About this talk

We invite you to a virtual tour of Jewish Argentina, home to the world's sixth-largest Jewish community.

South America, and Argentina in particular, has long been a refuge for those fleeing the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal, the pogroms in Russia, and the Holocaust in Europe.

We will explore the story of the first Jewish immigrants, who initially settled in rural areas before gradually moving to the cities.

Simon Wiesenthal once described Argentina as the "Cape of Last Hope" for Nazi criminals. Was that true? What was happening in Argentina during and after the Holocaust?

In the 1960s, Argentina's Jewish population reached nearly half a million; today, it stands at around 220,000. What happened to those who left—and to those who remained?

We will address these questions and more, while also examining the political, economic, and social crises Argentina has experienced, including the two terrorist attacks that targeted the Jewish community in Buenos Aires.

Finally, if you would like to learn more about Jewish life in Argentina today, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

About Claudia

Claudia Hercman is an Argentinian tour guide and translator. She is also a sculptor and painter whose work focuses on themes of memory and uprooting, in honor of her four grandparents who emigrated from Poland to Argentina in the 1930s.

Claudia was born and raised in Buenos Aires, within the Argentinian Jewish community. Twenty years ago, she grew tired of translating books with only her computer for company, and decided to study tourism and history. Since then, she has been leading city, art, and Jewish tours, enjoying every moment of it.

Then came 2020, and with it the pandemic, which forced her back to spending most of her time at the computer. In response, she created these virtual Jewish tours as a way to connect with people, meet new friends from around the world, and share the rich history of Jewish life in Argentina.