Fishel Fernando Szlajen is an ordained Rabbi, Ph.D. in Philosophy and a Jerusalem Fellows Graduate from Mandel Leadership Institute. He currently lives in Argentina and by combining his religious and scientist training, he works in both the worship and community leadership, as well as in academic research and teaching Jewish philosophy at several universities and other national and foreign educational institutions. .
Rab. Dr. Szlajen expands his academical and congregational works, serving also as an advisor in legal matters (halachical) and Jewish cosmovision, in interdisciplinary scientific, political and humanistic committees, attending different socio-cultural topics; as well as he serves as a professional director in the field of Jewish educational vision, specialized in the diagnosis and planning of institutional policies and curriculum development for educational leadership in both formal and non formal educational.
In this regard, Rab. Dr. Szlajen not only has developed many subject matters but also he has innovated in the field of Applied Jewish Philosophy, a discipline based on the scholar and methodological analysis of the Jewish cultural heritage, translating it into a relevant and instrumental manner to deal philosophically and technically with the contemporary most pressing issues found in different areas such as ethics, bioethics, education, environmental care, politics, gender and multiculturalism, among others.
In his area of endeavour, Rab. Dr. Szlajen has published and lectured widely in various languages, congresses and symposia, achieving awards, distinctions and national / international grants for his research works and its contribution from a Jewish perspective to the current general problems.

EDUCATION



• Rabbi, Ordained with Smichat Hakhamim by Rab D. Bigman, Yeshivah Maaleh Gilboa, Israel, 2011.
• Doctor (Ph.D.) in Philosophy, UNEM, 2006. Graduated with Doctoral Thesis on Applied Ethics.
• Master (M.A.) in Jewish Philosophy, Bar Ilan University, 2004. Graduated Magna Cum Laude.
• Mandel Jerusalem Fellows Graduate, Mandel Leadership Institute, 2005.
• Licenciado en Filosofía, UNEM, 2002.
• Profesor en Disciplinas Industriales (Mathematics and Physics College Lecturer), INSPT Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, 2002. Graduated Summa Cum Laude.
• Técnico Superior en Control Automático & Sistemas Digitales, Instituto Tecnológico ORT, 1993. Graduated with Highest Honors.

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS



• Hble. Congreso de la Nación Argentina, Dissertation on the paper "Aborto y Refutación de Derechos: la restauración de los postulados" (SV, 2011):161-184. 2011.
  
• Hble. Senado de la Nación Argentina, Presentation of and Dissertation on the book "Filosofía Judía y Aborto" (ACE, 2008). 2011.
• Research Scholarship, Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, USA. 2009-2010.
• Research Scholarship, Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, USA. 2008-2009.
• Distinction in Research, "Defensoría de la Vida Humana", Sociedad Científica Argentina. 2008.
• Doctoral Scholarship, Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, USA. 2006-2007.
• Doctoral Scholarship, Bar-Ilan University, Israel. 2005-2006.
• Doctoral Scholarship, Bar-Ilan University, Israel. 2004-2005.
• 5766 Talmud Tora's First Prize, Fundación Ashekor Internacional & Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano, Spain-Argentina. 2005.
• Mandel Jerusalem Fellows Program, Mandel Leadership Institute, Israel. 2003-2005.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES




Current Tasks

• Researcher in Applied Jewish Philosophy

  Research Project: Objeción Religiosa: Judaísmo y los Límites de Obediencia al Estado. (Religious Objection: Judaism and the Limits of Obedience to the State.) (current).

  Research Project: El Aborto en el Judaísmo: Estatus Filosófico, Legal e Histórico del Conceptus y sus Implicancias Bioéticas. (Abortion in Judaism: Philosophical, Legal and Historical Status of Conceptus and its Bioethical Implications.) (completed and published as a book).

  Research Project: Biografía, Identidad y Asimilación en la Educación Judía Actual: Soluciones desde la Visión Educativa de Yehuda Abarbanel. (Biography, Identity and Assimilation in Current Jewish Education: contributions from an Educational Vision of Yehuda Abarbanel.) (completed and published as a book).



• Professor at Faculty of Philosophy, University of Buenos Aires

  Doctoral Seminar: The Construction of Person in Jewish Philosophy.

  Doctoral Seminar: Fundaments, Contrasts and Contributions between Legal Cultures: Modern Rule of Positive Law vs. Perceptual Jewish Society.

  Postgraduate Course: Introduction to Political Jewish Philosophy.

  Postgraduate Course: The Contribution of Judaism to Bioethical Actual Problems.



• Professor at Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano

  Course: Mishnah.

  Course: Medieval and Renaissance Jewish Philosophy.

  Course: The Philosophy of Talmud.

  Course: Applied Jewish Philosophy.

  Course: Introduction to Jewish Philosophy.



• Member and Professor at KolDor Organization. Israel-USA

  Annual Global Conferences on Jewish Peoplehood.



• Visiting Professor at:

  "Académie Juive de France"

  Course: Medieval and Renaissance Jewish Philosophy.

  Course: Modern Jewish Philosophy and Monotheism.

  
  

  "Universidad Hebraica de México"

  Intensive Course: Filosofía Judía Medieval.

  Intensive Course: Filosofía Judía Aplicada.

  
  

  "Universidad Iberoamericana de México"

  Annual International Workshops on "Humanism and Judaism"

  Dissertation: Greek Androcentrism and Gender Parity in Jewish Philosophy.

  Dissertation: Abortion and The Construction of Person in Judaism.

  Dissertation: Emunah and Faith, Unicity and Trinity, Mashiach and Christ: Judaism and Christianity.

  
  

  "Universidad Católica Argentina"

  Institute of bioethics

  Dissertation: The Conceptus and its Legal Status in Judaism.

  
  

  "Universidad Maimónides"

  I, III y IV Simposio Internacional de Estudios Sefardíes

  Dissertation: Medieval Androcentrism in Judaism and the Philosophical Transformation of the Feminine.

  Dissertation: Love and Dialogue: the originality of Yehuda Abarbanel's thought.

  Dissertation: Maimonides: on lidership in a time of crisis.

  
  

  "Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires"

  Workshop on Bioethics at Education & Research Center

  Dissertation: Conscientious Objection.

  
  

  "Colegiatura de Abogados de Rosario"

  Institute of Bioethics

  Dissertation: Jewish Philosophy and Abortion: philosophical, juridical and historical aspects.

  
  

  "Centro Comunitario Sucat David & Fed. Arg. de Graduados en Ciencias Económicas"

  Postgraduate Program on Management of Nonprofit Organizations

  Course: Jewish Philosophy, History and Historiography.

  Course: Jewish Axiology.

  Course: Israel People and Israel Land: characteristics and singularities.

  
  

  "Universidad del Salvador"

  IV Jornadas Internacionales de Ética "No Matarás"

  Dissertation: Ethics, Face and Justice: the problem of Lévinas' philosophy as an altruistic ethics.

  
  

2000–2003 ORT Argentina

• Lecturer with Tenure

  Development of Educative Curriculum.

  Mathematical Analysis I (Differential & Infinitesimal Calculus).

  Mathematical Analysis II (Differential Equations and the Laplace's Method).

1998-2000 ORT Argentina

• Assistant Professor

  Development of Educative Curriculum.

  Mathematical Models of Physical Systems..

  Mathematical Applications to Automation Theory I.

  Mathematical Applications to Automation Theory II.

FORMAL AND NO FORMAL JEWISH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES




2010-Current Tasks

• Educational Advisor of Escuela Integral Maimónides y Comunidad Israelita Sefaradí "Agudat Dodim", Bs. As.

Diagnosis and Evaluation of Formal and non Formal Educational Frameworks and Institutional Policies.

Planning and Development of Jewish Educational Vision and Institutional Leadership Policies.

Advising and Management of Integral Educative Project.

Analysis and Development of Jewish Education School Program.

Planning of Educational Processes of Continuous Improvement and Teacher Training.

2006-Current Tasks

• Guest Professor at: "OSA", "OFAKIM", "CIDICSEF", "OSFA-WIZO"

Conference: Homosexuality, Abortion y Euthanasia: a Jewish Perspective.

Conference: Terrorism and Islamism: crisis and contemporary challenges.

Conference: Jewish Philosophy and Radical Monotheism.

Conference: Meetings and Collisions between Israel and Occident.

Conference: Zionism and Anti-Zionism in Judaism.

Conference: Relevance and Place of Israel in the Education of a Modern Jew.

Conference: Between Devastation and Idolatry: a Jewish environmentalist perspective.

2009

• Guest Lecturer at: "Sociedad Hebraica Argentina"

Conference Series on Philosophy and Judaism

Conference: Religion and Science: neither complement nor antagonism.

Conference: Society based on Mitzvot or State based on Rule of Law: two legal cultures and their implications.

Conference: Biblical Precepts, Greek Ethics and Roman Moral: a comparative analysis of the philosophy of values.

2006-2009

• Host a weekly radio program "Visión Filosófica con el Dr. Fernando Szlajen", with a focus on applied Jewish philosophy. "Radio Jai station 96.3 FM". (Argentina).


• Guest Columnist in Jewish Philosophy at "Radio Sefarad". (Spain).

2007-2008.

• Guest Lecturer at: "Fundación Hillel Argentina","Bamah"

Course: Translating Jewish Philosophy into Jewish Education.

Course: Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Identity.

2006-2008 Escuela Integral Maimónides, Argentina.

• Educational Advisor of School Board.

2005-2007 Fundación Judaica

• Jewish Studies Coordinator

  Jewish High Studies Program for Jewish Educators.

  Institutional Leadership Jewish Vision Training Program for Education Board and Lay Leaders.

1999-2003 Colegio Tarbut Bs. As., Argentina

• Advisor of Executive Direction

  Jewish Education.

  Jewish Philosophy and its Educational Translation.

TECHNICAL WORKING EXPERIENCE




1993 – 1998 Sava-Gancia Group (partners of Martini & Rossi International). Bs. As., Argentina

• Automation Manager / Engineering Deptartment.

  Re-Engineering.

  Industrial Automation.

  Advisor on Statistics for Marketing & Quality Control Department.

1989 -1993 Servotrón s.a. Bs. As., Argentina

• Engineering Designer

  Automation of Industrial Processes.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Books (3)

• Szlajen, F. Judaísmo y Filosofía de la Objeción. (forthcoming).
• Szlajen, F. Filosofía Judía y Aborto. Buenos Aires: ACE (2008).
• Szlajen, F. Filo-Sofía del Judaísmo: construyendo nuestro destino. Buenos Aires: FJE (2006).

Research Papers (24)

• Szlajen, F. "Maimónides: aportes para el liderazgo en tiempos de crisis." Presented at IV Simposio Internacional de Estudios Sefardíes, Universidad Maimónides, August 2011. Published in Sefárdica XX, (forthcoming).
• Szlajen, F. "Aborto y Refutación de Derechos: la restauración de los postulados." In P. Kuphal (compl.), Vivir Sí: Aproximación Multidisciplinaria al Aborto (Bs. As.: Sembrar Valores, 2011), pp. 161-184.
• Szlajen, F. "Origen del Pueblo Judío." In M. Bergman, M. E. Crespo y G. Cholak (compls.), Constructores de Puentes: Una Vivencia Interreligiosa (Bs. As.: Bridge Builders, 2011), pp. 29-42.
• Szlajen, F. "Los Límites del Pluralismo o El Abandono Dogmático de la Cultura: el caso del Judaísmo." Presented at Simposio Latinoamericano de Cultura y Educación, November 2010.
• Szlajen, F. "Judaísmo y Sistema Penitenciario: el significado de la reclusión." Presented at Workshop on The Role of Religion in Political and Social Improvements, February 2010.
• Szlajen, F. "Amor y Diálogo: originalidad del pensamiento de Yehuda Abravanel." Presented at III Simposio Internacional de Estudios Sefardíes, Universidad Maimónides, November 2009. Published in Sefárdica XIX, (December, 2010): 182-218.
• Szlajen, F. "Visión Judía sobre la Homosexualidad: ¿sociedad de géneros o de roles?." Serie Filosofía y Actualidad XI, (2009): 41-62.
• Szlajen, F. "Eutanasia según el Judaísmo: entre el Homicido y la Irreversibilidad de la Muerte." Presented at II World Bioethics Congress,December 2009.
• Szlajen, F. "Misoginia griega y paridad de géneros en la filosofía judía." Presented at IX Coloquio Internacional: Humanismo en el Pensamiento Judío, Universidad Iberoamericana de México, October 2009.
• Szlajen, F. "Abortion and the Construction of Person in Judaism." Presented at IV KolDor Global Conference, KolDor Organization Israel, November 2008.
• Szlajen, F. "El androcentrismo medieval en el judaísmo y la transformación filosófica de lo femenino." Presented at I Simposio Internacional de Estudios Sefaradíes, Universidad Maimónides, August 2007. Published in Sefárdica XVII,(May, 2008): 159-184.
• Szlajen, F. "Love and desire in medieval Jewish philosophy: the case of Yehuda Abarbanel." Mekorot I, 2 (2007): 21-44.
• Szlajen, F. "Translating Jewish Philosophy into Education." Presented at III KolDor Global Conference, KolDor Organization Israel, October 2007.
• Szlajen, F. "Lévinas, Derrida y Habermas frente al terrorismo." Presented at Terrorismo e Islamismo: crisis y desafíos contemporáneos, Organización Sionista Argentina, May 2007.
• Szlajen, F. "Judaísmo y Ecología: responsabilidad ambiental, producción destructiva y naturalismo idólatra."Anuario: Revista de Filosofía y Humanidades 5, (2006): 85-120.
• Szlajen, F. "Ética, rostro y justicia: problemática de la filosofía de Lévinas como ética altruista." Presented at IV Congreso Internacional de Ética, Universidad del Salvador, Facultad de Filosofía, August 2006.
• Szlajen, F. "El pensamiento en Sefarad del siglo X al XV." Presented at Plenario sobre Filosofía Medieval Judía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, May 2006.
• Szlajen, F. "La concepción de Dios en el pensamiento de M. Buber y A.Y. Heschel." Presented at Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano, September 2005.
• Szlajen, F. "Yehuda Abravanel: Judaísmo como monoteísmo práctico." Presented at Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano, September 2005.
• Szlajen, F. "Greek Ethics: Classical and Current Perspectives." Presented at II Congress of Post- Modern Ethics, February 2005.
• Szlajen, F. "Jewish Philosophy: Buber's and Heschel's Perspectives." Presented at International Annual Seminar on Modern Jewish Thought, December 2004.
• Szlajen, F. "Jewish Bio-Graphy in place of Jewish Identity." Presented at Seminar on Judaism and Jewish Identity, August 2004.
• Szlajen, F. "Étique and Visage in Lévinas' Philosophy." Presented at Workshop on Ethics in Jewish Philosophy, June 2003.
• Szlajen, F. "Freedom in Spinoza's Philosophy." Presented at Seminar on Modern Jewish Philosophy, January 2003.

Articles (9)

• Szlajen, F. "Límite del Derecho y Vigencia del Postulado" Comunidades 508, (Agosto, 2011): 5.
• Szlajen, F. "No Existe el Derecho a la Vida" Sembrar Valores 44, (2011): 57.
• Szlajen, F. "El Aborto ¿una opción?". Hacer Familia 41, (2010): 69.
• Szlajen, F. "A Jewish Perspective on Decriminalization of Drugs for Non-Medicinal Purposes". Jewish Addiction Services e-Journal August, 2008.
• Szlajen, F. " KolDor, The Lost Jewish People and The Relevance of Practices." KolDor EJournal, March 2008.
• Szlajen, F. "Los mitos y nosotros". Boletín Inter-Bibliotecario Comunal de Buenos Aires 1, (2001): 9-11.
• Szlajen, F. "Del arte a la razón". Boletín Inter-Bibliotecario Comunal de Buenos Aires 2, (2001): 14-18.
• Szlajen, F. "Los peligros del exclusivismo". Boletín Inter-Bibliotecario Comunal de Buenos Aires 2, (2000): 16-20.
• Szlajen, F. "Comprehender al hombre". Boletín Inter-Bibliotecario Comunal de Buenos Aires 1, (2000): 15-19.