Our Leadership

As a self-proclaimed workaholic, Yossi’s dedication as Managing Director of Torah Academy is the stuff of legends. It seems impossible but somehow, almost every day, he manages to read and sit down to dinner with his children. We don’t know how it’s possible, but what we do know is that if you ever spot Yossi on campus, he’s often a blur, because he walks fast. Maybe that’s why he’s never been to the gym in his life. There’s a lot we don’t know about Yossi, but here’s some of what we do know.

Yossi Liberow was raised just 60 km from Johannesburg, in Springs, South Africa. As the children of the Chabad Shluchim, Yossi and his seven siblings travelled daily to school at Torah Academy. His family’s dedication to a Torah Academy education while living so far meant that throughout his school career Yossi travelled 250,000 km to and from school. Perhaps this is what sparked his dream of flying to school in a helicopter every morning, his penchant for fast driving, or his desire to have every type of license in the world.

After attending Yeshiva in Johannesburg, Yossi continued his studies at Yeshivas Lubavitch Manchester, Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Kiryat Gat in Israel, and the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, New Jersey. Yossi spent his final year in Yeshiva on Shlichus in Yeshivas Ohr Elchonon in Los Angeles, where he was charged with learning with and guiding the younger students. After his marriage, Yossi lived in Israel and received Smicha in Yerushalayim.

Yossi, together with his wife Chaya, are the proud parents of beautiful children, all of whom attend Torah Academy. In the summer, Yossi can often be spotted water skiing on the Vaal river with his kids, passing on his love for adventure to the next generation.

From the time he was a teenager, Yossi was a passionate student of the world, learning business tips from continuous research and encounters. Yossi began his business career at age 7, cleaning erasers for cash in Grade 1, and at 15, he began selling Schach. At age 22, he became a customer service consultant for Aquazania and later its COO. In 2012, he joined Aquaspresso, a coffee business servicing customers across South Africa. In 2018, he was instrumental in the sale of Aquazania to the Bidvest Group.

In 2020, Yossi moved to his current position motivated by the opportunity to make long-lasting and impactful changes that create a difference within the community. Yossi dreams of supporting the greater Johannesburg community in every way, and is incredibly sensitive to the welfare of people.

Yossi is intentional, innovative, organised, and goal-oriented, and his care and concern for every student and staff has transformed the energy and growth in the school.

Rabbi Dovid Hazdan was born in 1958 in Warmbaths where his father served as Rabbi and Shochet. In Grade 4, he attended the inaugural year of the Menorah Primary School (later Yeshiva College).

He continued his studies in Kfar Chabad, Israel; New Haven, Connecticut; and Brooklyn and received Rabbinic ordination and a Bachelor of Religious Education (BRE) in 1982.

Between 1978 and 1981 he ran a summer day camp in Encino California and founded a Jewish Centre in North Hollywood, California in 1980, and envisioned settling there permanently after marriage. In 1982 he married his wife Feige. After completing a further year of studies, they considered various options in Jewish Communal work which they saw as their calling. When they wrote to the Rebbe with various options, including the Chabad in North Hollywood which Rabbi Hazdan was running remotely, the Rebbe indicated that he should give preference to Torah Academy.

In 1983, Rabbi Hazdan moved to South Africa and was appointed principal of the Torah Academy Boys High, which had about 16 boys. He remained in the Boys High until he assumed the position as Dean of Torah Academy in 2000.

In 1989 he assumed the additional position of Rabbi of the Great Synagogue on Wolmarans Street in downtown Joburg Shul. For the next five years, he would walk to downtown Joburg, keeping the shul afloat. When that location closed, Rabbi Hazdan moved the shul to his backyard in Oaklands. This became the vibrant Great Park Shul.

Rabbi Hazdan is a beloved communal leader with many seeking him out for spiritual guidance and family counselling. He is a gifted public speaker, and community builder.

In 1998, Rabbi Hazdan launched a bridge-building project called Cycalive with students from Torah Academy along with students from Soweto. Cyclive is now an official Mandela Day Event and helps build tolerance and understanding between students of different religions, cultures and backgrounds. Funds that have been raised have made a significant difference to the participating schools.

Rabbi Hazdan is deeply involved in many initiatives supporting those less advantaged, and is a board member of Afrika Tikkun. In 2014, Rabbi Hazdan was awarded the Kia Community Award for his work with Cycalive, Afrika Tikkun and all of his work in the Jewish community.

Rabbi Hazdan is passionate about Torah Academy, and loves the diversity and soul that is so prevalent at the school. He likes to problem solve, give solutions to challenges, tries to find new approaches to develop the values of our Torahs.

In his position as Dean, Rabbi Hazdan is in charge of the chinuch elements of the school, and connects with the principals of each of the schools to share ideas about vision, purpose and direction. As the proud grandfather of many Torah Academy students, he is delighted to be moving towards a future of possibility at Torah Academy.

Leah was born and raised in Crown Heights, New York, and in true New York style does everything at high speed. From an early age, she was inspired by her parents' dedication to Jewish education; her mother as principal of Bais Rivka for over two and half decades, and her father as the founder of Heichel Menachem. Leah always dreamed of being a teacher, and at age six, converted her basement into a little classroom, using items from her mother’s school, including lesson plan books, old desks, chalkboards, and attendance registers. Her siblings fondly, or not so fondly, reminisce about having to call their sister “Morah Leah'' while spending hours at her “school”.

As a teenager, Leah spent her summers as a counselor and head counselor in the day and overnight camps across the United States. Leah’s guitar playing and love of singing earned her a spot in many school and camp productions. After graduating from Bais Rivka High School, Leah attended seminary in Tzfat and then returned to New York, continuing her studies in seminary.

Leah is famous for her ability to juggle multiple responsibilities at once and began practicing this skill on her return to New York, working as a dorm counselor for high school girls, as a Hebrew school teacher in New York and Connecticut, all while studying for her Bachelor’s in education, and working as a teacher for a preschool in Riverdale, NY.

Leah loved helping others discover the wonder of Hashem and soon realized that preschool was her passion. She was inspired daily watching young children develop their ability to understand the world around them and their own independent thinking.

In 2010, Leah and her husband Levi crossed the ocean and moved to South Africa. Leah immediately began making an impact on the South African Jewish community, founding and directing the Friendship Circle, an organization for children with special needs and their families while teaching Pre grade at Torah Academy Nursery School. She is a noted kallah teacher and teaching brides is a particular passion of hers. She is the Rebbetzin of the Shul at Hyde Park, and the mother of a beautiful family. Her home is constantly open to guests and she loves to feed people. Leah manages everything on her plate with ease, with a smile on her face and a cup of coffee in her hand.

In 2019 Leah took over the reins as principal of the Torah Academy Nursery School, bringing her organizational skills, creativity, and a deep sense of his kashrus to invigorate the school. Luckily for her, 5 of her 12 siblings are preschool directors, and all of them are involved in Jewish education and outreach around the world, in places as far-flung as Bogota, Columbia, and Alaska, USA.

Loving chocolate, candies, and anything sweet, Leah brings a sweetness to Torah and Mitzvos. She is passionate about finding the talents in every single child - from more conventional talents to obscure and out-of-the-box ones.

Her wisdom, wit, and warmth created a culture of growth in the nursery school. Leah is continuously inspired by her students' sense of wonder and strives to cultivate a school community where differences are celebrated and every child has the opportunity to shine. Her passion for inspiring each child’s unique connection with G-d, Torah, and Mitzvos is evident throughout the school. 

Sara Bronstein was born and raised in Johannesburg and was educated at Torah Academy all the way through Nursery, Primary, and High School. During her school career, Sara enjoyed leadership opportunities and ran the Girls Organisation at Torah Academy Girls High. She directed local and international youth and teen camps, further developing her leadership skills.

Following matric, Sara attended the Beis Menachem Seminary in Montreal, Canada, and Beis Chana Seminary in Tzfat, completing a Diploma Course in Advanced Jewish Studies and Teacher Training. Sara’s passion for learning Chassidus was sparked while in seminary, and she has remained a devoted student of Chassidus. Sara is an enthusiastic learner and is constantly working on self-development, through courses, lectures, and books.

While on shlichus in the USA, Sara began her studies towards her BBA degree (Bachelor of Business Administration) through UNISA, specializing in Industrial Psychology. Sara worked for communities in Malibu, California; Bal Harbour, Florida; and Manalapan, New Jersey. Her responsibilities included running Hebrew school, adult education classes, and Shabbos and Yom Tov programs.

Before returning to South Africa, Sara spent four years working in and managing a real estate office in New York. After several years of teaching at Torah Academy, she was appointed principal of the Torah Academy Nursery School in 2011. She spent eight years transforming the Nursery School into a premier Jewish nursery school in the country before moving up to the position of Principal in Primary School.

Sara was raised in a musical home and music remains one of her passions, along with health, nutrition, sports, and fitness. Sara and her husband Chaim are the proud parents of beautiful children, all of whom attend Torah Academy.

Rebecca Sarchi was born in London, and made aliyah at the age of 12, living just outside of Netanya. While in Israel, Rebecca was exceptionally involved in Bnei Akiva, walking over an hour every Shabbos afternoon to attend the gatherings. Rebecca came to South Africa for the first time at age 18 and continued working for Jewish youth organizations. She was Rosh Gurim as well as a madrich in Bnei Akiva South Africa. She was also a counselor at Camp Gan Yisroel in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Her ultimate December holiday remains in Israel, where she feels the most connected and at home.

After completing high school, Rebecca attended Orot, a religious teacher college in Jerusalem, and studied nursery school teaching. She taught in a Gan in the Old City in Jerusalem, and upon her return to South Africa, studied a Bachelors of Education through Unisa - majoring in education and communications. She loves learning and enjoys reading books of all types.

Rebecca began her teaching career in 1984 as an assistant in the Torah Academy Nursery School. She then became a class teacher in the nursery school before moving to grade one, and teaching in various positions in the primary school and boys high. After a crash course in Yiddish, Rebecca even taught Cheder. Rebecca then discovered her happy place in the girl's high, teaching there for many years before assuming the position of principal in 2000.

Her belief in every student and her ability to make students believe in themselves and succeed has created a culture of growth and possibility in Girls High. Her office is full of inspirational quotes and photos of her surrounded by her high school students, who can often be found in her office having passionate discussions with Morah. In her free time, Rebecca can often be spotted having coffee with her old students, remaining a confidant and friend for life.

Rebecca is a devoted mother and grandmother and loves spending time with her family. She can often be seen picking up her grandchildren from school. Her home is open to all, and after raising 4 teenage boys and twin daughters she can whip up a meal for 40 in a flash. Rebecca is an excellent cook, and she admits this is probably because she loves to eat.

Rebecca is adventurous and loves swimming and walking. She is passionate about Chinuch and is grateful that she can guide her students through this unique stage of life during their high school years. Rebecca has created a nurturing haven of love in the Girls High with a diverse student body, allowing each student to be an individual who is given the tools to blossom.