The first few chapters of “Futbol, Jews, and the Making of Argentina” are very interesting, primarily focusing on the author’s claims, immigration, and main Jewish communities in Argentina. The introduction is where we first dig into the author’s claims. The major claim being that soccer served as an important part of Jewish integration in Argentine society. From there we take a look at smaller claims such as how the lack of research and overall academics can present many challenges for one who is interested in this subject.Plus how even though there are many challenges in this new area of history, the author does suggest that this story can help understand immigration better, such as why they immigrate, how they adapt, and challenges they may encounter in their foreign environment.
As for chapters 1 and 2 the author begins to explore reasons for Jewish immigration, but then specifically takes a look at why Argentina was the hotspot for their immigration. The author highlights key events to why they migrated such as the organization of semitic massacres that were being carried out in Russia and other parts of Europe, the most notable of them being the Holocaust. From here the author notes that many countries such as the United States had immigration bans during this time that primarily arose from WW1, and basically forced Jews to places that would accept them such as Argentina. After this we take a look at chapter 2. Chapter 2 explores the reason why Jewish communities develop where they did. Reasons such as transportation, business opportunities, rent payments, and more.
Again these chapters were very interesting because it allowed me to explore a side of the Jewish immigration that is rarely visited. Meaning oftentimes we look at the Holocaust and its story, but never explore how much it affected their lives outside of the event itself. I mean these people really had to move to an entire new country, with new languages, and practically nothing. Plus on top of all that they still had to live in the constant fear that the hostility they experienced in Russia and Europe would trickle its way down to South America. But with that being said, I hope in the upcoming chapters we get to see how the Jewsih community picked up soccer, and how other local non-Jewish communities viewed it. I also hope we get to see exactly how soccer integrated them into their foreign society. Was it because they were just that good or was it because of the manliness and toughness the sport symbolized within that country.
