When most people think of Jewish history in Mexico, they often picture the Jewish immigrants who arrived from Europe and the Middle East during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But the Jewish story in Mexico began centuries earlier.
Some historians believe that traces of Jewish life have existed in Mexico since the earliest days of Spanish colonization. Their descendants became known as Crypto-Jews, Conversos, or Anusim—Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity but continued to practice elements of Judaism in secret. Their story is one of resilience, faith, adaptation, and survival.
In 1492, the same year Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas, Spain's Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella issued the Alhambra Decree, ordering Jews to convert to Christianity or leave the country. Hundreds of thousands of Jews faced an impossible decision.
Some left Spain and settled throughout the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Ottoman Empire. Others converted publicly while secretly maintaining Jewish practices within their homes. These converts and their descendants became known as Conversos or Crypto-Jews.
When Spain began colonizing the New World, many Conversos saw opportunity across the Atlantic. Some hoped distance from Spain would provide greater freedom. Others sought economic opportunities unavailable to them in Europe. They arrived in Mexico carrying not only their belongings, but also family traditions, recipes, customs, and memories that would be passed from generation to generation.
The Mexican Inquisition was formally established in 1571 and actively investigated individuals suspected of practicing Judaism. People could be accused for seemingly small acts:
- Refusing pork
- Lighting candles on Friday evenings
- Avoiding work on Saturdays
- Maintaining unusual dietary customs
For many families, survival meant secrecy. Jewish traditions often disappeared from public view but survived in private homes through stories, rituals, and habits whose origins were sometimes forgotten over time.
Over the centuries, many descendants of Conversos continued practices without fully understanding their Jewish origins. Some families lit candles on Friday evenings, avoided pork and shellfish, covered mirrors during periods of mourning, and passed down stories about ancestors who came from Spain under unusual circumstances.
Culinary traditions passed quietly from mother to daughter, generation after generation, carrying the flavors of a hidden heritage.
Whispered accounts of ancestors from Spain, of unusual customs, of a different way of life preserved in memory.
Rituals whose origins were sometimes forgotten but whose practice endured—a living thread connecting generations.
A sense of belonging to something larger, even when its name could not be spoken aloud.
The story of Mexico's Crypto-Jews is more than a historical curiosity. It is a reminder of the enduring power of identity, tradition, and memory. Despite persecution, exile, and centuries of assimilation, traces of Jewish life survived. Sometimes for centuries. And sometimes, hidden in plain sight.
In recent decades, historians, genealogists, and DNA researchers have uncovered evidence suggesting that many families throughout Mexico and the American Southwest may have Jewish ancestry dating back to the Converso period. For some, these discoveries have sparked a renewed interest in Jewish history and identity. Today, San Miguel is home to a vibrant and growing Jewish community that includes people from many backgrounds and traditions—some tracing their roots to Europe, Israel, North America, or Latin America, and others discovering family connections to a Jewish past that had been hidden for generations.
David Abel has spent nearly twenty years building community in San Miguel de Allende.
On a Monday evening, more than 80 people packed into Johnny's Piano Bar in San Miguel de Allende to celebrate David Abel's birthday. The room was filled with laughter, music, and some of the city's best musicians. Friends spilled onto the sidewalk. Israelis, Mexicans, Americans, Canadians, longtime locals, and newcomers all gathered to celebrate the same person.
It wasn't just a birthday party. It was a reflection of the life David has built over nearly twenty years in San Miguel.
"Family and community are my favorite Jewish values, and I try to help people feel that sense of community in every conversation."
— David Abel
Originally from Israel, David arrived in San Miguel de Allende at just twenty-five years old—an age when many people are still figuring out where life will take them. What began as an opportunity to build a successful wholesale lighting business soon became something much more: a life rooted in community, service, and connection.
Deeply connected to his Israeli identity and Jewish heritage, David feels equally at home in San Miguel, which he describes as "our magical, picturesque mountain town." Fluent in Spanish and immersed in the local culture, he has spent nearly two decades building friendships across the Jewish, Anglo, and Mexican communities alike.
Walk through town with David and you'll likely get stopped every few steps because he seemingly knows everyone. From restaurant owners and community leaders to street vendors, neighbors, and old friends, people are genuinely happy to see him—and he'll greet each of them with the same warmth in return.
Those relationships weren't built through networking. They were built over years of showing up, helping people, and earning trust.
Someone ends up in the emergency room and doesn't speak Spanish. Call David.
Someone needs help navigating residency, locating a specialist, or simply understanding how things work here. Call David.
He understands the language. He understands the culture. He understands the systems. And perhaps most importantly, he understands the people.
Within the Jewish community, David has become a familiar face at both JC3 / CHESMA and Chabad of San Miguel de Allende—just as likely to be found introducing two people who should know one another as welcoming a first-time visitor.
Drawing on nearly two decades in San Miguel, David helps expats building or renovating homes—bridging the gap between homeowners and local professionals, creating smoother projects and stronger relationships.
His passion for pickleball grew into a commitment to coaching. Today he teaches players from age six to eighty-seven and serves as Head Coach of Israel's National Pickleball Team, representing Israel internationally.
Whether he's welcoming someone at a Shabbat dinner, translating in a hospital, helping bridge cultures, coaching on the pickleball court, or celebrating with friends late into the evening, David has a gift for making people feel that they belong. Spend enough time in San Miguel and sooner or later someone will tell you: "If you need anything, call David." After nearly twenty years here, there may be no better testament to the life he has built.
Featuring Eric Flaxman
One of the things that makes San Miguel de Allende special is the people behind the businesses. Restaurants, cafés, shops, and gathering places often become more than places to eat or shop—they become places where friendships are formed, conversations begin, and community develops.
DeliQ is one of those places.
Founded by Alicia Wilson and later brought to its current Centro location by Eric Flaxman, DeliQ has become a favorite destination for residents and visitors looking for quality food, a welcoming atmosphere, and a place to connect.
Eric is a retired U.S. diplomat and military officer. He first visited San Miguel de Allende while serving as a consul at the U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara and vowed that one day he would return. In 2024, that promise became reality when he moved to San Miguel and purchased the property that houses DeliQ.
The building is home not only to the restaurant, but also to a tour company, a real estate office, six modern apartments, and a coworking space. Known as Codo 30, the property is currently undergoing further development as Eric works to create a true community hub where people can gather, connect, share ideas, enjoy good food, and build relationships.
Throughout his career, which brought him to live and work in many different countries, Eric has always sought out the Jewish community and been an active supporter of fledgling Progressive congregations. He is continuing that journey through his involvement with JC3 in San Miguel, where he serves as a board member of the CHESMA Foundation and helps support the community by catering meals for congregants and visitors through DeliQ.
Food spread at DeliQ — a display of quiche, pizza, and other dishes on a counter.
Interior of Codo 30 / DeliQ space — a welcoming lounge area with "Bienvenidos a San Miguel de Allende" written on the wall.
A menu built on fresh ingredients and consistent preparation that keeps residents and visitors coming back again and again.
A space where neighbors run into one another, newcomers feel welcome, and conversations can easily stretch beyond a meal.
For many members of San Miguel's Jewish community, DeliQ is a familiar and welcoming place—part of the social fabric of the city.
"Plenty of time to rest—after I die."
— Eric Flaxman
In many ways, DeliQ reflects the spirit of San Miguel itself. People come for the food, but often stay for the experience. For Eric, hospitality has always been about more than serving food—it's about creating an environment where people feel comfortable, appreciated, and connected. In addition to his projects in Mexico, Eric remains an avid world traveler, continually seeking new experiences, new friendships, and new opportunities to connect with people and cultures around the world.
DeliQ San Miguel de Allende · Codo 30 📍
In many ways, kosher living in San Miguel reflects the broader nature of Jewish life here.
It's not about convenience—it's about connection.
Connection to tradition, to community, and to the shared experience of maintaining Jewish life in a place that, while not centered around it, fully supports it through the people who care about it.
For those who haven't yet experienced JC3, the invitation is simple: come.
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.
At its core, Chabad is built on a simple idea: every Jew is welcome, exactly as they are.
There's no pressure to fit a mold or meet a standard. Some people come with a strong background, others with very little. Some are looking for learning, others for connection, and some just want a place to show up for a Friday night meal. All are welcomed.
The goal is not to change people. It's to make Jewish life in San Miguel more accessible, more comfortable, and more meaningful, both physically and spiritually.
Un judío con tefilín estudia las sagradas escrituras, una práctica diaria de devoción y conexión espiritual.
El challah, pan trenzado tradicional, ocupa el centro de la mesa del Shabat, símbolo de abundancia y celebración.
Long before I became involved in real estate, coaching, publishing, and community building, I was an actor. After competing internationally as a racewalker and representing the United States in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, I found myself drawn to another passion: the theatre.
What began as a personal creative pursuit eventually evolved into something larger. I became increasingly interested in the power of theatre not only to entertain, but to educate, inspire, and preserve cultural memory. That passion led me to found the Jerusalem Group Theatre in New York City and later the Florida Jewish Theatre in West Palm Beach.
Both organizations were built around a simple idea: Jewish stories matter.
Unlike reading a book or attending a lecture, theatre allows audiences to experience history and human relationships in a deeply personal way.
Productions focused on Jewish identity, history, culture, and contemporary life—exploring universal human experiences through a Jewish lens.
One of the great joys of producing theatre is watching what happens after the performance ends. People stay. They talk. They debate. They share memories.
Throughout history, storytelling has played a central role in Jewish life. Our traditions, values, struggles, triumphs, and collective memories have been passed from generation to generation through stories. Theatre provides a unique way to bring those stories to life.
The performance becomes a catalyst for community. In many ways, that same spirit continues to guide my work today—whether through theatre, publishing, real estate, community programs, or Kol San Miguel itself.
As I look back on the journey from New York to Florida to San Miguel de Allende, I remain grateful for the opportunities I've had to help bring Jewish stories to life. And I look forward to continuing that journey with all of you.
Alan Jacobson
Places of worship and gathering that anchor Jewish life in a community.
Educational institutions that transmit knowledge and identity to the next generation.
Gathering spaces where culture, celebration, and connection flourish.
Sacred grounds that tell future generations a Jewish community lived, gathered, and cared for one another here.
One of the most meaningful expressions of a community's continuity is how it honors those who came before. For the Jewish community of San Miguel de Allende, that commitment is reflected in Beit Chaim, the community's Jewish cemetery. The name Beit Chaim translates to "House of Life"—a reminder that Jewish tradition views memory not simply as remembrance of the past, but as a living connection between generations.
Throughout Jewish history, caring for the deceased and maintaining burial grounds has been considered one of the highest communal responsibilities. Unlike many acts of kindness, caring for those who have passed away is viewed as a true act of selflessness because it can never be repaid.
Visitors often remark on the peaceful atmosphere of the cemetery. Set against the natural beauty of the San Miguel area, Beit Chaim provides a place for reflection, remembrance, and connection. It serves not only as a burial ground but also as a reminder that Jewish life in San Miguel continues to grow and take root.
As San Miguel's Jewish population has expanded over the years, Beit Chaim has become an increasingly important community resource. Its existence provides comfort to residents and their families, knowing that Jewish burial options are available locally and that traditions can be honored close to home.
Beit Chaim stands as a physical expression of that tradition—linking the past, present, and future through one of Judaism's most enduring traditions. For information, please contact community leadership through JC3 / CHESMA.
When temperatures rise, few dishes are as refreshing—or as beautiful—as Watermelon, Feta & Mint Salad. Popular throughout the Mediterranean and often found on Israeli summer tables, this simple recipe combines sweet watermelon, salty feta, fresh herbs, and bright citrus flavors into a dish that's perfect as an appetizer, side dish, or light lunch.
Fresh seedless watermelon at its peak summer ripeness.
Crumbled feta cheese adding depth and contrast.
Fresh mint leaves bringing brightness and freshness.
Bright lime juice and olive oil tying it all together.
- 6 cups seedless watermelon, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Thinly sliced cucumber
- Arugula or baby greens
- Toasted pistachios
- Thinly sliced red onion
- A drizzle of balsamic glaze
- Place the watermelon cubes in a large serving bowl.
- Add the crumbled feta cheese and chopped mint.
- Drizzle with lime juice and olive oil.
- Toss gently to combine.
- Finish with freshly ground black pepper.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
- Grilled fish
- Chicken
- Falafel
- Hummus and pita
- Outdoor summer gatherings
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the most memorable. With only a handful of ingredients, this colorful salad captures the flavors of summer while reflecting the fresh, vibrant spirit of Mediterranean and Israeli cooking.
B'teavon! (Bon Appétit!)
KOL SAN MIGUEL is a community-driven publication.
We welcome submissions from members of the Jewish community in San Miguel de Allende, including:
- Articles and personal stories
- Upcoming events and programs
- Cultural or educational initiatives
- Community announcements
Submissions are welcome for consideration in future issues and may be edited for clarity and length. Due to space and editorial direction, inclusion in any given issue is not guaranteed.
To submit content or information for consideration in a future issue of KOL SAN MIGUEL:
Don't worry if you missed last month's edition! You can easily catch up on all the news, recipes, and community updates by clicking the link below.
July 2026 · The Voice of Your Jewish Community in San Miguel de Allende