WUPJ Latin America

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Community of Reform Jews

World Union Statement
on Argentinean Congress
Memorandum of Understanding

February 21, 2013
11 Adar, 5773



In recent days, the Republic of Argentina has sent to the Houses of the Argentinean Congress a memorandum of understanding with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Should the Houses of Congress adopt this memorandum, a relationship will be created between the two nations and will be supported by law. The Jewish community of Argentina, as well as a great number of the Argentinean public, reject this relationship as the Islamic Republic of Iran is accused of the vicious terrorist attack against the Jewish Community Center (AMIA) in 1994 and has yet to answer for its crimes. Further, the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to deny the historic fact of the Shoah, and calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Iran has also blamed Israel for the attack on the AMIA, outrageous on every level and an affront to the memories of the many lives sacrificed on that day.

The World Union for Progressive Judaism stands with the Jewish community of Argentina and all decent people the world over, in repudiating this spurious memorandum between these two countries. Iran is trying to use a relationship with the Republic of Argentina to whitewash its hateful positions and policies. The World Union for Progressive Judaism calls on the Argentinean Houses of Congress to reject this memorandum of understanding. We further call upon the Argentinean government to continue with the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the yet unsolved tragedy of the bombing of the AMIA almost two decades ago.


Mike Grabiner, Chair, WUPJ
Miriam Vasserman, President, WUPJ-LA
Dr. Philip Bliss, Chair, Advocacy Committee

The Lashir Be Nefesh (Singing with the Soul) seminar comes to its seventh edition on March 10, 11 and 12 at the ARI – Rio de Janeiro. The program provides practical and theoretical studies with the objective of training chazanim, cantors, Shaliah Tzibur (prayer conductors), members of liturgical choirs, professional and volunteers in the musical departments of the communities which are part of the WUPJ-LA.

This time, the seminar will have the special participation of the Argentinean chazzan Isidoro Abramowicz, musical educator and choir conductor. Presently, Abramowicz is a guest chazzan at the synagogue Mishkenot Beit Ruth-Daniel and Reform Synagogue Kiriyat Ono, both in Israel.

Besides the experience of working with the Israeli communities, the cantor also actively participated in the reconstruction of Reform Judaism in Germany, where he worked in various institutions between 2005 and 2009.

Purim: costumes and joy in Latin America

Purim celebrations have been full of activities which brought together hundreds of people
at the communities affiliated to the WUPJ Latin America. The holiday´s traditions were
also maintained, with the reading of the Meguillah Esther, much music, disguised people
and typical food, like the Oznei Haman. Check the photos:

Celebration of Hanukkah

The Feast of Lights was celebrated in several communities, with the lighting of candles
of hanukkiah. The ceremonies were an opportunity to meet people who, in an atmosphere
of friendship, sang together, danced and celebrated the remembrance of the miracle
of Hanukkah. Check out the photos:

4th Conference of Jewish communities of Latin America

Conference of the Jewish Communities in the Americas was a success!

The debate about the future and the dilemmas that are a part of the everyday life of Progressive Judaism in contemporary society was the main topic of the 4th Conference of the Jewish Communities in Latin America, which brought together, on August 8th to the 12th, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, close to 300 representatives of various entities from the host country and also from Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States and Israel.

The meeting was organized by the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), together with the Argentinean institutions AIP (Israeli Association of the Pampas); CIRA – Libertad Temple; NCI Emanuel Community; Judaica Foundation; and Mishkan – Center of Jewish Spirituality.

The conference had over 40 lecturers in 15 panels and four plenary sessions that discussed religious studies as well as topics such as the relationship of young people with Israel; the anti-Israel movements; the equilibrium between tradition and modernity; innovation in the religious services within the synagogue; the vision of Avraham Yeoshua Heschel; Zionism and the social and political panorama in Israel.

See best moments: Picture gallery / Film of the event.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Entre Rios province was a privileged stage for a fascinating and moving story: the arrival of tens of thousands of Jews who left behind persecution by the Czarist regime in Europe to find hope in a land promising freedom and work.

Organized and accompanied by David Igdaloff, president of the AIP (Asociación Israelita de los Pampas) and by Abel Evelson of the Lamroth Hakol Community, the trip presented historical details about the local Jewish community and included a lecture by Professor Paul Liptz, Director of Education at the Anita Saltz International Education Cent of the WUPJ in Jerusalem.

Rabbinical Kallah

A Rabbinical Kallah (study conference) was held on August 8th and 9th in Buenos Aires at the NCI Emanu El Community, under the leadership of Rabbi Michael Marmur. The meeting, exclusive for rabbis and rabbinate students, had the doctrine of Abraham Joshua Heschel as its central theme. Besides studying, the 35 religious leaders present had the opportunity to debate their ideas and fraternize with colleagues from different places in Latin America and from other regions such as Europe and North America.