The BBYO Argentina teens are preparing for a visit from French Scouts in a few weeks. Some of the French teens asked them questions about life in Argentina and being a Jew in Argentina. Their questions and answers are below, their answers impressed me and they sum up quite nicely general thoughts about life in Argentina:
What's the most important monument in Buenos Aires? What are some places to visit when going to Buenos Aires?
For me, the most iconic monument in Buenos Aires is the Obelisk located on the 9 de Julio Avenue which is one of the largest avenues in the world (it was once the largest). Near the Obelisk, in the city center, there are many others important buildings as it was the historical center, like the Pink House (where the president works, basically) Cabildo and the Colón theater (considered one of the top 5 in the world; its architecture is very European).There are also a lot of beautiful statues all over the city. I think one of the most important is the Monument to the Spanish, it is located at the intersection of the avenues Libertador and Sarmiento General.
If you are looking places to visit, I recommend the neighborhoods of Recoleta (there’s the Cementery of Recoleta, which a historical museum too and, in spite of the irony, I think it’s beautiful); the city center, as I said before and the Rosedal, wich is a lovely park with a lake and a rose garden.
-Juli Cohen, 17
Are the Jews in Buenos Aires orthodox? Do you speak of religion when you are in BBYO?
There are all kinds of Jew's in Buenos Aires: We have the orthodox, but there are also many reformist or conservative Jews. Being that there are so many Jewish people here, there are many synagogues, schools, and organizations.
We don’t really talk about religion in BBYO, although the subject comes up sometimes and it’s nice to debate about it because we all have different perspectives about it.
We don’t really talk about religion in BBYO, although the subject comes up sometimes and it’s nice to debate about it because we all have different perspectives about it.
-Mai Stamati, 17
How did the terrorist attack of AMIA affect you and your community?
On March 17, 1992, a terrorist attack targeted the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a shock for everyone, as nothing like this had happened before. There were no warnings, and it took all the citizens by surprise. 29 people were killed in the attack and fear started to grow in the Jewish community. As the attack was an isolated event, the Jewish community continued to live their lives as usual.
However, two years later, another car full of explosives hit the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), the most important Jewish association in Argentina. 85 people were killed and 300 were injured.
Today, 20 years later, there are still no guilty parties and many feel the absence of justice.
After this attack, which was the worst attack on Argentinian soil to date, fear ran rampant among the people. New security measures were taken and the Jewish community in Argentina never returned to the sense of comfort it had before the first attack.
Now, every Jewish building, synagogue, school, high school or club not only has a doorman like before 1992, but also dozens of security guards that stand at the doors as long as the buildings are open.
As young people, we believe it is really important to stand up for ourselves and ask for justice because, if we don’t, who else will? That’s why we get together every year to commemorate these attacks and host strikes against the injustice.
However, two years later, another car full of explosives hit the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), the most important Jewish association in Argentina. 85 people were killed and 300 were injured.
Today, 20 years later, there are still no guilty parties and many feel the absence of justice.
After this attack, which was the worst attack on Argentinian soil to date, fear ran rampant among the people. New security measures were taken and the Jewish community in Argentina never returned to the sense of comfort it had before the first attack.
Now, every Jewish building, synagogue, school, high school or club not only has a doorman like before 1992, but also dozens of security guards that stand at the doors as long as the buildings are open.
As young people, we believe it is really important to stand up for ourselves and ask for justice because, if we don’t, who else will? That’s why we get together every year to commemorate these attacks and host strikes against the injustice.
-Melu Faez, 17
In general for you, is it difficult/easy to be a Jew in Argentina?
To me it’s pretty easy to be Jewish in Argentina, because there are many organizations such as clubs and schools where I can practice my Judaism with no restriction and complete freedom.
The only bad thing I had to go through living here was to be yelled in the street “F***ing Jew” and such things. But even though this has happened to me, I still think it’s easy to be a Jew here.
The only bad thing I had to go through living here was to be yelled in the street “F***ing Jew” and such things. But even though this has happened to me, I still think it’s easy to be a Jew here.
-Lore Kaus, 15
Nowadays being Jewish in Argentina is not difficult in a general aspect. However, some areas tend to have people that may bother the Jews, if presented orthodox in the street for example, but it doesn't happen regularly. In my case I went to a private secondary school where a guy bothered me because of being Jewish, talking to me all the time about the nazis and how they partly did well in sending away the Jews or yelling at me to defend his arguments without reaching the point of something physical, but usually these cases don't happen very often.
-Melodie Bai, 15
