Shabbat in the Once

Spending my second Shabbat here in Argentina will be another very interesting experience. The mixture of Sephardic Jews and Lubavitz out reach Chaseedeem in this rather bustling non- stop Beunos Aires is amazing. The Sephardic Jews mainly of Jewish Syrian descent have numerous shuls in Argentina and seem to be the dominant Jewish group here. The Lubavitcher Chaseedeem sent by their leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Scneerson are here for outreach to Jews. It seems every shul is either lubavitch or Sefaradi and they seem packed.
Most outsiders do not really want to live in Argentina, that seems abundantly clear. Its fragile economy and history of political upheaval makes life rather unpredictable. The two extreme terrorist attacks on the Israeli embssy and Jewish community building gives a backdrop to the all Jewish happenings in Beunos Aires. The Jews were and seem to be a soft target and Police can be seen at most Jewish sites especially Lubavitz Chassidic sites in the Once.

My Grandparents are buried here and I accompanied my mother to see those graves for a last time. It was a very moving experience.


Its an experience that I will not forget.