ABSTRACT

This chapter highlights three sets of issues involved in Latin American Zionism: first, the role played by Latin America in the history of the Zionist movement; second, the impact of Zionism on Latin American Jewish life and institutions; and third, the position of Latin American Zionists within the World Zionist Organization. Because of the uneven coverage of the existing research, more conclusive remarks are offered regarding the earlier parts of this history, whereas more unanswered questions are raised with respect to later developments. Zionism was present in the early history of the Latin American communities. The first appearance of any Jewish organizations in Argentina dates back to 1862. The predominance of the Zionists in Latin American Jewish life might have also enhanced their position in world Zionism. Zionism was an important factor in Latin American Jewish life almost from its inception, not in spite of the fact that the communities were composed of immigrants, but rather because of this fact.