Notes From Jewish Buenos Aires

This four-hour tour explores the origins and cultural legacy of the Jewish community in Buenos Aires. The Argentine capital has one of the richest immigration stories in South America and this experience is a fascinating lens into how Jewish communities contributed to the city’s science, art, literature, and cuisine. Born into a Jewish family, Jonathan — an art curator, educator, and certified tour guide — has a deep, lived knowledge about local culture and history. He will take you to such landmarks as the oldest synagogue in Buenos Aires, the AMIA Federation Center, and the Memorial of the Israeli Embassy. While learning about the Jewish people who relocated from Eastern Europe and the Ottoman Empire during the 19th and 20th centuries, you’ll hear how this migration shaped commerce, tailoring, publishing, and the arts in Buenos Aires. An estimated 200,000 Jewish people now reside in the city — this experience is a chance to hear their tales from an insider at a relaxed pace.

This experience is curated and led by Jonathan, a researcher and art curator born into a Jewish family in Buenos Aires. Calling on his background, Jonathan weaves personal anecdotes into his commentary — thus providing a more personal and authentic account of local life and Jewish heritage. While the focus is on the positive impact immigration has had on the identity of Buenos Aires, Jonathan also addresses the challenges faced by the community by discussing the shocking antisemitic attacks of 1992 and 1994, which are now commemorated through memorials and murals. Entering the Great Temple of Paso Street and the Libertad Synagogue-Jewish Museum, you'll be guided through the significance of these synagogues' art and architecture and what such buildings represent to the Jewish community from past to present. Jonathan's insight as an art expert adds a unique perspective to the entire outing, urging you to look deeper at all aspects of Jewish heritage and culture.

Jonathan is a scholar, curator, educator, and researcher specializing in Modern and Contemporary Art. His formal education includes an MA in Art Curation and a PhD in Comparative Art Theory, and he has more than a decade of experience in the field, both in Argentina and further afield. He has worked as an independent curator since 2013—collaborating with a myriad of museums and holding a post at the Getty Research Institute’s Exhibitions department. Until recently, he was Chief Curator at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Buenos Aires (Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires/MACBA). Additionally, Jonathan is a licensed tour guide with extensive experience leading private and originally curated experiences within the field of arts and heritage. His passion for the arts is matched by an equal passion for gastronomy, history, and culture. In his free time, he enjoys reading and spending time outdoors.

Comfortable clothing and footwear. Small bag for essentials. Ahead of the tour, Jonathan will require the following details to be supplied over Fernwayer Chat, for each participant, for securing tickets: First name, surname, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and email address. **Original passports are mandatory for admission to AMIA and the Jewish Museum/Libertad Synagogue **