inspiring and fostering personal growth among a diverse range of community members, encouraging them to live with purpose and joy
Rabbi Hazdan is delighted to have joined the Beth Din to benefit the beautiful Joburg Jewish Community.
Charmaine is responsible for the legal administration of the Beth Din. This includes the efficient running of the Din Torah and mediation processes.
Prior to joining the Beth Din Charmaine practiced as an attorney. She holds a BA (LLB) from the University of the Witwatersrand as well as an Advanced Diploma in Labour Law.
Fiona manages the Beth Din’s office, assisting community members with their requests, while also overseeing the Beth Din’s various operations to keep things running smoothly. Fiona devotes time and effort to ensuring that the marriage registrations, proof of Jewishness searches and Gittin are executed efficiently and thoroughly.
