Latin American Jewish leaders confront antisemitism’s old roots and new forms

Over 250 Jewish leaders from 13 countries met in Buenos Aires on November 1 for a forum to combat antisemitism in Latin America, addressing historical prejudices, post-October 7 trends, and the need for coordinated action.

More than 250 Jewish leaders and officials from 13 countries gathered in Buenos Aires on November 1 for the Latin American Forum to Combat Antisemitism, organized by Israel's Foreign Ministry and the Latin American Jewish Congress. The forum examined the evolution of antisemitism in the region since October 7, 2023, its spread online, Holocaust distortion, and the role of governments. Speakers noted that antisemitic stereotypes imported during the Spanish conquest persist, including the accusation that Jews killed Jesus and conspiracy theories about Jewish control. Marcos Peckel of the Confederation of Jewish Communities of Colombia pointed to the Royal Spanish Academy's dictionary still defining 'Jewish' as 'miserly' as an example of institutionalized prejudice. Fernando Lottenberg of the OAS urged adoption of the IHRA antisemitism definition, noting 11 countries in the hemisphere have done so. Fabiana Loguzzo, Argentina's IHRA representative, highlighted Argentina's presidency of the IHRA and its focus on expanding Holocaust memory beyond Europe. The article also includes a subscription appeal for The Times of Israel.