Velvy Bokow – Board member
Velvy grew up in South Africa and after completing A-Levels and high school he furthered his Jewish and religious studies in various yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, England and South Africa.
Velvy is passionate about the needs of the community and this has been manifest in his work formerly at Arachim SA as it’s program and project manager then subsequently founding and directing Yesh Camp SA for over a decade all the while maintaining his involvements in kashrus as a mashgiach having qualified under the UOS and thereafter with AKO.
Velvy is also an accomplished and certified Shatnez Tester. Velvy founded Shatnez Lab SA with his father Rabbi Avigdor Bokow. Velvy qualified through both his father and Rav Yosef Sayagh of Shatnez Lab International Headquarters in Lakewood New Jersey.
Peter Mechanic – Food Technologist
Peter has over 40 years experience as a qualified pharmacist and food technologist.
Prior to moving to the KCSA, Peter’s main role at the Johannesburg BD Kashrus department was certifying kosher applications and in depth research of ingredients. Peter worked very closely with Dayan Boruch Rappaport , Rabbi Yossi Baumgarten and Rabbi Mendel Liberow.
Peter now brings his vast wealth of knowledge and experience to Kosher Certified South Africa.
Peter is professional and his methodical manner and his positive relationships with factories and consumers makes Peter an asset to the team. Peter has extensive international reach with other kashrus agencies and this makes verification for many products all the easier.
Aharon Bogatie – Kosher Supervisor
Aharon Bogatie grew up in Johannesburg and studied in Yeshiva Tiferes Yaakov in South Africa after completing Matric at Mesivta Shaarei Torah.
Having completed the mashgiach – kosher supervisor – qualification Aharon has 7 years of hashgocha experience in various fields of kashrus ranging from wine making, production, restaurants establishments and kosher safari trips.
Rabbi Avigdor Bokow – Rav HaMachshir
At the early age of 24 Rabbi Avigdor Bokow worked with the late Rabbi Berel Levy Of Blessed Memory, at the beginning of internationally acclaimed OK Laboratory Of KASHRUS.
Coming to South Africa in 1983, a few years on as Rabbi of Pine Street Shul, Rabbi Avigdor Bokow began working with the Beis Din of the Union Of Orthodox Synagogues in mediation & kashrus. Rabbi Avigdor Bokow took a position with the Mehadrin Commission as a Supervisor in kashrus. Rabbi Avigdor Bokow toured the world studying the different methods of Kashrus in London, Israel, & the USA. He continued in kashrus for over 30 years and was instrumental in teaching mashgichim the art of lung & tendon checking.