This past week we have been hosting Jewish scouts from Paris, France in Hebraica. The teens in the BBYO Hebraica project have been doing some activities with them including a dinner, accompanying them to the 20th anniversary ceremony for the terrorist attack on AMIA, and an asado (barbecue) with them in Hebraica Pilar.
During the asado, the teens had planned a program to figure out similarities and differences in the Jewish communities in Buenos Aires and Paris. I enjoyed listening to their discussion and reflecting further on how both of these communities relate to Jewish communities I know in the US. For example, some of the French scouts told me they were surprised at all the Jewish organizations and how they all have their own buildings and lots of people involved. Living in the US or Buenos Aires, most Jews are accustomed to having Jewish community centers to go to for sports, activities, etc. The French teens said when their scout group meets, they don't have a center where they always congregate, instead they meet in whatever synagogue, school, or other building that they can. The French teens were also surprised to learn that most of the teens in Argentina go to Jewish schools (in Argentina, about 1 of 6 kids go to Jewish school). I was also surprised at this when I arrived because a very few Jews go to Jewish day schools in the US compared to Buenos Aires.
Interacting with the French teens has been great. It has been an awesome opportunity for the Buenos Aires teens to spend time and learn more about Jews from another part of the world.
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