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Conservative Movement
Growing In Argentina
Friday evening. There is an
air of conviviality at the ser-
vices: people dress informal-
uenos Aires — The
ly and sit on folding chairs.
secular-Zionist orien-
The spirit is lively and people
tation of Argentine
sing along with congregants
Jewry — which dates back to
(including women) who lead
the period of Jewish immigra-
some of the prayers, accom-
tion in the 1880s — is being
panied by an organ.
challenged in recent years by
Conservative rabbis in
the rise of a Conservative
Argentina, said Fainstein,
movement which is attracting
tend to be "left-wing Conser-
many young people and
vative" and believe in the
couples.
equality of women. One of the
The movement was
students at the seminario, a
spearheaded by the establish-
grandmother
named Margit
ment of the Seminario
Baumatz
who
serves as rabbi
Rabinico Latinamericano by
for
the
German
congregation
Rabbi Marshall Meyer in
Lamrot
Hakol
("in spite of
1962. At the time the
everything"),
is
planning to
Seminario was founded,
be
the
first
woman
ordained
Argentine Jewry was a
there.
"secular community with
The situation in the various
poor Orthodox leadership and
synagogues
where Conser-
rabbis who didn't know how
vative
rabbis
serve, however,
to reach the youth," its
is
still
in
the
process
of tran-
30-year-old rector, Daniel
sition.
In
Cordoba,
although
Fainstein, told a visiting
Rosenzweig thinks women
delegation of North American
should be allowed to have an
journalists and communal
aliya, "this is not the con-
leaders.
gregation's minhag (custom)
The seminario, which
and one cannot always go
recently marked its 25th an-
against
the congregation."
niversary, has ordained 30
Five or six years ago, he add-
Conservative rabbis to date,
ed, "it was a big revolution to
most of them working in
get mixed seating."
Argentina. They were invited
What is the reason for the
to take over pulpits of old
growth of the Conservative
synagogues founded by im-
movement in a community
migrants many of which were
which has always been
were "vaguely, though not
secular? Some Argentine
ideologically or theologically,
leaders attribute it to a
traditional," said Fainstein.
"spiritual awakening."
"They sought to have young
Others advance a socio-
people and a rabbi who can
economic interpretation: Con-
confront the issues that con-
servative Jews, being upper
cern them."
middle class, seek a different
Rabbi Efraim Rosenzweig of
ideology from Zionism, which
Cordoba's Temple Bet El, is a
was proletarian and lower-
Conservative rabbi, as is the
class petit burgeois in tone.
official rabbi of Mendoza. In
Fainstein discounts the latter
Buenos Aires, in addition to
reason, stating that there are
the Conservative Comunidad
Conservative communities
Bet El, there are 20 mi-
"in all places, far from being
nyanim (prayer groups) which
wealthy."
meet in Jewish schools,
Another theory is that the
started by parents of the
religious interest on the part
students.
of Argentine Jews started
The seminario is now
during the eight-year reign of
located in a modern building
the
junta, when few other
in the Belgrano district of
vehicles of expression were
Buenos Aires where 20,000
regarded as safe. A similar ex-
Jews, many upwardly mobile,
planation is proffered in rela-
live. It trains rabbis, com-
tion to the increasing
munity directors to work with
popularity of the community
them, and
madrichim
centers, which became "a
(counselors) for youth groups;
family haven" at that time.
runs an institute for adult
Perhaps the explanation
education, an afternoon high
closest to the mark is that
school with 198 pupils, and a
Argentine Jews are increas-
choir open to all; and main-
ingly seeking ways to make a
tains a library of over 27,000
synthesis between being Jews
volumes, and a burgeoning
and being Argentineans. The
publications program.
Conservative movement and
Comunidad Bet El also in
the community centers are
the Belgrano district with
each trying to work out such
Rabbi Baruj Plavnick at the
a synthesis.
pulpit, attracts about 1,500
congregants on the average
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
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