Four members of the Indianapolis Jewish community traveled to South America to see first-hand the international humanitarian work done by the Federation and its partners.

The group, comprised of Janine Shapiro, Matthew Tobe, Marina Grabovsky, and Leo Grabovsky, joined with other members of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) National Young Leadership Cabinet on this study mission to Argentina and Uruguay. Cabinet is a leadership and philanthropic development program open to those between 30-45 who are looking to increase their philanthropy and engagement and are eager to become leaders in their local or national Jewish community.

Shapiro, a second-year participant in Cabinet, said seeing the Jewish community in Buenos Aires was extraordinary and enlightening, beyond what she imagined. Argentina has the sixth-largest Jewish community in the world and the largest in Latin America with more than a quarter of a million Jews living there. Around 90 percent of Argentinian Jews live in Buenos Aires, which is home to 56 synagogues, more than 20 kosher restaurants, and the only other kosher McDonalds outside of Israel.

The group met with partner organizations, such as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and Tzedakah Foundation, visited educational institutions like ORT Belgrano and ORT Almagro, and explored Jewish establishments like LeDor VaDor Home for the Elderly.

All members of the group agreed that the most impactful part of the trip was their visit to the Jewish community center, Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), the site of the 1994 terrorist attack that killed 85 people and injured hundreds. Shapiro said the victims of the attack were mentioned during Shabbat services, and though no one had been held responsible, the community continued their quest for justice for the deadliest attack in the country’s history.

While the group was in Argentina, 30 years after the attack, Argentina's highest criminal court officially deemed Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, responsible for the bombing.

“It was such a powerful moment for the country,” Shapiro said. “And to be there during that time was really poignant, especially during the same time that Iran was launching an attack on Israel.”

Tobe, a first-year member of Cabinet, said the group often talked about how the war in Israel is impacting the South American communities. Antisemitism is a problem everywhere, he explained, and many institutions can’t afford the necessary increase in security.

“I think it's just important for us to remember that there are Jews all over the world, whether it be the United States, Israel, or in this case, Argentina and Uruguay, who are looking to all of us to help support each other, and so I think that's where the Federation systems come into play,” Tobe said. “It was a really neat experience for us to get to see South America, Jewish life, especially post- October 7th.”

The trip marked the Grabovskys' final trip with Cabinet, after visiting India, Israel, Latvia, Hungary, Estonia, and more over the last eight years.

“This is probably the best program I have done through the Federation because it has really given me a worldly perspective on the impact of the Federation,” Marina said.

Participants recognized a stark contrast between the communities in Buenos Aires and Montevideo. The community in Uruguay was a significantly smaller, close-knit community, but just as passionately Zionist.

The group went to an Aliyah ceremony for two individuals who joined the 3,695 Argentinians to have made Aliyah in the past five years. The Federation provides financial support and services to those who wish to move to Israel. Tobe said he will never forget the feeling of singing “Tiqvah” together in Buenos Aires.

The group also met with the ambassador of Argentina, a Jewish man from Texas, and assisted with a few service projects, including sorting items that the JDC provides to those in poverty.

“I think it's just important for us to realize that there are Jews everywhere who are hurting, and Jews everywhere that need assistance and help,” Tobe said. “It's just important for people to realize that that's part of what the Federation does, and not just here in Indianapolis, not just in Israel, which is obviously very important, but all over the world.”