News

Earlier this week, 100 JWRP sisters met in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the Conferencia Momentum, the JWRP’s first-ever Latin American Conference. Women arrived from countries throughout Latin America, including Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, and Panama.

The two-day conference was packed with inspiring classes and presentations about creating unity, mastering humility, and making changes in one’s life by JWRP Trip Leaders, including Adrienne Gold Davis and Raquel Kirszenbaum, and JWRP City Leaders and sisters. JWRP sisters shared their tips for taking action in their communities and JWRP City Leaders spoke about engaging community members with the Year of Growth curriculum. The women reminisced over delicious food and drinks and danced to the same playlist that greeted them during their first night at Deck’s.

“The conference was very empowering. We shared our experiences, gained new tools, and opened up to one another,” said Sari Romano, a City Leader from Mexico City. “The two days were completely tailored to Latin American women. We not only spoke the same language of the mouth, but of the heart as well.”

Sari, who presented a class about the power of speech, also received the City Leader Award.  She has coordinated MOMentum Trips in partnership with Aish Mexico since 2012 and has served as a City Leader six times since 2012. In addition to her exemplary work as a City Leader, she has promoted cooperation between Mexico’s other Partner Organizations, mentored new City Leaders, and supported fundraising events in Mexico City.

Lorena De Mizrahi received the Lay Leader Award. After experiencing MOMentum, Lorena helped launch Renaissance Chile, an organization that supports local JWRP sisters in their spiritual growth by offering Jewish classes, volunteer projects, and social events. Renaissance Chile seeks to build a bridge between JWRP sisters and Jewish teachers in the Chilean Jewish community, and to create a space where JWRP sisters feel comfortable asking questions and are motivated to continue learning and growing.

Several JWRP sisters who arrived in Buenos Aires before the conference experienced Shabbat in the Buenos Aires community, enjoying home hospitality and a festive seudah shlishit (afternoon meal) with local Jewish women.

“We chose to host the conference in Buenos Aires because of the magnitude of the local Jewish community here,” said Galia Rubinstein, who oversees the JWRP’s Latin American partnerships. “We have seen a very significant impact by local Argentinian Jewish women who have gotten increasingly involved in the Jewish community after their MOMentum Trips to Israel, and we want to strengthen and replicate that experience.”

Next year, the JWRP will run Leadership Conferences in Washington, DC and in Europe.