(This post reflects experiences from days 2 & 3 of our trip!)

Buenos dias familias y amigos!

It’s Brooklyn and Taylor, blogging on the bus from Basavilbaso to Buenos Aires!

After a much-needed night’s rest, we got an early start and jumped right in to our service project.  Although there are four remaining synagogues in the small town of Basavilbaso, we painted the exterior of the only synagogue in use today, Tefila L’Moises. This synagogue was built over 100 years ago, and upon our arrival, we quickly realized we had our work set out for us.  We painted the exterior walls, the gates, and a mural designed by UT students Morgan Bearman and Michelle Arbov.

Luckily, Nacho and his team of professional painters were there to oversee and instruct us in order for us to do the best job possible.  We were standing on scaffolds painting the high walls, meticulously painting fences, and finishing with triple coats. The mural is three-panels, spanning from day to night with two railroads (the industry that Basavilbaso was founded upon) meeting in the middle to symbolize the crossing roads of multiple cultures and the foundation of the Jewish town.

While working all day, we went in small groups to visit homes of JDC beneficiaries in Basavilbaso.  Seeing their poor living conditions and hearing their stories was a true eye-opener for all of us.  We realized the importance that our work had on the Basavilbaso community as a whole.

One woman we visited, Rosa, is a widowed, 67-year-old woman, native to Basavilbaso, living in a poorly structured home with her 47-year-old schizophrenic son.  The JDC plays a huge role in the wellness of her son, as they provide her and her son with medicines that they could not otherwise afford, because they both are unable to work.  While Rosa was telling her story, her son suddenly woke up and came to talk to us. We later learned that he usually spends his day sleeping due to his illness, but he simply wanted to ask us for a keyboard.  His mother explained that her son’s passion for music is what keeps him sane.  He is self-taught and plays at the City Hall twice a week, but for such an illness, that is simply not enough.  At the same time, her small home is poorly insulated, and has caused her son to also develop extreme allergies, which he needs medicines for as well.  Sadly, Rosa said that if she could afford to live in a better home, her son might not be diagnosed with allergies, which is what many of his medications are prescribed for.  It was so difficult to witness someone who had to prioritize great needs necessary for their survival.

Another beneficiary, Teresa Partricia, is a single mother of three and native of Basavilbaso. The recession hit hard in 2003 for Patricia and the family and it became hard to even get food on the table. Patricia’s home, which used to belong to her parents, is very humble but full of warmth. To add onto their difficulties, Patricia was diagnosed with thyroid cancer two years ago. The JDC offers money to Patricia to pay for her medical bills so she can continue working and providing for her kids. Patricia has two jobs, one as a secretary to a doctor in the morning and another job in the afternoon. Despite the language barrier, you could feel Patricia’s pain. She could not stop saying how grateful she was for the JDC’s help.

Word of the “gringos” spread like wildfire through the small town, and we became celebrities overnight.  While working at the synagogue, we were interviewed by local radio stations, as well as photographed and filmed by the director of the Facebook group “Los Gauchos Judios”- the Jewish Cowboys.

We finished painting for the day around six o’clock. During the break before dinner, a few of us gathered to play a game of futbol. To fully integrate ourselves into the culture, we played an intense game at the JCC’s concrete yard.

We ate dinner at the JCC with a few members of the Jewish community, including the President of the Jewish Community of Basavilbaso. We made a few toasts and speeches to one another, with the helpful aid of translators, to say thank you and be thanked for our work here. Dinner included gefilte fish and spinach cannolis followed by delicious ice cream. As our food was settling, we gathered outside for a bonfire to conclude our time with community. Again, a few more toasts were made. When living in a small town, who wouldn’t be thankful to have celebrities like ourselves come visit? In all seriousness, the thank-you’s were mutual. Off to bed it was after a long day of work.

Wednesday morning was another early rise and we went straight to the synagogue to finish our work.  As we were making final touches, members of the community came to the synagogue to thank us again for our work. We heard over and over again the phrase “comunidad pequena, corazon grande” – small town, big hearts. We realized how special our work was and felt the warmth of the community. The now beautified synagogue remains to be a landmark for the pride of the remaining Jewish community.

We ate lunch at the small JCC and hopped on the bus. “Adios Basavilbaso y Hola Buenos Aires!”

From March 14-22, 2010, 25 students from Hillels at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, and the University of North Texas volunteered with the Jewish communities of Buenos Aires and Basavilbaso, Argentina.