Sergio Bergman is an
Argentine
Argentines (mistakenly translated Argentineans in the past; in Spanish (masculine) or (feminine)) are people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, s ...
rabbi
A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...
,
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
, pharmacist, writer, and social activist. In 2015, he was appointed as Minister in
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previou ...
's
cabinet
Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to:
Furniture
* Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers
* Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets
* Filing ...
, in the newly elevated
Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests ( ro, Ministerul Mediului, Apelor și Pădurilor) is one of the ministries of the Government of Romania. It was created in 1991. The institution was known as the Ministry of Environment and Waters ...
.
In 2018, the Ministry was demoted back to Government Secretariat, and Bergman remained in charge as Secretary of the Environment, a position he held until 2019.
Bergman serves as rabbi of the
synagogue of the Congregación Israelita Argentina. He is CEO of Judaica Foundation and president of Argentina Ciudadana Foundation, as well as executive director of Action Network and Community Initiatives for Social Enterprise.
On May 11, 2020, the
World Union for Progressive Judaism
The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) is the international umbrella organization for the various branches of Reform, Liberal and Progressive Judaism, as well as the separate Reconstructionist Judaism. The WUPJ is based in 40 countries ...
announced that Rabbi Bergman would become its new president effective June 1, 2020, transitioning from Ambassador
Rabbi David Saperstein who completes his year-long term.
Education
Bergman graduated from the
Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry,
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires ( es, Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA) is a public university, public research university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Established in 1821, it is the premier institution of higher learning in the country and one o ...
. He received his rabbinical ordination in 1992, graduating from Marshall Meyer Latin American Rabbinical Seminary of Buenos Aires and the
Jewish Institute of Religion
The Jewish Institute of Religion was an educational establishment created by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise in 1922 in New York City. While generally incorporating Reform Judaism, it was separate from the previously established Hebrew Union College. It ...
in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
. He is an advisor and consultant to many communities and Israeli societies and a founding member of Cabildo Abierto Ciudadano.
In 1994 he returned to
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
and through the Judaica Foundation created the community school Fern. Arlene was one of the founders and a member of Activa. Memory From 2001 took over as rabbi of Temple Freedom.
Bergman made various postgraduate courses in foreign universities: Master of Education, graduated summa cum laude, at the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI; he, הַאוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה הַעִבְרִית בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם) is a public research university based in Jerusalem, Israel. Co-founded by Albert Einstein and Dr. Chaim Weiz ...
; Master of Rabbinic Literature at the
Jewish Institute of Religion
The Jewish Institute of Religion was an educational establishment created by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise in 1922 in New York City. While generally incorporating Reform Judaism, it was separate from the previously established Hebrew Union College. It ...
in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
; and MA in Jewish Studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Bergman is a liberal rabbi, committed follower of the human rights tradition of
Marshall Meyer
Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer (March 25, 1930 – December 29, 1993) was an American Conservative rabbi who became a recognized international human rights activist while living and working in Argentina from 1958 to 1984, during the period of the "Dirty ...
.
Argentina Ciudadana
Rabbi Sergio Bergman is founder of ''Argentina Ciudadana'' (Civic Argentina), an organization that promotes:
*A republican, representative, federal, just and united country.
*The integral development of communities (spiritual capital, social, civic values and economic development) preserving the dignity of all people.
*The existence of policies that consider the needs of all sectors of the community and to enable the development of sources of genuine, sustainable and decent work.
*The active citizen commitment to the future of our country. Restore equity between the private and the public.
*Exercise participation and active control in the joint management and monitoring of public policies.
Political views
He held a criticism of the administration of former President
Nestor Kirchner
Nestor may refer to:
* Nestor (mythology), King of Pylos in Greek mythology
Arts and entertainment
* "Nestor" (''Ulysses'' episode) an episode in James Joyce's novel ''Ulysses''
* Nestor Studios, first-ever motion picture studio in Hollywood, ...
and former President
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
Cristina is a female given name, and it is also a surname. Notable people with the name include:
Given name
*Cristina (daughter of Edward the Exile), 11th-century English princess
*Cristina (singer), Cristina Monet-Palaci (1956–2020), American s ...
position. It is a strong critic of both the government and Kirchner Argentine Jewish institutions.
Minister of Environment
During
Kirchnerism
Kirchnerism ( es, Kirchnerismo ) is an Argentine political movement based on populist ideals formed by the supporters of Néstor Kirchner and his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who consecutively served as Presidents of Argentina. Althoug ...
, Argentina was aligned with the countries of the
Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America
''Alba'' ( , ) is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. It is also, in English language historiography, used to refer to the polity of Picts and Scots united in the ninth century as the Kingdom of Alba, until it developed into the Kingdom ...
(ALBA), which questioned the reports produced by the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
on
climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...
. In December 2015, environmental policy aligned with global and contemporary economies
During its management, nine parks and protected areas were created, such as Aconquija National Park, the
Iberá National Park, and the Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park. Six of those were created in 2018: it was the registry for the creation of national parks and protected areas in one year.
He relaunched the national park ranger training course, which was closed since 2012.
It tripled the protected area throughout the country and increased the protection of our sea to 7% with the creation of Yaganes and Namuncurá Banco Burdwood II marine parks.
World Union for Progressive Judaism
In 2020, Bergman became president of the
World Union for Progressive Judaism
The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) is the international umbrella organization for the various branches of Reform, Liberal and Progressive Judaism, as well as the separate Reconstructionist Judaism. The WUPJ is based in 40 countries ...
(WUPJ), the first WUPJ president from South America.
He defined four priorities for the WUPJ:
* The Jewish Effective Giving Initiative, which inspires Jewish leaders (such as
rabbi
A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...
s) to inform their communities about charities that cost-effectively save lives and improve health in the developing world. It is meant to be a bridge between
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its ethical aspects to its ceremonial ones, and belief in a continuous searc ...
and
effective altruism
Effective altruism is a philosophical and social movement that advocates "using evidence and reason to figure out how to benefit others as much as possible, and taking action on that basis". People who pursue the goals of effective altruism, c ...
and further
tikkun olam
''Tikkun olam'' ( he, תִּיקּוּן עוֹלָם, , repair of the world) is a concept in Judaism, which refers to various forms of action intended to repair and improve the world.
In classical rabbinic literature, the phrase referred to leg ...
.
* Hebrew 2030, an effort to have
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
be the primary working language of the WUPJ by 2030, in order to foster connections to Israel.
* Values Education, educational programs to reach unaffiliated young Jews and bring them into
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its ethical aspects to its ceremonial ones, and belief in a continuous searc ...
.
* Israeli by Choice, an effort for
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
to provide all Jews with citizenship, without having to immigrate or make
aliyah
Aliyah (, ; he, עֲלִיָּה ''ʿălīyyā'', ) is the immigration of Jews from Jewish diaspora, the diaspora to, historically, the geographical Land of Israel, which is in the modern era chiefly represented by the Israel, State of Israel ...
but also not having voting rights unless one lives there.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bergman, Sergio
1962 births
Living people
Argentine Jews
Argentine activists
Argentine Conservative rabbis
Argentine pharmacists
Jewish Argentine politicians
Jewish Argentine writers
People associated with effective altruism
Politicians from Buenos Aires
Republican Proposal politicians
University of Buenos Aires alumni
Members of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies elected in Buenos Aires
Environment ministers of Argentina