The Argentine Embassy officially marked the 90th anniversary today of the founding of the first Jewish agricultural colony in Argentina by refugees fleeing persecution in Europe. A press release circulated by the Embassy recounted the history and accomplishments of the Colonia Moisesville in Santa Fe province, established on Nov. 14, 1889.
The founders were 824 Orthodox Jews from Eastern Europe who had arrived at Buenos Aires shortly before in the North German Lloyd steamer Weser from Bremen. The Argentine Ambassador to the U.S., Jorge A. Aja-Espil, said in a statement on that occasion that “Argentina will never forget the important contributions of its Jewish community. I am glad to join in commemorating the anniversary of the founding of that community.”
The press release also quoted a statement by the Argentine Secretary of State for Culture in Buenos Aires, Dr. Raul Crespo Montez, praising the contributions of Argentine Jewry. It noted that a distinguished Jewish academician, Dr. Abraham Rosenvasser, was elected recently to the prestigious Bartolome Mitre Chair at the Argentine Academy of Letters.
The Embassy’s release reported that ceremonies commemorating the founding of Moisesville were held at the Argentine Hebrew Society’s headquarters in Buenos Aires. The theme was “A tribute to the founding fathers by their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. ” The descendants of the original immigrants described the colony’s early days. On display were tools, carts and furniture used by the colonists. A documentary film on the colony was shown.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
