Argentina

Abstract In his 1896 Judenstaat (“The Jews’ State”), Theodor Herzl, one of the founding fathers of political Zionism, described the choice facing the Jewish masses in Eastern Europe as one between “Palestine or the Argentine.” In retrospect, both countries fulfilled these Jewish hopes. The chapter surveys Jewish immigration to Argentina from the late nineteenth century, their successful social integration, and the challenges they faced in the twentieth century. It describes how early settlement in agricultural colonies became less important as Jews opted for urban centers, especially Buenos Aires. While popular anti-Semitism, rooted in Catholic precepts, has always existed, government-sponsored anti-Semitism has been rare in Argentina. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Argentine society remains deeply divided and polarized; however, although in social networks and popular culture (particularly football), anti-Semitic comments are not rare, Jewish Argentines are generally much more concerned about the financial problems facing individuals and the community.