Gerardo Werthein was sworn in as Argentina's new foreign minister on Monday evening after President Javier Milei dismissed former minister Diana Mondino. The unusual aspect of the ceremony was that Werthein took his oath on the Torah.
Mondino was removed from her position after voting in favor of a resolution calling on the United States to lift its economic embargo on Cuba. "I want to be like Israel and the United States," Milei declared shortly after Mondino’s dismissal.
Argentina swears in new foreign minister with oath on Torah
At the swearing-in ceremony, President Milei, known for his strong support of Israel and deep knowledge of Jewish traditions and the Bible, surprised attendees with a commentary on the weekly Torah portion, "Lech Lecha," drawing a connection between the portion and the new foreign minister's role.
Milei, who regularly consults with a rabbi and is an admirer of the Chabad movement, addressed Werthein during the ceremony: "Mr. Gerardo Werthein, do you swear by God, the homeland and the Torah to faithfully and devotedly fulfill the role of minister of foreign affairs, international trade and religions to which you have been appointed, and to uphold the Constitution of Argentina to the best of your ability?"
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Argentine President Javier Milei (left) and his newly sworn foreign minister, Gerardo Werthein
"Yes, I swear," Werthein replied. The president then added, "If you fail to do so, God and the country will hold you accountable."
Concluding the ceremony, Milei offered a Torah lesson to the participants: "Today we departed from tradition, taking the oath on the Torah, so it is fitting to speak about the weekly portion, 'Lech Lecha.' The portion teaches us about the beginning of Abraham’s journey, as he spreads the message of God to the world. God commands Abraham to influence the nations, entrusting him with the responsibility to share the values of the Torah—life and liberty—with the world. Abraham had already begun to connect with other nations."
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