KOL SAN MIGUEL MAY 2026

KOL SAN MIGUEL
The Voice of Your Jewish Community
May 2026 Edition
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From the Publisher
As the Jewish calendar moves beyond Passover and into late spring, Jewish life in San Miguel de Allende continues with a steady rhythm of connection, learning, and celebration.
With new visitors arriving and seasonal residents returning, this is a time when community becomes especially important—a place to gather, to share traditions, and to stay connected to Jewish life while living in or visiting San Miguel.
As always, the goal of KOL SAN MIGUEL is to serve as a central resource for all things Jewish in our community—whether you are here for a few weeks, a few months, or year-round.
— Alan Jacobson
Publisher, KOL SAN MIGUEL
🗓️ Jewish Holidays & Observances — May 2026
As the Jewish calendar moves from Passover into late spring, May brings a series of meaningful observances culminating in Shavuot—one of the most important and spiritually significant festivals in the Jewish year.
Pesach Sheni (Second Passover)
Friday, May 1
Pesach Sheni, or "Second Passover," offers a unique concept within Judaism—the idea of a second chance. Traditionally, it allowed those who were unable to bring the Passover offering at the proper time to do so one month later. Today, it serves as a symbolic reminder that it is never too late to reconnect or begin again.
About the Omer Period
The weeks between Passover and Shavuot are known as the Omer—a time of counting, reflection, and spiritual preparation. Each holiday within this period carries its own meaning and tradition, building toward the culminating celebration of the Torah's giving at Mount Sinai.
Lag BaOmer
Tuesday, May 5
Lag BaOmer marks the 33rd day of the Omer, a period between Passover and Shavuot that is traditionally more subdued. On this day, restrictions are lifted and the mood shifts to celebration.
It is often associated with bonfires, outdoor gatherings, and joy, and is linked historically to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and themes of resilience and spiritual light.
Yom Yerushalayim
Friday, May 15
Yom Yerushalayim commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967 during the Six-Day War. It is a modern holiday that holds deep historical and emotional significance, particularly in Israel, celebrating both the city's unity and its enduring importance in Jewish history.
Rosh Chodesh Sivan
Sunday, May 17
Rosh Chodesh marks the beginning of a new Hebrew month. The month of Sivan is especially significant as it leads into Shavuot, the holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah.
The Month of Sivan
Sivan is considered one of the most spiritually charged months in the Jewish calendar. It is the month in which the Jewish people stood at Mount Sinai and received the Torah—a moment that defines Jewish identity and purpose across all generations.
Rosh Chodesh Sivan begins the final countdown to Shavuot, inviting communities to prepare with intention and anticipation.
Shavuot — Festival of Weeks
Begins sunset Thursday, May 21
Ends nightfall Saturday, May 23
Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai—a defining moment in Jewish history. Traditionally, it is celebrated through study, community gatherings, and the reading of the Book of Ruth.
Torah Study
All-night learning sessions mark the holiday with deep engagement in Jewish texts and tradition.
Book of Ruth
The reading of Ruth connects themes of loyalty, conversion, and belonging to the spirit of the holiday.
Dairy Foods
It is customary to enjoy dairy foods, symbolizing purity and renewal during the festival.
Jewish Life in San Miguel
For those new to KOL SAN MIGUEL or new to San Miguel de Allende, the city offers a growing and welcoming Jewish community supported by two primary organizations: JC3 / CHESMA and Chabad of San Miguel de Allende.
Whether you are visiting or living here full or part-time, these organizations provide opportunities for connection, learning, celebration, and community.
JC3 / CHESMA
A vibrant cultural and community center offering programming, services, and a permanent home for Jewish life in San Miguel.
Chabad of SMA
Led by Rabbi Daniel and Raizel Huebner, Chabad offers Shabbat dinners, classes, and a welcoming home for every Jew.
JC3 / CHESMA — A House for All People
What began as a small group gathering in a restaurant—and in one another's homes—has grown into something much larger: a vibrant center for Jewish life in San Miguel de Allende.
JC3 / CHESMA was built on a shared vision—to create a permanent home for Jewish culture, learning, and connection. About a dozen years ago, that vision became reality when the community came together to purchase a property and open its doors.
A Community That Shows Up for Life
From brit milah and baby namings, to b'nai mitzvah and weddings—and through life's more difficult moments—JC3 is there across the full arc of life. Children's programming, Shabbatons, and senior support reflect a deep value of responsibility for one another.
Big Ideas, Right Here in San Miguel
JC3 has welcomed journalists, filmmakers, authors, and rabbis—creating experiences you might expect in a much larger city. Lectures, concerts, film, theater, Torah study, Shabbat services, and visiting cantors from across the Americas and Israel.
Local Heart, International Reach
During peak season, JC3 can host 15 to 30 events in a single week. Its weekly newsletter reaches more than 1,300 readers, and membership has grown steadily—a community expanding in both size and spirit.
Part of the Larger San Miguel Story
JC3 regularly hosts local nonprofits and community groups, maintaining relationships with civic, cultural, and interfaith organizations. This is not just a place for a community—it is a place within a community.
Attend a lecture. Join a Shabbat. Take a class. Meet the people. You may come for a single program—and discover something much more lasting.
📅 Community Events & Programs — May 2026
JC3 / CHESMA
🌐 shalomsanmiguel.org/events
Weekly Programs
Calle de las Moras 47 (at Calle Cinco de Mayo) 

San Miguel de Allende CP 37760
 Guanajuato, Mexico
(415) 185-9191
Mondays — 11:00 AM
Age Gracefully with Feldenkrais
Mondays — 7:00 PM
Drawing from Torah ( English)
ShalomSanMiguel@gmail.com
Thursdays — 7:00 PM
Pintar Torah ( Spanish)
ShalomSanMiguel@gmail.com
Saturdays — 10:00 AM
Conservative Egalitarian Shabbat Service
Special Programs — May 2026
Friday, May 1 — 6:00 PM
Contemplative Kabbalat Shabbat
Thursday, May 7 — 2:00 PM
Jewish Literary Circle
The Memory Monster by Yishai Shari
Facilitated by Amy Rosenbaum
Tuesday, May 19 — 11:30 AM
No Cook Pasta Sauces
Limited to six participants
Friday, May 22 — 6:00 PM
Shavuot / Contemplative Kabbalat Shabbat
A Jewish Home in San Miguel
Chabad of SMA with Rabbi Daniel & Raizel Huebner
If you've spent any time in San Miguel de Allende, you've probably heard about Shabbat dinners that somehow feel both intimate and bustling, classes that turn into conversations, and a place where people seem to arrive as guests and leave as part of something more. That place is Chabad of San Miguel de Allende, led by Rabbi Daniel and Raizel Huebner.
Rabbi Huebner received his rabbinic ordination from Machon Smicha in Melbourne, Australia, where he trained across a wide range of rabbinic disciplines. Together with Raizel, they've built something that feels less like an organization and more like a home. They are raising their seven children here in San Miguel, putting down deep roots and growing alongside the community.
Come As You Are
Every Jew is welcome, exactly as they are. No pressure to fit a mold or meet a standard. Some come with a strong background, others with very little. All are welcomed.
A Living Community
A weekly minyan, Shabbat dinners for 70–80 people, adult education classes, and Raizel's celebrated Art and Soul series connecting artistic expression to Torah.
Something for Everyone
Hebrew School for children, community events, kosher food options, challah, mezuzot, and personal guidance for life's most important moments.
No Barriers
No membership dues. No prerequisites to participate. Chabad of San Miguel de Allende is locally supported, built by a community that values connection and shared experience.
A culture of kindness runs through everything. Meals are delivered when needed. People check in on one another. Support is offered quietly and consistently.
San Miguel is a place where people come and go, often at different stages of life. Chabad provides something steady in the middle of that movement—a place to connect, to learn, to celebrate, and to feel at home. For some, it begins with a Shabbat dinner. For others, a class or conversation. For many, it becomes something lasting. A community.
Community Events — Chabad
May 2026
1
Monday, May 4 — 7:00 PM
Lag BaOmer BBQ
2
Thursday, May 21 — Late Evening
Shavuot Late Night Study
3
Friday, May 22 — 10:00 AM
Shavuot Morning Services, Torah Reading, and Dairy Lunch
🕊️ Jewish Life in San Miguel
Beit Chaim — Jewish Section at Jardines Nueva Vida Cemetery
For those living in or considering San Miguel de Allende as a full-time or part-time home, understanding how Jewish life is supported across all stages of life—including end-of-life traditions—is an important part of community awareness.
About Beit Chaim
San Miguel is home to a designated Jewish section known as Beit Chaim—"House of Life"—located within Jardines Nueva Vida Cemetery.
The presence of Beit Chaim reflects the continued growth and permanence of the Jewish community in San Miguel. It ensures that Jewish residents have the ability to observe burial traditions in accordance with Jewish law and custom, even while living far from larger Jewish population centers.
A Lasting Presence
Beit Chaim provides a place for burial that maintains dignity, continuity, and respect for Jewish tradition, while also allowing individuals and families to remain part of the San Miguel community in a lasting and meaningful way.
For many, this is an important part of deciding to make San Miguel a full-time or long-term home—knowing that all aspects of Jewish life, including end-of-life care, are supported.
Both JC3 / CHESMA and Chabad of San Miguel de Allende are available to provide guidance, answer questions, and assist families with arrangements and information.
Kol of the Month
Dr. Dan Lessner
"The most meaningful part of my time in San Miguel has been helping to create a profound sense of Jewish community—one that is inclusive, evolving, and grounded in tradition." — Dr. Dan Lessner
Few individuals have had as profound an impact on Jewish life in San Miguel de Allende as Dr. Dan Lessner.
A retired family physician from Long Island, New York, Dr. Lessner moved to San Miguel de Allende in 2004. What began as a retirement chapter quickly evolved into a life of deep community involvement and leadership.
He is widely recognized as a key figure behind the development of the Jewish Cultural & Community Center, JC3 (CHESMA), where he has played an essential role in building a vibrant center for Jewish life.
While not an ordained rabbi, Dr. Lessner serves as a spiritual leader, teacher, and Shaliach Tzibur, leading services and fostering continuity within the community. He also leads the widely attended Jewish Wisdom Seminar, offering insights grounded in both traditional teachings and contemporary thought.
One of the most meaningful aspects of his work has been helping to foster a sense of Jewish community that extends beyond borders. Through his involvement with Kehilah Shalom San Miguel de Allende (KSSMA), he has played a role in welcoming and integrating individuals and families—including those who have formally and halachically converted or returned to Judaism—from across the Bajío region and beyond.
Before relocating to Mexico, Dr. Lessner practiced medicine in Sag Harbor, New York. His transition from physician to community leader reflects a lifelong commitment to helping others—whether through medicine or through building meaningful community.
Today, he remains an active and guiding presence within the Jewish community of San Miguel, helping to ensure that it continues to grow with strength, inclusivity, and purpose.
A Judaism that is inclusive to all, responding to 21st century concerns honestly and compassionately, allowing women and LGBT people full equality in ritual matters, etc., and yet honoring traditional Jewish values and customs as interpreted by our Conservative rabbis.
Recipe of the Month
Classic Shakshouka
Shakshouka is a beloved dish across Israel and the Middle East, made with eggs gently poached in a rich, spiced tomato sauce. It's simple, flavorful, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a light dinner. With Shavuot approaching—a holiday traditionally associated with dairy dishes—shakshouka is a natural addition to the table.
It's also one of my personal favorites—easy to prepare, full of flavor, and perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 can (or fresh) tomatoes, crushed
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper
4–6 eggs
Fresh herbs
Optional: feta cheese
Directions
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat
Add onion and cook until softened
Add garlic and pepper
Add tomatoes and spices, simmer 10–15 minutes
Create wells and add eggs
Cover and cook until set
Garnish and serve
Serve with crusty bread or warm pita.
Community Contributions
KOL SAN MIGUEL is a community-driven publication, and we welcome participation from members of the Jewish community in San Miguel de Allende.
Submissions May Include:
Articles and personal stories
Upcoming events and community programs
Cultural, educational, or religious initiatives
Announcements of interest to the community
All submissions are welcome for consideration in future issues and may be edited for clarity, length, and overall fit with the publication. Please note that due to space and editorial direction, not all submissions can be included in every issue.
To submit content or information, please contact: 📧 msfjt@aol.com
Community Resource
In addition to publishing KOL SAN MIGUEL, Alan Jacobson is an International Real Estate Advisor specializing in San Miguel de Allende and Palm Beach County, Florida.
With decades of experience in real estate, negotiation, and client representation, Alan works with buyers, sellers, and investors navigating both local and international markets.
Whether you are considering relocating, purchasing a second home, selling a property, or simply exploring your options, Alan is available as a resource.
📧 Email
msfjt@aol.com
📞 Phone
US +1 561-596-2191
MX +52 415-105-4555
🌐 Website
alanjacobsonrealtor.com
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Sponsor Spotlight
Our Valued Sponsor
This issue of Kol San Miguel is proudly sponsored by kw Allende
This issue of Kol San Miguel is proudly sponsored by kw Allende, an esteemed part of the global Keller Williams system. kw Allende is dedicated to connecting individuals with exceptional real estate opportunities and their ideal homes within our vibrant community of San Miguel de Allende.
Their commitment to service and local expertise makes them a trusted partner in navigating the unique real estate market here. We extend our sincere gratitude for their support in helping us bring this publication to you.