on ORIGINS

“My Jewish-Argentinian family really blends—we do everything in Spanish or in both Spanish and English. We are always with our Latin American family friends, who talk loudly and over each other, who have particular mannerisms and gestures. We sing songs that are traditionally Ashkenazi or in Ashkenazi tunes. We'll eat both gefilte fish (or, on Passover, matzah balls) and maybe flan, or meat with chimichurri, or drink Malbec wine—but that's not because the latter foods are specific to the holidays, but rather because they’re the foods we regularly eat. We have a shared historical pattern of immigration from Eastern Europe to Latin America, a shared history of antisemitism in Argentina, a shared network of people back in Argentina.”

on FAMILY

“I think something unique, or maybe just special, about being Argentinian, or the Argentinian culture, is the centrality of family. And so for me Rosh Hashanah is really that—it’s a time to be with family and among family members. Growing up in San Diego, we surrounded ourselves with a group of family friends who are like family to us, who all come from different Latin American countries originally. And for me, my dearest High Holiday memories are those when our family friends all come together, and sing songs in Hebrew with a Spanish accent, or speak in Spanglish throughout the night, just talking and eating good food together. You know, most of us are Ashkenazi, so a lot of our foods would look pretty familiar to Ashkenazim who have spent many generations in the U.S., but we just do so with a particular Latin flair, and always with family at the center.”

FLAN

“Our family traditionally enjoys a sweet flan dessert at almost any Jewish holiday, and on Rosh Hashanah especially to signify the hope of a sweet new year.”

1/2 cup sugar / 3 tablespoons, plus 4 tablespoons, Savannah Bee Company’s Savannah honey, separated / 1 (14 oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk / 1 cup milk / 3 large eggs / 1 large egg yolk / 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Heat sugar in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently. 2. When sugar melts and turns a light, golden brown, stir in 3 tablespoons. of honey. The mixture may clump, but keep stirring. 3. Remove from heat and quickly fill 6 custard molds with the sugar and honey mixture. 4. Blend together the sweetened condensed milk, milk, eggs, salt, and remaining honey. Once frothy, pour over the sugar and honey mixture in the molds. 5. Carefully place the molds into a 13x9” baking pan and pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the pan around the molds. 6. Cover the pan lightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25–30 minutes. When done, the flan will jiggle slightly in the center. 7. Let the molds sit on a cooling rack for 30 minutes. 8. Cover and chill for about 3 hours. Run a butter knife around the edges, then invert the molds over the serving dish to release. 9. Drizzle with honey and serve!

MORE HISTORY from JDC

Most Argentine Jews are currently settled in the cities of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santa Fe. Jewish groups in Argentina include Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi Jews, 80% of whom are Ashkenazi.

Argentina has one of the highest Human Development Index levels and G.D.P.s per capita in Latin America. Because of its once stable economy, Argentina has long boasted a sizable middle class—but when the economy collapsed in 2001, the relatively prosperous Jewish community was left reeling, as much of that middle class imploded, with many of its members losing their jobs, businesses, savings, and homes.

JDC. has engaged in Argentina since World War II. This consistent presence made it possible to initiate an immediate and widespread response when the 2001 economic crisis struck. JDC responded to the crisis by expanding existing welfare and relief services to aid those most profoundly affected by the crisis. Now, more than a decade after the crisis, signs of economic recovery are encouraging. Today JDC ensures medical aid, housing subsidies, and other support to many of the remaining gauchos—skilled, nomadic horsemen—and their descendants throughout Argentina.