Argentinian President Wanted All Volumes of Rebbe’s Chumash

By Libby Herz – COLlive

The presentation of the newly completed set of the Rebbe’s Chumash in Spanish to the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, was a moment of profound significance. These sacred texts, enriched with the wisdom of the Rebbe’s commentary, now grace the presidential office in Argentina, infusing it with holiness and spirituality.

This remarkable journey unfolded with Patricio “Pato” Fuks, an entrepreneur devoted to the Rebbe’s teachings. Originally from Argentina and now active in Jewish communities across Florida and Latin America, Pato’s connection to the Rebbe’s teachings is deeply ingrained, and he seeks the Rebbe’s blessing and guidance for every important decision, large and small.

Last year, Pato met with his friend Javier Milei, who was then a politician and economist with aspirations to become the president of Argentina. Despite skepticism from many, Pato saw potential in Milei’s vision. “You need to go to the Rebbe’s Ohel to receive his blessing if you want to be elected,” Pato advised Milei.

Moved by Pato’s conviction and respect for the Rebbe, Milei visited the Ohel for the first time to seek the Rebbe’s blessings. Months later, against all odds, Milei emerged victorious in the presidential race. Immediately upon winning, he wrote to Pato, “¡Vamos al Rebe! — Let’s go to the Rebbe!”

Recently, Chabad House Publications completed the translation of the Rebbe’s Chumash into Spanish, and, as customary, the first copy was brought to the Rebbe’s Ohel and placed on the Rebbe’s desk. The set remained on the Rebbe’s desk for over a month.

In a farbrengen with the Rebbe’s Head Shliach and Director of West Coast Chabad Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin and his son Rabbi Chaim N. Cunin, Pato was presented with the idea to gift this copy to President Milei as a blessing and source of strength for his unwavering support for Israel, and for sharing the Rebbe’s love and light of Torah with the world.

Pato excitedly embraced this idea and subsequently met Rabbi Menachem Cunin at the Rebbe’s Ohel, where he received the set as he was about to depart for Argentina. Initially meeting President Milei at a packed conference for business leaders and investors, Pato planned to first present Milei with only one of the five volumes, with the thought of delivering the remaining four volumes after the conference. However, when the President saw only one volume, he insisted on receiving the entire set. Dutifully, Pato returned to retrieve the whole set and presented them to the President.

As the President held the five volumes, a sense of reverence and awe filled the room. The Rebbe’s Chumash, which sat on the Rebbe’s desk, now graces the office of Argentina’s President. President Milei views the Rebbe’s Chumash as much more than a gift; it is a vessel for divine guidance, drawing blessings into the office and spreading the light of Torah around the world, especially in these tumultuous times.

The Rebbe’s Chumash is a project of Chabad House Publications, director and general editor Rabbi Chaim Nochum Cunin, editor-in-chief Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Wisnefsky, and executive editor Esther Oxman. The editor-in-chief of the Spanish edition is Rabbi Eliezer Shemtov, the Rebbe’s Head Shliach to Uruguay.

The Rebbe’s Chumash in Spanish is dedicated by the Perez family of Bal Harbor, Florida.