The Fellowship had the honor of meeting Ivan Stern and Magali Grubuer, Secretary General of AUJA (Argentinean Union of Jewish Students) and Director of Education of AUJA, respectively, while visiting Buenos Aires. The AUJA connects more than 25 educational institutions around Argentina with the goal of protecting and advocating for Jewish students at the University of Buenos Aires and other college campuses from anti-Semitism in the two years since October 7.
Ivan does not describe the university as anti-Semitic; rather, it stemmed from student factions. “However, since October 7, the situation has worsened. Murals and graffiti calling for Israel’s destruction have multiplied, and a faculty assembly even passed a resolution accusing Israel of genocide and urging the University to cut ties with Israeli universities. It doesn’t represent the whole university, but for us it was alarming. It puts Jewish students here in danger,” he said.
Regardless of the increase in anti-Semitic banners, murals, and graffiti, the Jewish students at Buenos Aires University remain proud to be part of the school and want only to continue adding to its legacy of greatness as well as Jewish excellence –one of the three Nobel Prize winners to graduate from the school was Jewish. Meanwhile, Argentina is home to the largest population of Jews in South America with a quarter million. This was due to an exodus of Jews from Nazi-controlled Europe during WWII. Today, their children and children’s children call this land home.
“We want to make the University a safe and supportive place for Jews, not abandon it. For us, it is not only about removing graffiti or fighting resolutions. It’s about showing that we belong here as Jews, that we are part of the university, and that our voices matter,” said Ivan.
