Argentine religious leader. Chief Rabbi of the Sephardic Community of Buenos Aires
and founding president of Menora, World Jewish Organization for the Youth.

Isaac Sacca

  • Member of the Superior Rabbinic Academy of Jerusalem Iehave Daat.
  • President of the Rabbinic Board Menora of the Argentine Republic.
  • Founder and president of Menora, World Organization for Youth.
  • Chief Rabbi of the Sephardic community of Buenos Aires.
  • Member of the Ethics Committee of Argentina’s Jewish Community.

Ancestry

Descendant of Syrian and Eastern European Jews. His paternal great grandfather, Rabbi Abraham Antebi Sacca (1879-1969) born in Aleppo (Syria) was one of the most important Kabbalists and Talmudic scholars in Israel during the years 1920-1970. Furthermore, he was chief of Jerusalem’s Rabbinic Court for the Jewish Syrian community.

Studies

1983

Graduated from the Talmudic Academy Porat Yosef in Jerusalem.
Winner of the Israeli national award, Agudath Israel, for the best Talmudic work.

1989

Acknowledged as a Rabbi in the Superior Rabbinic Academy of Jerusalem Iehave Daat, directed by Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Z¨L, who considered him as one of his closest disciples.

Achievements as a religious leader

1989

Started to work as a Rabbi for the youth of the Sephardi Congregation, Yesod Hadat and worked as a chairman of the Talmudic Academy, Yeshiva Bet David.

1990

Founded the community newspaper Kesher Kehilati which he directed until 1994.

1996 – Present

President of Menora, World Organization for Youth, with its main headquarters in Buenos Aires and represented in various cities across the world.

1997 – Present

Chief Rabbi of the Israelite Sephardi Community Association of Buenos Aires (ACISBA). Promoted by Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Z’’L and Chief Rabbi Eliahu Bakshi Doron, then the Chief Rabbi of Israel.

2001 – present

Since 2001, Rabbi Sacca has been focused on creating educational establishments, charitable organizations, social action and development programs. Here are some of the most noteworthy:

  • 2001 – Communal Dining
    Free daily lunch for people in need as well as the elderly.
  • 2002 – Morasha Program
    Free education for children and teenagers, a model that has since been imitated across the globe.
  • 2004 – Dignity Program
    No interest loans and commercial advice for entrepreneurs who lost economic support after the 2001 crisis.
  • 2006 – Educational Institute Aron Angel-Bereshit
    School recognized for its excellent pedagogical framework, offering an education based on the principles of the Torah.
  • 2007 – Menora House
    Center for youth, of secondary school age, located next to the most popular Jewish schools in the Almagro neighborhood.
  • 2009 – Chella & Moise Safra Center
    Central, modern, unique in its type and style, for Argentina’s Jewish youth.
  • 2011 – Hands on Deck
    One of Menora´s programs that unite young volunteers whose mission is to renovate extremely neglected homes.
  • 2013 – Mikve Spa Lela
    One of the most modern and luxurious Mikveh’s of the world.

About Menora

Menora is a worldwide organization founded by Rabbi Isaac Sacca with the aim of educating Jewish youth. To date more than 15 thousand youth have participated in the range of proposals our institution has to offer including 400 different courses and activities annually.

Menora bases its philosophy on the thousand year old original teachings of the Torah that is based on G-d, prioritizing family values and encouraging respect among people.

Menora’s objective is to promote Judaism in order for its youth to understand it, benefit from its richness, connect and remain identified with their roots.

Menora works independently and offers its services to all of society given that it is not associated with a specific community, institution or political view. For more information about Menora please visit www.menora.org.ar

Publications and social action

In charge of the creation and supervision of the Spanish translations of the majority of Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef´s Z´´L works, including all the editions of the Pesaj Jazon Ovadia Hagadah.

Rabbi Sacca is also the author of the Spanish version of the book Torat Hamoadim.

Publishes essays and books about subjects that contribute to the Jewish perspective on various topical issues, general interests and philosophy.

Rabbi Sacca is a mentor for writers, educators, thinkers and journalists who consult him about the vision of Judaism.

Rabbi Sacca is regularly invited by schools and universities to host conferences about Talmudic laws related to marriage, faith, abortion, assimilation, organ donating, Jewish identity, crises, fears, educating children, family and love.

Rabbi Sacca actively participates in meetings, forums and interfaith seminars with the aim of promoting peace and social harmony. He maintains dialog and an excellent relationship with all areas of Judaism and with leaders of other religions, including Pope Francis.

He dedicates a great amount of time to educate youth, his main rabbinic goal.