Javier Milei speaks after winning the Argentinian presidential election earlier this month.Credit:Getty
The symbolic gesture illustrates how committed the incoming leader is to deepening Argentina’s cultural and political ties with Israel,while much of South America,a Catholic stronghold,remains neutral or even critical.
Milei went to the grave site before any other meetings with US officials or the International Monetary Fund in Washington.
The president-elect is converting to Judaism,as per one of his spokespersons,and on Saturday participated in a Jewish ceremony in Buenos Aires where he received a blessing from another rabbi.
Less than two weeks before he takes office and without a full cabinet in place,he called the US visit a “spiritual” trip,his second since early September. It remains unclear when or why Milei,who grew up Catholic,chose to convert.
Argentina’s president-elect,Javier Milei,centre,leaves after praying next to rabbis at the resting place of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in New York.Credit:AP
The incoming president’s fervently pro-Israel stance singles out Argentina,already home to the region’s largest Jewish population,as Israel’s top ally in Latin America. Milei has repeatedly said he plans to visit the country and move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
At the same time,he’s only starting to smooth over relations with Pope Francis,who is Argentinian,after previously heaping criticism on him while running as a candidate.