Yakov Nagen

Yakov Meir Nagen

January 11, 2011
Born (1967-06-17)June 17, 1967 (9 Sivan 5727)
Manhattan, New York, United States
Spouse(s) Michal Nagen
Children 7
Parent(s) Azriel Genack (f) Ahuva Genack (m)

Rabbi Dr. Yakov Meir Nagen (born June 17, 1967; Hebrew: יעקב מאיר נגן) is an Israeli Rabbi and author. Nagen teaches at Yeshivat Otniel and has written extensively about Jewish Philosophy and Talmud. He is active in interfaith peace initiatives between Judaism and Islam and in encounters between Judaism and Eastern religions.

Biography

Early life

Nagen was born in Manhattan, New York to Azriel and Ahuva Genack. After completing high school in the United States, he studied in Israel at Yeshivat Shaalvim. Nagen returned to the US to study at Yeshiva University where he received a bachelor's degree in Judaic studies and a master's degree in Jewish history in addition to rabbinic ordination. In 1993 he moved to Israel and studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion and in 1997 joined the faculty at Yeshivat Otniel.

In 2004 Nagen received a doctoral degree in Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University. His dissertation dealt with the interplay between Halacha and Aggada, Kabbala and philosophy in the context of the holiday of Sukkot.

Interfaith activity

In 2006, Nagen traveled to India in the context of his research about the relationship between Judaism and eastern spirituality. Nagen is a leader in interfaith encounters in Israel and the Palestinian Authority between Jewish and Muslim leaders.[1] In wake of his colleague, Rabbi Menachem Froman, Nagen believes that as religion is at the heart of the problem in the conflicts in the Middle East, religion must also be part of the solution.

Through the Interfaith Encounter Association (IEA) he coordinates a group of West Bank Rabbis that meet regularly with Muslim Sheiks and Imam's, mostly from the Hebron and Ramallah areas. He is active as well in the Abrahamic Reunion, composes of representatives of the four Abrahamic religions - Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze dedicated to promoting peace in the Middle East.[2] Nagen was a representative of the organization at the World Parliament of Religions in 2015 at Salt Lake City.

After the murder of the Dawabsheh family in Duma, Nagen was an organizer of the prayer vigal for the victims and outcry against the violence.[3]

In March 2016 Nagen visited Al-Azhar University in Cairo and Fayuum to promote mutual respect between Islamic and Judaism.[4]

In 2016 Nagen was profiled in Tablet Magazine as one of the 10 "Israeli Rabbis You Should Know".[5]

Nagen is also a member of the Tzohar and Beit Hillel organizations, Rabbinical organizations that focus on the relations between the Religious and secular communities in Israel.

Personal life

In 1993 Nagen married Michal, head of the pre-army seminary Tzahali and daughter of Professor Uriel Simon. The couple lives in Otniel, Israel and have seven children.

Published works (Hebrew)

References

  1. ↑ We are all God's children, ynet, 09.10.14
  2. ↑ Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen, abrahamicreunion.org
  3. ↑ Settlers gather for interfaith vigil, but find few Palestinian takers, the times of israel, August 2, 2015
  4. ↑ For West Bank rabbi, a rare and risky trip to Cairo’s ivory tower of Islam, the times of israel, April 15, 2016
  5. ↑ Israeli Rabbis You Should Know, Tablet Magazine,
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