Today we continued our work at SUIM, the Jewish Community Center of Mar del Plata. We finished painting two murals and the main gym while enjoying many delicious homemade alfajores. We also sent seven students to meet with JDC beneficiaries in their homes.
The stories they shared deeply affected us and after returning to the group, we discussed the significance of the JDC's welfare program in Argentina. Many of us were upset, surprised, and uneasy, yet motivated to make a difference.
One of the beneficiaries we met with was an elderly man renting an 8'x8' room for himself. Previously, he worked as a chef all over the world in places such as France, Israel, and Spain. Then, he continued his career teaching cooking classes all over South America. Sadly, he was struck by glaucoma initially losing sight in one eye and then the other. This limited his ability to support himself, and he had never gotten married. So, he was forced to return to Argentina where his brother could take care of him.
His brother owned a bookstore and has a wife and two children. Due to theft and unfaithful business partners, he lost his livelihood. After repaying all his debts, he found himself on the streets until he connected with the JDC. Right now, the JDC takes responsibility for paying the majority of rent and medicinal expenses for the brothers.
The former chef resides in a single, crammed room where his blindness and other physical disabilities impair him from leaving his twin bed without help. When he attempted to begin his story, his anguish was visible. As he spoke, his words were choked, and it was shocking to see tears in the eyes of a total stranger within a couple minutes of meeting. With his brother's encouragement, he eventually recounted his story to us.
Through his journey, he is only grateful for what he is given and never asks for anything more. He has maintained his unbending faith in God and attends services at SUIM three times a week.
The blind man and his brother spend at least an hour together everyday. But in the summer, the brother can no longer afford the rent of his Mar del Plata room due to the increased beach tourism. He has no other choice but to leave Mar del Plata with his wife and move into his son's tiny apartment in Buenos Aires. The blind man is very restricted in what he can do on his own for the summer months.
Another beneficiary we visited today was an elderly man, formerly wealthy and a world traveler. He expressed a struggle with his will to live, mentioning that his wife had passed away a few months ago. He was a man of great pride, refusing any blatant handouts from the JDC. However, when he is at SUIM services many days a week, he enjoys a free meal with his Jewish community. After his savings were devalued in the 2001 financial collapse, he lost everything he had and currently resides in a one room apartment, similar to the other beneficiary's. According to him, living in poverty is made that much more difficult by the fact that he has known wealth.
When we discussed travelling all the way to Argentina, many of us questioned the impact a small group of college students could have in a short span of time. These stories of comfort one day and rapid loss the next took us aback. We imagined ourselves in their situations and questioned if we would be able to still be appreciative like them. The first beneficiary was so grateful for our presence that upon saying goodbye, he insisted that each of us sit on his bed with him as he clasped our heads and said a blessing. Experiencing the powerful, emotional reaction that this gentleman had to the generosity of the JDC gave us confidence in our mission.
Tomorrow, we'll be visiting two more families and continuing to witness the JDC's impact. At orientation, we learned about Argentinean history. Now, we are experiencing firsthand where individuals fit into this history. This powerful connection has brought into focus the significance of our efforts and the JDC's generosity.
Below are some more pictures of our trip so far.
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