Nathan André Chouraqui

His life, his work, and his legacy

Biography
André Chouraqui
“There will be no peace in the world as long as there is no peace between the religions.”
— André Chouraqui, 1994Lecture on Interfaith Dialogue
Jerusalem, on the roof of the Tower of David, 1967
Jerusalem, on the roof of the Tower of David, 1967

1917 – 2007

Who was André Chouraqui?

Scholar, translator, jurist and man of dialogue, Nathan André Chouraqui devoted his life to building bridges between peoples, cultures and religions.

Born in Aïn Témouchent, Algeria, into a family of Spanish-Jewish scholars and rabbis, he studied law and rabbinics in Paris, fought in the French Resistance and served as a judge in Algeria, before joining René Cassin at the Alliance Israélite Universelle.

Settling in Jerusalem in 1958, he advised David Ben-Gurion, served as Deputy Mayor alongside Teddy Kollek, and founded interfaith committees uniting Jews, Christians and Muslims. His translations of the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Qur'an — the scriptures of all three Abrahamic faiths, by a single translator — remain his best-known legacy.

  • 1917

    Born in Aïn Témouchent, Algeria

  • 1965

    Elected Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem

  • ~40

    Books published

  • 80+

    Countries where he lectured

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The Writing of the Scriptures

The Writing of the Scriptures

Trailer for the documentary film "The Writing of the Scriptures" about the life and work of André Chouraqui, directed by Emmanuel Chouraqui and written by Francine Kaufmann.

A Front-Row Seat for History: How André Chouraqui's Pioneering Life Intersected with 'Nostra Aetate'

A Front-Row Seat for History: How André Chouraqui's Pioneering Life Intersected with 'Nostra Aetate'

Lecture by Dr. Murray Watson at the conference marking 60 years of Nostra Aetate, organized by The Open University of Israel. Explores Chouraqui's role in Catholic-Jewish dialogue and his connection to the landmark Vatican declaration.

Books

Books

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Personal Archive · A600

Nathan André Chouraqui Archive

In partnership with the Central Zionist Archives, Jerusalem and with the support of the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah

Explore 1,333 dossiers spanning six decades of André Chouraqui's correspondence, manuscripts, lectures, and public life.

The Central Zionist Archives

The Original Catalogue

Browse the catalogue as it appeared in print

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About the Association

The Association of Friends of André Chouraqui was established to preserve and make accessible the legacy of Nathan André Chouraqui. The Association promotes interfaith dialogue, preserves his writings and works, and organizes cultural and academic events.

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