Baruj Plavnick, creator of the Pardés Foundation and the company of Rabbi Marshall Meyer in defending HRDs during Argentina’s last dictatorship, died on Thursday of bilateral pneumonia after having been infected with COVID-19 just over a month ago. Graduated in Law from the University of Buenos Aires and Philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Plavnick’s career was vast – he assisted prisoners in Argentine prisons and was a visiting researcher at Tel Aviv University – but is best remembered for being one of five rabbis who spiritually assisted Argentine Jewish soldiers in the Falklands War.
Baruj Plavnick with Argentine soldiers. Photo: Twitter @CongresoJudio.
Along with four other rabbis, Plavnick was the only non-Catholic chaplain to provide spiritual assistance to armed forces soldiers in the war over the recovery of the islands. Following the news of his death at Finocchietto Hospital at the age of 69, the Jewish community expressed its condolences to one of the most important figures of Judaism in our country.
Today Baruj Plavnick, rabbi and leader of the Argentine Jewish community, defender of HRDs and committed to society as a whole, died. It is impossible not to remember his role by spiritually supporting Jewish soldiers in the Falkland Islands. May your memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/7f0eZRe1GY — Claudio Epelman (@claudio_epelman)
May 20, 2021
Claudio Epelman, executive director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, wrote on his social media: “Today Baruj Plavnick, rabbi and leader of the Argentine Jewish community, defender of HRDs and committed to society as a whole, died today. It is impossible not to remember his role by spiritually supporting Jewish soldiers in the Falkland Islands. May his memory be a blessing.” It should also be noted that its foundation is one of the 29 vaccination centers that were available in coordination between the Undersecretariat for Human Rights and Cultural Pluralism of the City of Buenos Aires.” Our teacher and rabbi, Baruj Plavnick ZL, died today. A pioneering rabbi, leader, with a clear message amid confusion. His absence will be painful. His memory and legacy will continue to guide us. May his soul be united with the bonds of eternal life,” were the words of Ariel Stofenmacher, titular dean of the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary.
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