Henry Sobel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Sobel
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Sobel in 2006
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| Born |
Henry Isaac Sobel
9 January 1944 |
| Died | 22 November 2019 (aged 75) |
| Occupation | Rabbi |
Henry Isaac Sobel (born in Lisbon, Portugal, on January 9, 1944 – died in Miami, Florida, on November 22, 2019) was an important rabbi from Portugal and the United States. He was a leader of the Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP), a large Jewish community in São Paulo, Brazil.
Contents
Early Life and Becoming a Rabbi
Henry Sobel was born in Lisbon, Portugal. His parents were Ashkenazi Jews who had to leave their homes in Belgium and Poland. They were escaping the Nazi persecution during World War II.
When Henry was a baby, his family moved to New York City in the United States. He grew up there and later decided to become a rabbi. In 1970, he finished his studies and became a Reform rabbi.
That same year, he received an invitation to work in Brazil. He became the rabbi at the Congregação Israelita Paulista in São Paulo. He moved to Brazil and lived there for many years. He said this move allowed him to work on important social and political issues.
Standing Up for Human Rights
During the 1970s and 1980s, Brazil was ruled by the military. This was a time when many people faced unfair treatment. Henry Sobel played a very important role in protecting human rights in Brazil.
He was very brave and spoke out against injustice. For example, he worked with Catholic Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns. Together, they spoke up when a journalist named Vladimir Herzog was killed. Sobel helped make sure the truth about what happened was known.
Promoting Peace Between Religions
Henry Sobel also worked hard to bring different religions together. He believed it was important for people of different faiths to understand and respect each other. This is called inter-religious dialogue.
He had good relationships with important Catholic leaders, including Pope John Paul II. For over 30 years, many people saw Sobel as a key leader for the Reform Jewish community in São Paulo.
Family and Death
Henry Sobel had one daughter named Alisha. She was born in São Paulo in 1983.
Henry Sobel passed away from cancer on November 22, 2019. He died in Miami, Florida.
See also
- In Spanish: Henry Sobel para niños
