{{Short description|Argentine biophysicist, rabbi and author}} {{Infobox Jewish leader | honorific-prefix = Rabbi | name = Abraham Skorka | honorific-suffix = | title = | image = Rabbi Abraham Skorka - 2015.jpg | caption = Rabbi Abraham Skorka, January 2015 | synagogue = | synagogueposition = | yeshiva = | yeshivaposition = | organisation = | organisationposition = | began = | ended = | predecessor = | successor = | rabbi = | rebbe = | kohan = | hazzan = | rank = | other_post = <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|7|5|mf=yes}} | birth_place = [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina | death_date = | death_place = | yahrtzeit = | buried = | nationality = [[Argentinian]] | denomination = [[Conservative Judaism]] | residence = | dynasty = | parents = | father = | mother = | spouse = | children = | occupation = Rector of the [[Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano]] in Buenos Aires<br />Rabbi of the Jewish community ''Benei Tikva''<br />Professor of biblical and [[rabbinic literature]] at the [[Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano]] | profession = | alma_mater = | semicha = Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano | signature = }}
'''Abraham Skorka''' (born July 5, 1950) is an Argentine [[biophysicist]], [[rabbi]] and book author. He is rector emeritus of the [[Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano]] in Buenos Aires,<ref name=popebook>{{cite news|title=Pope's book co-authored with rabbi to be translated into English|url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/pope-s-book-co-authored-with-rabbi-to-be-translated-into-english-1.510696|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321013332/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/pope-s-book-co-authored-with-rabbi-to-be-translated-into-english-1.510696|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 21, 2013|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref> the rabbi of the Jewish community Benei Tikva, professor of biblical and [[rabbinic literature]] at the Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano and honorary professor of [[Hebrew Law]] at the [[Universidad del Salvador]], Buenos Aires.
==Career== Abraham Skorka held with the [[Archbishop of Buenos Aires]] [[Jorge Mario Bergoglio]], later [[Pope Francis]], a series of [[inter-religious]] talks on topics such as [[God]], [[fundamentalism]], [[atheists]], [[death]], [[holocaust]], [[homosexuality]], and [[capitalism]]. The dialogues alternately took place at the seat of the bishop and at the Jewish Community Benei Tikva. They were published in a book titled ''Sobre el Cielo y la Tierra'' (On Heaven and Earth).
In 1973 he graduated from the Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano with ordination as a rabbi.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.seminariorabinico.org.ar/nuevoSite/website/contenido.asp?sys=1&id=50 |title=Seminario Rabinico Latinamericano Rabinos Graduados |access-date=2013-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730044850/http://www.seminariorabinico.org.ar/nuevoSite/website/contenido.asp?sys=1&id=50 |archive-date=2012-07-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1979 he was awarded his doctorate in [[Chemistry]] at the [[University of Buenos Aires]]. Skorka has published scientific papers in the field of biophysics and numerous articles in the field of [[Biblical]] and [[Talmudic]] research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tematika.com/libros/humanidades--2/religion--1/cristianismo--2/sobre_el_cielo_y_la_tierra--521527.htm |title=Sobre el Cielo y la Tierra - Bergoglio - Skorka - Libros |publisher=Tematika.com |date=2010-11-17 |access-date=2013-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315210256/http://www.tematika.com/libros/humanidades--2/religion--1/cristianismo--2/sobre_el_cielo_y_la_tierra--521527.htm |archive-date=2013-03-15 }}</ref>
He received a doctorate ''[[honoris causa]]'' from the [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America]] in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.seminariorabinico.org.ar/nuevoSite/website/contenido.asp?sys=1&id=86 |title=Seminario Rabinico Latinamericano Profesores |access-date=2013-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313065256/http://www.seminariorabinico.org.ar/nuevoSite/website/contenido.asp?sys=1&id=86 |archive-date=2009-03-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2010 the [[Universidad Católica Argentina]] awarded him a doctorate ''[[honoris causa]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uca.edu.ar/uca/common/grupo81/files/Discurso_Rector_UCA.pdf|title = UCA}}</ref> the first time in [[Latin America]] that a Catholic university gave this title to a rabbi.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1519458-doctorado-honoris-causa-de-la-uca-para-el-rabino-skorka|title=Doctorado honoris causa de la UCA para el rabino Skorka - LA NACION|newspaper=La Nación|access-date=2013-03-24|archive-date=2017-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112042/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1519458-doctorado-honoris-causa-de-la-uca-para-el-rabino-skorka|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In May 2017, Skorka published an approbation in regards to the [[Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation#Orthodox Rabbinic Statement on Christianity|Orthodox Rabbinic Statement on Christianity]] entitled ''[[To Do the Will of Our Father in Heaven: Toward a Partnership between Jews and Christians]]'' which was published two years beforehand by the [[Israel]]-based [[Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation]] (CJCUC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cjcuc.org/2015/12/03/orthodox-rabbinic-statement-on-christianity/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529120717/http://cjcuc.org/2015/12/03/orthodox-rabbinic-statement-on-christianity/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 29, 2017|title=ORTHODOX RABBINIC STATEMENT ON CHRISTIANITY|publisher=[[Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation]]|date=3 December 2015|access-date=13 June 2017}}</ref>
In 2018–2019, he serves as Visiting University Professor at the Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On 10 May 2023, [[University of Trnava]] conferred an [[honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] in [[theology]] on Skorka for his "contributions to [[Judeo-Christian relations|Judeo-Christian dialogue]], [[interfaith dialogue]] and tolerance in science and pedagogy".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Udelili sme čestný doktorát Abrahamovi Skorkovi {{!}} Trnavská univerzita v Trnave {{!}} TRUNI |url=https://www.truni.sk/news/cestny-doktorat-trnava-abraham-skorka |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=www.truni.sk |language=sk}}</ref> Skorka was congratulated and greeted by [[Pope Francis]] on this occasions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=Pápež vyjadril radosť z udelenia čestného doktorátu rabínovi Skorkovi v Trnave - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/sk/svet/news/2023-05/papez-vyjadril-radost-z-udelenia-cestneho-doktoratu-rabinovi-sko.html |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=www.vaticannews.va |language=sk}}</ref>
=== Works === Books * ''Miles de años por semana : vision actual de la lectura de la Torah''. 1997 * co-author and editor: ''Introducción al Derecho Hebreo''. 2001, {{ISBN|978-9502312002}} * ''Hacia un mañana sin fe''? 2007, Ediciones Asamblea Rabinica Latinoameriana, {{ISBN|978-9875506374}} * [[Jorge Mario Bergoglio]], Abraham Skorka: ''Sobre el Cielo y la Tierra''. Editorial Sudamericana, Buenos Aires 2010, {{ISBN|9789500732932}}. Translated into English as [[On Heaven and Earth]]. * He wrote the foreword to the 2020 book, ''Jesus Wasn't Killed by the Jews'', Orbis Books.
Cassette * "''[[Maimonides]]' Laws of Giving to the Poor''", Rabbi Abraham Skorka, [[Rabbinical Assembly]], 2000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beki.org/tapes.html |title=Judaic Lecture Audio Cassette Tape Collection at the Rosenkrantz Family Library at Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel |publisher=Beki.org |date=2007-12-07 |access-date=2013-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206005403/http://www.beki.org/tapes.html |archive-date=2013-12-06 }}</ref> Articles published in La Nacion (selection) * [https://archive.today/20130408174608/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/15484g10-de-la-muerte-de-dios-a-la-muerte-de-lo-humano De la muerte de Dios a la muerte de lo humano] * [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1083834-dialogo-profundo-en-un-mundo-inconexo Diálogo profundo en un mundo inconexo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326030009/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1083834-dialogo-profundo-en-un-mundo-inconexo |date=2015-03-26 }} * [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/722306-de-fuenteovejuna-a-pasteur-633 De Fuenteovejuna a Pasteur 633] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328232532/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/722306-de-fuenteovejuna-a-pasteur-633 |date=2015-03-28 }} * [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/897579-de-la-cena-pascual-a-la-eucaristia De la cena pascual a la eucaristía] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331040130/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/897579-de-la-cena-pascual-a-la-eucaristia |date=2015-03-31 }} * [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/750985-a-cuarenta-anos-de-nostra-aetate A cuarenta años de Nostra Aetate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330051745/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/750985-a-cuarenta-anos-de-nostra-aetate |date=2014-03-30 }} * [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/797274-libertad-e-idolatria-en-el-relato-de-la-pascua Libertad e idolatría en el relato de la Pascua] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084214/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/797274-libertad-e-idolatria-en-el-relato-de-la-pascua |date=2016-03-04 }} * [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/482355-la-vision-de-la-biblia-sobre-la-paz La visión de la Biblia sobre la paz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225321/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/482355-la-vision-de-la-biblia-sobre-la-paz |date=2018-05-04 }} * [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/59533-a-la-sombra-del-golem A la sombra del golem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316155412/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/59533-a-la-sombra-del-golem |date=2016-03-16 }} * [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/349812-sacrificios-que-no-acercan-a-dios Sacrificios que no acercan a Dios] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173348/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/349812-sacrificios-que-no-acercan-a-dios |date=2016-03-03 }} * [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/331874-el-dialogo-interreligioso El diálogo interreligioso] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328230948/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/331874-el-dialogo-interreligioso |date=2015-03-28 }} Articles
Skorka, Abraham. 2023. "In Search of God: A Desperate View of the Conflicts of the Present." ''[https://www.spirituality-studies.org Spirituality Studies]'' 9 (2): 54–59. https://www.spirituality-studies.org/dp-volume9-issue2-fall2023/54/
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}} *[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1326530-aportes-del-dialogo-interreligioso Excerpts from the book ''Sobre el Cielo y la Tierra'' of Skorka and Bergoglio in Spanish: ''Aportes del diálogo interreligioso'' on Lanacion.com.ar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026180815/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1326530-aportes-del-dialogo-interreligioso |date=2012-10-26 }}
Videos *{{YouTube|id=DvVPsOgzBrg#t=10m41s|title=Pope Francis and the Jews. Rabbi Abraham Skorka, rector and professor of Biblical and Rabbinic Literature at the Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano, speaks about his longtime dialogue partner and friend, Pope Francis, at The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)}}. (en), (The speech begins at 10.41) *{{YouTube|6X8as-oMja8|Abraham Skorka: La creación del cosmos}}, (es) *{{YouTube|57qlSC83vRI|Report on the award of Honorary Doctor of the Universidad Católica Argentina to Abraham Skorka}}, (es)
Pictures *[https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.427976973932443.103624.215908951805914&type=3 Entrega al Rab. Abraham Skorka del Doctorado Honoris Causa.]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Skorka, Abraham}} [[Category:People from Buenos Aires]] [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:Argentine Conservative rabbis]] [[Category:Biophysicists]] [[Category:Argentine physicists]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Argentine chemists]] [[Category:Jewish scientists]] [[Category:Jewish Argentine writers]] [[Category:University of Buenos Aires alumni]] [[Category:Hebraists]] [[Category:Pope Francis]] [[Category:Jewish Theological Seminary of America alumni]] [[Category:Christian and Jewish interfaith dialogue]] [[Category:Rectors of universities in Argentina]]