38 | JANUARY 26 • 2023 

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’dor V’dor, or generation 
to generation, embodies 
the transfer of a culture’s 
values, rituals, traditions and 
history to the next generation. 
While we have heard these 
words spoken at our Passover 
seders and in our respective 
congregational services, it was 
not until stepping off the plane 
in Buenos Aires that we were 
able to experience these words 
and their true meaning.
On Dec. 5, we had the 
privilege of traveling on 

JDC Entwine’s Inside Jewish 
Argentina with young pro-
fessionals from across the 
Midwest, including fellow 
members of Jewish Federation’s 
NEXTGen Detroit. JDC 
Entwine, the young adult plat-
form of the Joint Distribution 
Committee (JDC), aims to 
foster a generation of young 
Jews who lead and live a life of 
action with a particular focus 
on the global Jewish commu-
nity.
On our Entwine journey, we 

had the chance to visit histor-
ical synagogues, lively Jewish 
day schools and vibrant assisted 
living homes. The impact of 
both Jews and JDC on the city 
of Buenos Aires became over-
whelmingly apparent through 
these visits. 
Argentina, and Buenos Aires 
in particular, has built strong 
infrastructure that allows Jews 
from all demographics to live 
full, meaningful Jewish lives. 
However, we came to learn that 
none of this would have been 

possible without JDC’s support. 
JDC has stepped in during 
times of crisis, whether it be the 
1992 and 1994 terrorist attacks, 
the financial crash of the early 
2000s or the great economic 
pressures currently being faced. 
For more than 100 years, JDC 
has been an active partner in 
working to sustain Jewish com-
munities around the globe. 
At every stop on our journey, 
we were welcomed with open 
arms, whether it was dancing 
with the seniors at AMIA, 
swimming with the members 
of Hacoaj or eating lunch (that 
quickly turned into dancing) 
with the residents of the LeDor 
VaDor Senior Home in Buenos 
Aires. 
The impact of JDC was felt 
through every inch of these 
organizations because JDC 
not only helped to build these 
organizations, but also helps 
to sustain them. Beyond these 
formal site visits, we had the 
opportunity to interact with 
young professionals who grew 
up within the Jewish communi-
ty of Argentina. 
From drinking Mate, a tra-
ditional Argentinian beverage, 
in the park to karaoke with the 
Moishe House to tango lessons 
at Hillel, it became clear how 
much our similarities outweigh 
our differences. 
We did Havdalah with 
Jews from Israel, Argentina, 
Minneapolis, Kansas City, 
Columbus, Detroit and more, 
and while we all grew up in 
different regions with differ-
ent rabbis and traditions, we 
all sang the same tunes and 
prayers, swaying together 
under the candlelight. 
Similarly, we all cheered 
together as one as we watched 
Argentina advance in the 
World Cup (and later win). We 
met with fellow lawyers and 
financial advisers in their 20s 

NEXTGen Detroiters travel with JDC Entwine
to learn firsthand how JDC has made a
difference in the lives of Argentinian Jews.

NATALIE LANGNAS AND JACOB GORDON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

LEFT: Trip participants visiting 
Buenos Aires’ oldest synagogue: 
Templo Libertad.

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’dor V’dor 
Experiencing Life in 
Jewish Argentina 

NEXT DOR
ON THE COVER