Argentine President Milei Addresses Chabad Event, Emphasizes 'Judeo-Christian Values' as Argentina Courts European Jews
Argentine President Javier Milei delivered a keynote speech at a Chabad-Lubavitch event in Buenos Aires, becoming apparently the first sitting non-Jewish head of state to officially tribute Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson at such an event. Milei, a self-described anarcho-capitalist elected in 2023, has made support for Israel and Judaism central to his political agenda and has stated his intention to convert to Judaism after leaving office. The speech reflects Argentina's broader effort to attract European Jews amid rising antisemitism in Europe, positioning the country as a welcoming destination.
Argentine President Javier Milei spoke at a Chabad event commemorating the 32nd anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's death, delivering a 40-minute address to approximately 1,800 attendees at the Palacio Libertad cultural center. In his speech, Milei emphasized that embracing "Judeo-Christian values" aligns spiritual and material life, drawing extensively from Torah passages to support his economic philosophy. The appearance marks a significant moment in Milei's long-documented engagement with Judaism—he has previously visited Schneerson's grave in New York, made pilgrimages to the Western Wall, and revealed in 2024 that he believes he has Jewish heritage and intends to convert after his presidency. While Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt, head of Chabad in Argentina, praised Milei's attendance as coming from a "deeply personal place," some attendees expressed mixed feelings about his forceful public support for Israel and Judaism, citing concerns about how such visibility might be perceived in contemporary discourse. Argentina's government, under Milei's leadership, has simultaneously launched an initiative to attract European Jews fleeing rising antisemitism, with Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno recently messaging to British and European Jewish communities about Argentina's opportunities and strong stance against antisemitism.
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- The Jerusalem PostRight
Milei praises ‘Judeo-Christian values’ at Chabad event as Argentina courts European Jews
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