Uruguay as the Switzerland of South America? You bet! Whether it was 97% of energy derived from renewables, a progressive social welfare state with free health care and education, low crime, clean streets, and since 1919 -- the separation of church and state where Christmas is "Family Day" and Easter Week is "Tourism Week" No wonder the third largest Jewish community in South America is thriving with Jews making up about one per cent of the population and are mostly secular like the general population. Instead of Catholicism, the thirty thousand Jews are cultural Zionists belonging to a myriad of youth movements which foster deep connections with Israel.
The "Meeting of Peoples" (or El Abrazo de los Pueblos) is a sculpture in the old Jewish neighborhood in Montevideo created by artist Nora Kimelman who cried when her monument was faced on October 10th 2023 by leftist anarchists in support of Palestine. The sculpture represents the embrace between the Uruguayan people and Jewish immigrants, highlighting themes of integration and community. It is part of the broader, rich Jewish cultural landscape in Montevideo, often explored alongside other landmarks like the Memorial al Holocausto del Pueblo Judio (Holocaust Memorial of the Jewish People) located in Punta Carretas n the Rambla overlooking the River Platte.
Ellie Wiesel wrote that we must move beyond sadness to hope. I hope I never have to move as a refugee as my ancestors did from Eastern Europe, but if I did have to move from North America, I'm moving to Montevideo!
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