What’s happening:
Next year, Buenos Aires will be home to the first Jewish University in South America, named the Isaac Abarbanel Jewish University Institute. The institution will be a significant expansion of the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, which has been a key center for Jewish studies and the ordination of Conservative rabbis in the region.
Why it matters:
The establishment of the Isaac Abarbanel Jewish University Institute is a historic development for Jewish education in Latin America. It represents a milestone in academic and cultural diversity, broadening the educational landscape in Argentina and offering a wide range of Jewish, religious, and ethical studies at the diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
The backdrop:
The seminary is named after Rabbi Marshall Meyer, an American who played a pivotal role in revitalizing Buenos Aires’ Conservative Jewish movement between 1958 and 1984. The seminary, since its inception by Meyer in 1962, has ordained around 110 Conservative rabbis. The university is also named in honor of the 15th-century Jewish sage Isaac Abarbanel, reflecting a deep connection to Jewish history and scholarship.
What they’re saying:
Argentina’s Education Minister Jaime Perczyk highlighted the university’s potential to enrich the country’s diversity and extend its academic offerings globally. Rabbi Ariel Stofenmacher, rector of the seminary, envisions the university as a beacon for the entire Latin American region.
The bigger picture:
This new university adds to the existing Hebrew University of Mexico as the only other Jewish higher learning institution in Latin America. The Buenos Aires university will also feature a center for the study of Hebrew manuscripts, including valuable texts from the 9th to the 15th centuries, fostering a profound engagement with Jewish heritage and thought.
Legacy and significance:
Rabbi Marshall Meyer’s legacy continues to shape Jewish life and learning in Latin America. The new university stands as a testament to his efforts and the ongoing importance of Jewish education and cultural preservation in the region.
Bottom line:
The introduction of the Isaac Abarbanel Jewish University Institute in Buenos Aires is set to be a transformative addition for Jewish and academic communities in South America, marking a new chapter in the region’s educational and cultural development.
This story was first published on jpost.com.