Hermann Gerson, 79, and his non-Jewish riding partner, Lorenzo Sosa, 78, have been working together for over 60 years at Gerson’s ranch on the Pampas. On a typical afternoon, the pair corral a herd of cattle. Lorenzo rides in screaming from atop his horse behind the stampede as Hermann swings his rebenque (a short leather whip), hooting and shouting to scare the cows into the pen so he can start the day’s branding. Just before sunset, driving home from the range, Lorenzo shares a few tidbits he has learned from Hermann over the years. “This Hermann,” Lorenzo says, winking, “has a meshuguneh kup (crazy head, in Yiddish).” Hermann retorts in kind: “Kischen mein tuchus.”

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