Sephardic Jews of Argentina

Historical Timeline of Sephardic Jews in Argentina

1580s: Contraband trade begins linking Peru via Tucumán with the River Plate route to Buenos Aires and Portuguese outposts in southern Brazil.
1603: Twenty-five Portuguese New Christians expelled from Buenos Aires.
1628: Attempt to prevent local people from marrying the “Portuguese” (likely New Christians).
1869: First national census conducted in Argentina.
Late 19th Century: Migration of Eastern Sephardic Jews to Argentina, primarily from Turkey and the Balkans.
1884: Civil registration introduced in Argentina.
1895: Earliest surviving census records with names of individuals (partially destroyed in 1932 fire).
Early 20th Century: Largest wave of Sephardic Jewish immigration to Argentina, with Jews fleeing persecution and economic hardship in Europe and the Middle East.
1914: Next surviving census records with names of individuals.
1960: Publication of Directorio Israelita, a Jewish community directory.
1994: AMIA bombing

Sephardic Jewish Communities in Argentina

Current estimated population: 100,000 to 200,000 Sephardic Jews
Main countries of origin: Syria, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia
Primary centers: Buenos Aires, Rosario, Córdoba, and Mendoza

Prominent Sephardic Synagogues and Organizations

Asociación Israelita Sefaradí de la República Argentina (Buenos Aires) – Founded by Jews from Turkey and the Balkans
Comunidad Sefaradí de Buenos Aires – Founded by Jews from Turkey, Greece, and Yugoslavia
Comunidad Sefaradí de Rosario – Founded by Jews from Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria
Comunidad Sefaradí de Córdoba – Founded by Jews from Turkey and the Balkans
Congregación Israelita de la República Argentina (Buenos Aires) – Founded by Jews from Syria and Lebanon
Comunidad Israelita de Mendoza – Founded by Jews from Syria and Turkey
Centro Cultural y Social Israelita de Tucumán – Founded by Jews from Syria and Lebanon
Sociedad Hebraica Argentina (Buenos Aires) – Founded by a mix of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews

Sephardic Cemeteries and Burial Sections

Cementerio de la Tablada (Buenos Aires province)
Cementerio de la Chacarita (Buenos Aires)
Cementerio de Liniers (Buenos Aires province)
Cementerio de la ciudad de Córdoba
Cementerio de San Miguel de Tucumán
Cementerio de la ciudad de Rosario (Santa Fe province)

Other Resources

Civil Records and Census Information

Civil registration began in 1884
National Registry of Persons (RENAPER) maintains civil registration records
Each province and autonomous city has its own civil registration office
First census conducted in 1869
National Census Bureau (INDEC) responsible for national censuses
Earliest surviving census records with names: 1895 (incomplete) and 1914

Naturalization Records

Check the Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina (national gazette)
National Registry of Persons (Registro Nacional de las Personas)
National Directorate of Migrations (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones)

Sephardic Jewish Genealogy Resources in Argentina

Genealogía Judía en Argentina Facebook group
Asociación de Genealogía Judía de Argentina (AGJA) website archive. Published a Bulletin with valuable genealogical information
Historia de los judíos argentinos by Ricardo Feierstein
Judíos Conversos: Los antepasados judíos de las familias tradicionales argentinas by Mario Javier Saban (I have not reviewed this book)

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