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Argentina’s chief Sephardic rabbi reaffirms century-old ban on local conversions, sparking backlash

JL;DR SUMMARY Argentina's Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yosef Chehebar reaffirmed a century-old ban on local conversions, allowing them only if conducted in Israel. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Latin AmericaJewish LawJewish IdentityOrthodox JudaismArgentinaConversionHalachaRabbinic AuthoritySephardic JudaismNon Orthodox Movements

Places mentioned

Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
"the rector of the Seminario Rabnico Latinoamericano, the Masorti/Conservative movements seminary in Buenos Aires, told JTA."
Israel
"conversion may not be performed in Argentina and is considered valid only if carried out in Israel."
Brazil
"the mass conversion in Brazil, Colombia and other countries of people who identify as Bnei Anusim"
Colombia
"the mass conversion in Brazil, Colombia and other countries of people who identify as Bnei Anusim"
Uruguay
"such as completing an Orthodox conversion in neighboring Uruguay and then returning to Argentina to seek its recognition in Buenos Aires."

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Cairo Item ID 73164
Cairo Source ID 42
Retrieved 2026-01-21 05:30:55 UTC
Curated 2026-01-21 08:30:29 UTC