First Jewish Settlement in Argentina, 1889

In 1889, driven by a dream of owning their own land, 700 Eastern European Jews ventured from Podolia across the world on a ship named Wesser to found Moises Ville, the first Jewish colony in Argentina eight hours north of Buenos Aires.

Stranded for their first two months at the Palacios train station, these urban emigrants endured hunger, cold and the death of 67 children whom they buried in discarded oil drums. Nearby Italian pioneers from Piedmont, the Cuniglia, and Scarafia families and others, took the newcomers to their new land and taught them how to farm, build, and survive the isolation of the pampas. Less than 100 souls persisted through two years of drought, floods and locusts. They fortified themselves with food, seeds, chickens and livestock from their neighbours. The remaining intrepid settlers went on to build a Synagogue in the name of their patron, Baron Hirsch, as well as a school, library and later a multi-purpose Opera house. Some of them even became gauchos (cowboys).

Remaining true to their faith, these ingenious settlers found a way to celebrate their Jewish festivals out of season in the southern hemisphere. Dreamers and intellectuals, they also gave expression to their utopian and socialistic beliefs, forming one of the first farmer's co-operatives in Argentina.

Many Jews had a safe haven in Moises Ville during World War II. Today however, the town has only 250 Jewish people remaining. They educated their children who then left Moises Ville to pursue careers all over the world.

The photographs in this collection are a tribute to their vision and tenacity.   

Brane Konden, 8
Schepsel Konden, 16
Reise Konden, 5
Menasche Sass, 45
Itzik Sass, 20
Freide Sass, 18
Wolf Sass, 13
Mayer Sass, 9
Rechel Sass, 7
Menuje Sass, 5
Pinkus Feldman, 38
Scheina Feldman, 38
Abe Feldman, 12
Avrum Feldman, 7
Enoch Feldman, 9
Mordke Feldman, 7
Schalem Zeivick, 41
Schopse Zeivick, 41
Nachum Zeivick, 17
Ziml Seivick, 11
Iosel Zeivick, 10
Freide Zeivick, 5
Susse Zeivick, 3
Hirsch Sandler, 32
Ratze Sandler, 32
Inde Sandler, 8
Heike Sandler, 4
Scheive Sandler, 1
Wolf Skaliter, 38
Leie Skaliter, 36
Sosse Skaliter, 12
Dudie Skaliter, 7
Ieinnie Skaliter, 5
Sure Skaltier, 1
Moses Kohn, 29
Scheindl Kohn, 29
Peretz Schmulevitz, 37
Froim Vainstein, 3
Isaak Morgenstern, 35
Pesia Morgenstern, 35
Rachel Morgenstern, 15
Sara Morgenstern, 12
Rebeca Morgenstern, 10
Rosa Morgenstern, 8
Lea Morgenstern, 5
Feiwel Morgenstern, 2
Hirsch Vainer, 45
Esther Vainer, 45
Chaim Vainer, 10
Abraham Vainer, 26
Chane Vainer, 24
Dobrusch Vainer, 5
Salomon Vainer, 1
Roze Vainer, 2
Hirsch Cosedoy, 27
Glike Cosedoy, 24
Suse Cosedoy, 6 1/2
Moses Simma, 26
Chane Simma, 26
Leyb Simma, 4
Hilde Simma, 6 1û2
Isak Segal, 30
Charne Segal, 25
Chaie Segal, 4
Indel Brannfin, 26

Charne Vainshelbaum, 50
A. Vainshelbaum, 50
S. Vainshelbaum, 25
Iente Vainshelbaum, 25
Iacob Vainshelbaum, 8
Aron Vainshelbaum, 8
Isaak Vainshelbaum, 24
Iacob Vainshelbaum, 2
A. Vainshelbaum, 6 1/2

List extracted from
Genesis de Moises Ville
Author: Noe Ciovitch
Publisher: AMIA-Series Testimonios
Mila Publishing House 1987