The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Governor of Entre Ríos, Gustavo Bordet, and the Israeli Ambassador to Argentina, Eyal Sela. Senator Fuertes, the Mayor of Villaguay, Claudia Monjo, the Mayor of Paraná, Adán Bahl, and the President of the Friends of Ben-Gurion University in Argentina, Nava Rubenzadeh, also participated.
Itongadol.- The province of Entre Ríos inaugurated on Friday in the city of Villaguay the first street in Argentina named after the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel, David Ben-Gurion.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Governor of Entre Ríos, Gustavo Bordet, and the Israeli Ambassador to Argentina, Eyal Sela.
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During his speech, the governor said that »on the 75th anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel we had to generate an event that reflects the ties that have historically united the State of Israel with the Republic of Argentina since its birth, but particularly with our province, Entre Ríos».
With the State of Israel, from our province, we have very frequent ties and much to share and exchange. Israel is one of our main markets for blueberries, for example. On the other hand, last year we travelled to start importing Israeli technology with irrigation systems,» said Bordet.
The Governor of Entre Ríos, Gustavo Bordet, and the Israeli Ambassador to Argentina, Eyal Sela..
Regarding his government’s policies, Bordet remarked that he has »a strong commitment to eliminate any bias or trait of anti-Semitism in our province. We are the first province in Argentina that this year we have sanctioned and enacted a law against discrimination and anti-Semitism in the country».
For his part, the Israeli ambassador to Argentina, Eyal Sela, stressed: »At the end of the 19th century, anti-Semitism emerged in Europe. At the same time, there were two phenomena: one started by Baron Hirsch, who said ‘I’m going to save the Jews, to see where I can take them’, and he found out that in a place far from Europe called Argentina they were receiving migrants to work the land; and at the same time another movement began, which is Zionism, which means not only that we Jews are going to live in our land of Israel but also that we are going to live as a nation. At that time, the idea of country/nation arose in many European countries. And there begins the phenomenon of the migration of Jews from Europe back to our homeland, the land of Israel of Zion and Jerusalem.
And one of the people who came there was a young man who came from what is now Poland called David Green, who became a Zionist leader and took a Hebrew surname, Ben-Gurion. And he was one of the leaders who fought for Israel’s Independence and then became the prime minister of Israel. That’s why I think that on this very emotional day these two paths come together, the path of the Jews who escaped from Europe to Argentina and the path of the Jews who emigrated to Israel, as David Ben-Gurion did,» Sela added.
The initiative for a street named after him came from the Friends of Ben-Gurion University in Argentina and Iton Gadol, and it was Senator Adrian Fuertes, together with the mayor of Villaguay, Claudia Monjo, who made it possible.
The president of the Friends of Ben-Gurion University in Argentina, Nava Rubenzadeh, admitted that »when the idea of naming Ben-Gurion in Argentina came up, it seemed like a dream and I did not imagine that we could do it. But thank God and through Ariel and Daniel Berliner we met Senator Fuertes and he gave us the push we needed».
The president of the Friends of Ben-Gurion University in Argentina, Nava Rubenzadeh; Senator Fuertes; Ambassador Sela; and Mayor Monjo.
For me it is very exciting that on the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel we are inaugurating a street named after Ben-Gurion. As an Israeli who has lived in Argentina for many years, it is impossible for me to explain in words what I feel at this moment,» said Rubenzadeh.
At the same ceremony, the president of the Jewish community of Villaguay, Marina Garber, notably moved, mentioned that it was »an honour and a privilege to be here today, at this historic moment in our beloved city, which is a Jewish colony in Entre Ríos. This act is much more than the simple change of a name on a map, it is a tribute to the vision, courage and tenacity, which have led two nations to meet at a crossroads of destinies. The choice to name this street after David Ben-Gurion, the founder and Prime Minister of the State of Israel, is a reminder of the deep roots that connect our community to the land of Israel.
Ambassador Eyal Sela with Nava Rubenzadeh and Friends of Ben-Gurion University in Argentina.
The Mayor of Villaguay, Claudia Monjo, said that the inauguration of Ben-Gurion Street »is a very important moment that strengthens ties and brings together even more two communities that live and have always lived together in harmony and mutually nourishing each other. This promenade, named after one of the founding fathers and Prime Minister of the State of Israel, gives the area a higher profile and an attraction that will undoubtedly be a meeting place for locals and visitors alike».
Senator Fuertes with Rubenzadeh and the mayor of Paraná, Adán Bahl.
With this simple but very significant and emotional act we are reaffirming the healthy and exemplary coexistence that exists and has always existed in our country. Entre Ríos has been one of the provinces that has sheltered a community that arrived seeking relief from persecution», celebrated the hostess.
Finally, Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, sent a message in which he underlined that this is »a momentous occasion in the heart of the beautiful city of Villaguay, in honour of our designated leader David Ben-Gurion. I want to thank everyone for being part of this historic occasion. May David Ben-Gurion’s name forever serve as a beacon of light guiding us towards the future and progression, collaboration and mutual respect».
Ambassador Sela took the time to greet the representatives of the local Jewish colonies in Entre Ríos.
A few days before the event, Senator Fuertes pointed out that »Entre Ríos has in its history part of your history and that is why we are twinned. Undoubtedly the Jewish colonies in Argentina were a fundamental and foundational part in the construction of this thriving country and an example for the world of interfaith coexistence».
Also present at the ceremony, among others, were: the provincial deputy Juan Pablo Cosso; the mayor of Paraná Adán Bahl; mayors of neighbouring towns and councillors of all the forces of all the blocks of Villaguay.