KOL SAN MIGUEL
The Voice of Your Jewish Community
Alan Jacobson, Publisher
Welcome to the June 2026 Edition
KOL SAN MIGUEL is the voice of the Jewish community in San Miguel de Allende — connecting residents, visitors, and friends through stories, events, culture, and community.
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz
A New Month, A New Beginning
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz marks the beginning of a new Hebrew month and traditionally represents renewal and reflection.
In many ways, June in San Miguel feels similar. The major spring holidays have passed, but Jewish life continues through study, Shabbat tables, community gatherings, cultural events, friendships, and the simple rhythm of people showing up for one another.
The Spirit of June
As summer begins in San Miguel de Allende, June becomes less about large observances and more about the meaningful everyday experiences that quietly build community over time.
JC3 / CHESMA — A House for All People
Community members gathering for a holiday celebration at JC3 in San Miguel de Allende
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.
Today, those doors remain open—not just to Jewish residents and visitors, but to the broader San Miguel community as well.
If You Go
The Invitation Is Simple
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.
Come As You Are
Every Jew Is Welcome
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.
Something for Everyone
Chabad of SMA reaches across the whole community.
Hebrew School
Children learn in a way that feels positive and engaging. It's not just about reading Hebrew—it's about building a sense of identity and pride.
Community Events
Past speakers have included Gerry Teldon, a WWII pilot, and David Abel, coach of Israel's national pickleball team. These events are less about formal lectures and more about sharing, connecting, and learning from one another.
The First Jewish Family of San Miguel de Allende
By Audrey Jacobs
Originally in Lokkal Magazine
Long before San Miguel de Allende became known internationally as a cultural destination attracting artists, retirees, writers, and travelers from around the world, there was another story quietly unfolding within its historic streets.
It is the story of the Cohen family—recognized as the first known Jewish family to settle permanently in San Miguel de Allende.
Their story is not simply one of migration. It is a story deeply intertwined with Jewish history in Mexico itself, tracing themes of identity, resilience, adaptation, and continuity across generations.
Like many Jewish stories connected to Mexico, it begins centuries earlier, during the Spanish Inquisition and the period of the Conversos—Jews forced to convert publicly to Catholicism while often secretly maintaining Jewish practices and traditions in private. Over time, fragments of Jewish identity survived quietly through customs, family practices, naming traditions, and oral history passed from generation to generation.
Themes Across Generations
Identity
Carried through family memory and tradition
Resilience
Surviving centuries of suppression and change
Adaptation
Blending into community while preserving roots
Continuity
A living thread connecting past to present
1
Spanish Inquisition Era
Conversos maintain secret Jewish practices while publicly converting to Catholicism
2
Colonial San Miguel
The Cohen family settles, weaving into the fabric of civic and business life
3
Quiet Continuity
Jewish identity preserved through customs, naming traditions, and oral history
4
Modern Flourishing
JC3/CHESMA and Chabad of San Miguel bring open, organized Jewish community life
Assimilation & Preservation
One of the most compelling aspects of the Cohen family story is the intersection between assimilation and preservation. Like many Jewish families throughout history—especially in regions where openly practicing Judaism was difficult or dangerous—identity was often carried subtly: through traditions, through memory, through family stories, and through a lingering sense of origin that survived even when public expression faded.
The Cohen family's roots reflect part of a larger historical journey shared by Jewish communities across Latin America.
Jewish Life in San Miguel Today
Today, as Jewish life in San Miguel continues to grow and flourish openly—with Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, educational programming, cultural events, and expanding community organizations—the Cohen family story offers an important historical perspective.
It reminds us that Jewish identity in San Miguel is not merely imported from elsewhere. It is also part of the city's own evolving history. For newer residents and visitors, the story provides a deeper understanding of the layers that make up Jewish life in San Miguel today.
Roots That Preceded Modern Community
Jewish presence in San Miguel did not suddenly appear with recent expatriate communities or modern institutions. Those roots may not always have been visible, organized, or openly expressed—but they existed nonetheless, carried quietly through generations of the Cohen family.
A Connection to Those Who Came Before
For longtime community members, the Cohen family story offers something deeply meaningful: a connection to those who came before. Communities are built not only by the people gathering today, but also by the stories that are remembered and shared.
A Story That Deserves to Be Told
In many ways, the story of the Cohen family is a story of all Jewish communities—of survival, of quiet dignity, and of the enduring human need to belong and to be remembered. It is part of San Miguel's own evolving history. And it deserves to be told.
Communities are built not only by the people gathering today, but also by the stories that are remembered and shared. The story of the Cohen family is one of those stories.
Kol of the Month
Audrey Jacobs
Some people help build a community from the ground up. Others help shape the way it feels. Audrey Jacobs is very much the latter.
For Audrey, moving to San Miguel de Allende was not simply about changing location. It was about creating a meaningful next chapter—one centered around hospitality, Jewish life, connection, and community.
Originally from the San Diego area, Audrey is relatively new to San Miguel. But in a surprisingly short period of time, she has already become a familiar and welcoming presence within the Jewish community.
At the center of that presence is something that seems to come naturally to her: bringing people together.
Through her involvement with Chabad, her own Shabbat dinners, and gatherings at Casa Avra, Audrey has created spaces where people connect easily and authentically. In a city where many residents and visitors are navigating new chapters of life, those connections matter.
Community Builder
Before moving to San Miguel, Audrey founded Audrey's Tent in the San Diego area — an initiative focused on bringing Jewish singles and community members together through Shabbat dinners, Torah learning, and social gatherings.
That same spirit now finds a home in San Miguel through Casa Avra.
Casa Avra, the space Audrey has created here, reflects more than hospitality. It reflects intention. People gather around the table, conversations unfold naturally, and newcomers often find themselves quickly feeling included. It's less about entertaining and more about creating an environment where people feel comfortable showing up exactly as they are.
In many ways, that mirrors the larger spirit of San Miguel itself—a city where people arrive from different places and different stages of life, looking not only for beauty or adventure, but often for community.
Audrey's involvement with Chabad further deepens that connection. Alongside participating in Jewish life locally, she also maintains involvement in Jewish learning and community-building initiatives beyond San Miguel, including leadership work connected to Partners in Torah.
There is a recurring theme that runs through much of Audrey's story: reinvention with purpose. Not simply moving somewhere new, but intentionally creating a life centered around connection, hospitality, learning, and shared experience.
"My Hebrew name is Avrahama, the feminine form of Abraham, whose tent was said to be open on all sides to welcome others in. I've always felt deeply connected to that idea of hospitality, not just as a physical space, but as a way of creating connection, conversation, and belonging. Casa Avra grew out of that spirit." — Audrey Jacobs
Alan's Corner
Two Weeks to Experience... A Lifetime to Remember
In 1989, I had the honor of representing the United States in track and field at the Maccabiah Games in Israel—the "Jewish Olympics," bringing together Jewish athletes from around the world.
It remains one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, and several moments from that trip still stand out vividly all these years later.
1
The Bronze Medal
Winning the bronze medal in the 20-kilometer racewalk, with my mother there to witness it. For any athlete, representing your country is special. Sharing that moment with a parent made it unforgettable.
2
The Rap Performance
A good friend and teammate and I wrote and performed a rap song about our collective experience at the Games for the athletes' village — perfectly capturing the excitement, camaraderie, exhaustion, humor, and emotion that everyone was feeling.
3
An Unexpected Chapter
The Games took place during the First Intifada. During the closing ceremonies near the Western Wall, a tear gas bomb went off beneath the stands. Hundreds of athletes were running with burning eyes — but thankfully, everyone was fine.
Even with all its contrasts—competition, friendship, celebration, uncertainty, humor, and history—the Maccabiah Games gave me something I've carried ever since: a deeper connection to Israel, to Jewish identity, and to shared experience.
"Two weeks to experience... a lifetime to remember." — The Maccabiah Games Slogan
For me, that could not have been more true.
Chabad as a Central Resource
What Chabad Offers
- Kosher catering for Shabbat and holidays
- Prepared meals and takeout options
- Access to challah, grape juice, and essentials
- Guidance on maintaining kosher standards locally
For many residents and visitors, Chabad serves as the primary connection point for kosher food and information.
More Than Just Food
Connection Through Tradition
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.
Recipe of the Month
Classic Tabbouleh Salad
Tabbouleh is a fresh, vibrant Middle Eastern salad made primarily with parsley, tomatoes, and bulgur, brought together with lemon juice and olive oil. Light, refreshing, and packed with flavor, it's the perfect dish for warmer weather—and ideal as a side or a light meal on its own.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint, finely chopped
- 2–3 medium tomatoes, diced
- ¼ cup fine bulgur wheat
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 green onions, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Place bulgur in a small bowl and add a little water to soften. Drain well.
- Finely chop parsley and mint.
- Combine parsley, mint, tomatoes, green onions, and bulgur.
- Add lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Toss well and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Let sit before serving for best flavor.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
A Local Tip: All ingredients are easy to find in San Miguel at City Market, La Comer, and local mercados.
Community Contributions
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.
How to Submit
To submit content or information for consideration in a future issue of KOL SAN MIGUEL:
Catch Up On 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.