Before WWII many Jews came to Argentina. In a country of immigrants, it became a very important and strong community. What happened in Argentina during and after the Holocaust? Who was Perón, what was his policy towards the Jews? Did he really help the Nazis come to Argentina? Many other countries in Latin America welcomed Nazi criminals too. Who were they? What happened to them? Did they have any influence in Latin American society and politics? In the 60s there were half a million Jews in Argentina, now there are only 200,000. What happened? In this session we will explore the modern history of Jewish Argentina and the many political, economic and social crises Argentina and the Jewish community experienced and survived.

Claudia Hercman is an Argentinian tour guide and translator. She is also a sculptor and painter, whose main subjects are “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. Twenty years ago, she became bored of translating books with a computer as her only company, so she decided to study tourism and history. She has been conducting City, Art and Jewish tours ever since, and enjoying every single moment of it. And then 2020 arrived, and with it the pandemic, which forced her to go back to spending time with her computer. So she decided to create these virtual lectures as an excuse to be able to talk to people and meet new friends from all over the world.

CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego, CA), Brotherhood Synagogue (Gramercy Park, NYC), Congregation Adath Jeshurun (Elkins Park, PA), Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, WA), Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Congregation B’nai Israel (Tustin, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, Shomrei Torah Synagogue (San Fernando Valley, CA), Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth David (Westminster, CA),Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Emet (Anaheim, CA), Temple Beth Ohr (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Tikvah (Fullerton, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Sholom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Temple Judea of Laguna Woods, CA, The Boston Synagogue (Boston, MA), Town & Village Synagogue (NYC, NY), University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA) & Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA)