Surprised? Although baptized in the Catholic Church, Javier Milei has a special relationship with Judaism and Israel. I first saw this Jewish connection during his inauguration on December 10, 2023, at the religious ceremony. Representatives of the Abrahamic traditions gave “sermons” at the Buenos Aires Cathedral. The Roman Catholic bishop gave a scripted speech. Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish, on the other hand, spoke directly to Milei’s heart and spirit: “God has faith in you, Mr. President.” His words shook Javier Milei, who could not contain his tears. Tears of inner joy accompanied the awareness of the weight of immense responsibility. Milei appointed Rabbi Wahnish as his ambassador to Israel.
Moreover, after winning the presidential election, Milei’s first foreign visit was to the grave of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson (1902–1994), in the Jewish cemetery of Montefiore, in Springfield Gardens, Queens, New York. Milei is not shy when speaking to the press, but he preferred to remain silent on this occasion. His entourage described the visit as “strictly private.” Milei later said that his visit was to “thank” the rabbi after “the Creator placed me in this place of maximum responsibility,” and that “he hopes to rise to the occasion.” Before the elections, Milei had visited the place to ask for “wisdom to distinguish good from evil, courage to choose good and temperance to accept the will of the Creator.”
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