Buenos Aires, Argentina – Jewish Community Leader Ignites Religious Identity Debate

Buenos Aires, Argentina – The first Orthodox man elected to head Argentina’s largest Jewish organization took office amid an angry debate over religious and cultural identity.

Guillermo Borger tried to dispel fears that he would favor Orthodox Jews and their beliefs during his three-year tenure as president of the 22,000-member Argentine Israeli Mutual Association, known as AMIA.
“AMIA is, and will be, the representative of all Jews, without exclusion and with a spirit of dialogue,” Borger said in a speech last night.

Borger is the group’s first Orthodox president in its 114-year history.

Buenos Aires’ leading newspaper Clarin ignited a controversy when it quoted Borger as saying that “genuine Jews” are those who “lead a life based on everything that is dictated in the Torah, our sacred book. “It’s a paradox that people call themselves Jews if they don’t practice the religion,” Borger added.

Borger, a 59-year-old businessman, denied having made the remarks in a communique he sent to the nation’s Jewish community.
Clarin stands by its story. “What we published is what he said,” Clarin editor-in-chief Julio Blank said.

Argentina’s 250,000-person Jewish community was divided Thursday between Borger’s backers and those who worry his alleged comments will divide the AMIA.
“We respect Orthodox Jews’ way of life and we want them to respect us too,” said Agustin Ulanovsky, a 22-year-old law student who joined about 200 people protesting Borger’s statements at his inauguration.
“We are all Jews!” they shouted, booing at the mention of Borger’s name and drowning out remarks during the opening ceremony, which was televised on a large screen to accommodate an overflow crowd.

Even if Borger never made the disputed comments, damage has been done, said engineer and community leader Mario Goijman.
“Borger’s statements unfortunately establish a base for discrimination,” Goijman said.