Religious leaders

Rabbi Avigdor Bokow    

Rabbi Bokow accepted a call to assume the office of Rabbi on 2 April 1995 and was inducted by Chief Rabbi Harris who described him as a "Talmud Chacham who possessed a spiritual presence and sensitivity which would have done Moshe Rabbeinu proud" 

​Rabbi Bokow was born in the USA, the son of a noted New York rav and scholar. He studied at various yeshivot and rabbinical colleges and received smicha from the well known Rav Shapiro of Be'er Yakov which was confirmed by the Mirer Yeshiva, both in Israel.

​Apart from Pine Street Shul in Johannesburg where Rabbi Bokow ministered before receiving the call to Linksfield-Senderwood, he served in various overseas communities. These were in Antwerp, Belgium, Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles and Rishon Le Zion in Israel.

Rabbi Bokow obtained his Bachelor of Education degree and is also heavily involved with the Beth Din on matters pertaining to kashrut. A genuine and sincere interest in people and dedication to his community are among the Rabbi's attributes. 

Rabbi Levi Avtzon         

(Associate Rabbi)

Rabbi Levi Avtzon was born in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn NY. He studied at the ULY and OT schools.

He studied in a Yeshiva High school followed by 4 years of Yeshiva study in NY and Israel.

He did his final year of rabbinic ordination in Milan Italy and then immediately entered his life’s passion of teaching youth in a Yeshiva High School in Cincinnati Ohio. He continued his studies in Yeshiva in NY while working part time in a online school and edited a monthly children's magazine.

After marrying his South African wife Chaya he then moved to SA in October 2010 and took on a morning teaching position in Torah Academy Boys High School, where he teaches Chumash and has introduced many innovative programmes.

In the afternoons and weekends he served as  Assistant rabbi in Chabad Of Strathavon Centre, where he focused on adult education and programming.

Levi writes a Parsha column on the Judaism website chabad.org and which has been copied into many Shul newsletters internationally to wide acclaim as well as writing in periodicals internationally. http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword_cdo/kid/15836/jewish/Levi-Avtzon.htm

He is currently in the editing stage of his first book, a guide for teens.

Every Tuesday from 1–2 pm he presents a popular weekly radio show titled ‘Farbrengen’ on ChaiFM as part of the Soul to Soul programming.

Levi has lectured in the US, Europe, Israel and SA on the beauty of Judaism, the power of teens and various subjects of interest to the listeners.  He has done Kiruv work in NY, Florida, Ohio, Oregon, Israel, Italy, Switzerland & SA and has been reaching out to Jews from his preteen days.

In the few months since he’s joined the LSHC Rabbi Levi has made a tremendous impact on the community through his interactions, his speeches and writings. He has so many exciting ideas and visions for the future which will implemented into the community in the near future. 

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Bokow

Rebbetzin Chaya Avtzon