The Cardinal Bea Centre for Jewish Studies, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary and the Abarbanel Institute, both based in Buenos Aires, are sponsoring the 21st Annual Brenninkmeijer-Werhahn Conference in commemoration of Abraham J. Heschel on the 50th anniversary of his death. The event, entitled “Shaped by the Other. Abraham Heschel, a Common Teacher Beyond Time and Space”, will be held on Tuesday 29 November 2022, 5pm CET, at the Aula Magna of the Pontifical Gregorian University.
After the salutations by Fr. Mark Lewis SJ, Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University, and Rabbi Ariel Stofenmacher, Rector of the Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano, speakers will include internationally renowned figures from both the Catholic and Jewish worlds: Prof. Benjamin Pollock (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), the daughter of the celebrated scholar, Prof. Susannah Heschel (Darmouth College - Hanover, USA), and Archbishop Giacomo Morandi (Bishop of Reggio Emilia - Guastalla).
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel is a widely read Jewish theologian whose most influential works include «Man Is Not Alone», «God in Search of Man», «The Sabbath», and «The Prophets». He played an important role during the Second Vatican Council as an instructive example for Jewish-Catholic dialogue today. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, Abraham Heschel had a long history of collaboration between Jews and Catholics and other Christians in France, Central Europe, Great Britain, and the United States. Without Heschel’s prophetic voice and his relationship with Cardinal Augustine Bea, it would be very difficult to imagine the existence of Nostra Aetate and the positive subsequent developments that we are witnessing today.
The 21st annual Brenninkmeijer-Werhahn Lecture has a close correspondence with the commemoration of the 50thyear of the death of Abraham Heschel. Inspired by his far-reaching vision the Pontifical Gregorian University’s Cardinal Bea Centre for Judaic Studies wishes to be part of the legacy of such a teacher and master. As a Catholic university the Centre is committed to collaborating with Jewish institutions in order to increase the opportunities for shared study and building and consolidating meaningful friendships.
The lecture will be in both English and Italian and simultaneous translation will be provided. The event is free and open to the public, subject to registration on the website www.unigre.it until November 28th. There is also live streaming on the @UniGregoriana YouTube channel.
For more information: [email protected]
ACCREDITATION PROCEDURE
Journalists and media operators must apply, no less than 24 hours before the event, through the Holy See Press Office online accreditation System available at: press.vatican.va/accreditamenti