Only 30 percent of Argentina’s 300,000-member Jewish community is associated in any way with Jewish organizations, according to Yitzhak Goldenberg, an advisor to the Jewish Agency on Latin American affairs. Goldenberg, who immigrated to Israel from Argentina seven years ago, attributed that situation to the high rate of assimilation among Argentine Jews. He briefed the World Zionist Organization Executive this week.
Goldenberg said the fact that unemployment in Argentina has reached 40 percent coupled with various political limitations, affected Zionist activities among Jewish youth there. He suggested the promotion of investment schemes in Israel by Argentine Jews through the creation of economic committees that would work with the local Zionist Federation.
At the same time, Goldenberg said, assistance should be offered to the Association of Latin American Immigrants in Israel to help the absorption of immigrants from Latin American countries.
WZO chairman Leon Dulzin said the situation in Argentina demanded dramatic action to promote aliya. He proposed a project similar to one which has had some success in France and suggested that it should be carried out in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry.
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