Members of the Regulatory Board
The Regulatory Board has been appointed by The Chief Rabbi and the Beth Din and consists of a Legal Counsel, a Medical Officer, an expert Mohel, a Medical Advisor/ practicing Mohel, a representative of the Beth Din and a Chairperson.
Expert Mohel
Durban,Members of the board
Rabbi Dr Pinhas Zekry | MA-DLitt et Phil
email: [email protected]
Rabbi Dr Pinhas Zekry has been the spiritual leader of Durban United Hebrew Congregation for the past 33 years. He is a qualified Mohel and Member of the SA Rabbinical Conversion Committee and a member of the Rabbinical Council of America.
Legal Counsel
Members of the board
Advocate Natie Segal | BA LLB Wits; LLM London
email: [email protected]
Adv Natie Segal is a practicing advocate in Johannesburg. He holds a BA LLB Wits; LLM London.
He was admitted as an advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa (now the High Court of South Africa) in August 1979 and to the Johannesburg Bar in November 1979.
Medical Officer
Members of the board
Dr Reuven Jacks | MBChB (UCT); FCS (SA); Cert. Trauma Surgery (SA)
email: [email protected]
Dr Reuven Jacks is a Specialist Trauma Surgeon, the Deputy Head of Trauma Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand/Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and a Trauma Surgeon at Netcare Milpark Hospital, an academic Level 1 Trauma Unit. He is also the Medical Director of Hatzolah Medical Rescue. Dr Jacks spent more than a year and a half training in paediatric surgery, during which he had special interest in paediatric trauma and in circumcision and its techniques. He has lectured on the subject of circumcision to GPs, surgeons and paediatricians.
Mohel and Medical Advisor
Members of the board
Dr Joseph Spitzer | MB BS, DCCH, DRCOG, FRCGP
email: [email protected]
Dr Joseph Spitzer, studied at Gateshead Talmudical College following which he studied medicine at Kings College Hospital Medical School in London. He is currently a full time general medical practitioner (GP) in Stamford Hill, North London. Dr Spitzer is an honorary senior clinical lecturer in general practice and primary care at Barts and the London Queen Mary University School of Medicine and Dentistry. He is author of “A Guide to the Orthodox Jewish Way of Life for Healthcare Professionals” and “Caring for Jewish Patients”, reflecting his interest in trans-cultural medicine. Dr Spitzer qualified as a mohel in 1981 and has performed many thousands of britot since. In 2003, he became the Medical Officer of the Initiation Society and has since been involved with the training and continuing education of mohelim . He ensures the maintenance of standards of all mohelim registered with the Initiation Society. Dr Spitzer instituted and organises the Initiation Society’s annual conference of mohelim to enable them to meet, exchange ideas and maintain the highest standards. His “Handbook for Mohelim” has been translated into several languages. He is f consulted by mohelim from around the world.
Beth Din Representative
Members of the board
Rabbi Anton Klein
email: [email protected]
Rabbi Klein received his smicha from Rabbi Azriel Goldfein in 1999 and spent 8 years learning under Rabbi Grossnas at Kollel Yad Shaul. Rabbi Klein successfully completed the Beth Din Dayanut program in 2011. He joined the Union of Orthodox Synagogues (UOS) in 2006 as Director of the (South African)Beth Din where he administered the Dinei Torah department and acted as an ad-hoc Dayan for 10 years. Rabbi Klein is now responsible for governing several aspects of community life on behalf of the Beth Din and Chief Rabbi including: Eiruvin; Mikvaot; regulating the Sefer Torah, Tefillin and Mezuza industry; Brit Milah and supervising halachic compliance of the CSO (Community Security Organisation).
Chairperson
Members of the board
Dr Richard Friedland | BVSc, MBBCh, MBA, Dip Fin Man
email: [email protected]
Dr Richard Friedland is Chief Executive Officer of Netcare Limited. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Chevrah Kadisha and its ManCo. Dr Friedland is also a volunteer for the CSO and for ZAKA International Rescue SA .