The Jewish Population of Buenos Aires according to the National Census of 1895: Confirmations, Disagreements and New Findings

Abstract

This study is the outcome of an unusual circumstance: the opportunity to examine the original documents of the Second National Census of Argentina, 1895, which for the first time included the variable of religion. Systematic analysis of the census files paved the way for the localization of most inhabitants of the capital whose religion was defined as Israelitas. At the same time I found many other instances of interviewees who responded “Jew” or “Hebrew”, which were not considered by the census takers as terms equivalent to Israelitas. The pollsters were instructed to ask for religion only in case they doubted whether the polled persons were Catholic. This approach caused errors and omissions. This article describes the achievements as well as the obstacles I confronted in the process of reconstruction and “decision making” until I reached a partial total of 2001 cases. These, instead of the 753 Israelitas included in the original official report of the Second National Census, constitute the universe which will be analized here.