Rabbi Katz attended the Johannesburg Yeshiva College High School and studied in the Kerem B'Yavneh Yeshiva Hesder program, including army service with the Armored Corps.  During those years he participated in the Yom Kippur war and the "Sh'lom Hagalil" operation.

In 1982 he continued his rabbinical studies at the Mevasseret Zion Kollel and Yeshivat Mir in Jerusalem  and was awarded his rabbinical diploma from the Israel Chief Rabbinate. 

He answered the call to our community in 2004.

Ora Katz was born and brought up in Pretoria. After finishing her high school studies, she came to Brovender’s and Michlala in Jerusalem for a year and then returned to South Africa.   Ora completed a degree in Philosophy and a Master's degree in Speech Therapy in America. Whilst there she attended a full-time women’s kollel.