By Mark D. Zimmerman
Javier Milei was just elected president of Argentina. Milei, an economist, author, politician, former tantric sex coach, and self-described “anarcho-capitalist,” is a right-wing libertarian and populist who supports freedom of choice on issues such as drugs, guns, prostitution, and LGBTQ issues, while opposing abortion. He believes that global warming is a “socialist lie” and has pledged to not raise taxes, noting that “I will never raise a tax, I will never create new taxes,” while also saying that “Jesus didn’t pay taxes.” Upon Milei’s victory in the presidential race, Donald Trump tweeted that “I am very proud of you. You will turn your country around and truly Make Argentina Great Again!” What connection does Milei have to Judaism?
A. Though he is Catholic, he maintains a kosher-style diet, eating no pork products or shellfish, noting that “what works for Jesus’s people works for me.”
B. He studies Torah on a daily basis, commenting that “The rabbi who helps me study says that I should read the Torah from the point of view of economic analysis.”
C. His mother was Jewish and he attended Hebrew school as a child, but he later converted to Catholicism, commenting that “If I am to make my way in Argentina, I will need to do so with the support of the Holy Father.”
D. He considered converting to Judaism, but decided that becoming Sabbath-observant would interfere with his duties as president, saying “If I am president and Shabbat falls, what do I do? Are you going to disconnect from the country from the first star on Friday to the first star on Saturday?”
E. He is a strong supporter of Israel, often walked onstage at his rallies to the sound of a shofar, and has said, “I’m almost Jewish. I’m just missing the ‘blood covenant.’”
Mark Zimmerman is the author of a series of Jewish trivia books, under the title RASHI, RAMBAM and RAMALAMADINGDONG: A Quizbook of Jewish Trivia Facts & Fun.