Center Dedicated to Dovid Malka

By COLlive reporter

In Crown Heights, the name Dovid Malka was synonymous with fine kosher food and catering, charity, giving and caring.

Very soon in Mexico, the same name will be identifiable with everything Jewish.

At a groundbreaking ceremony this week for Chabad-Lubavitch of Cancun, the Shliach Rabbi Mendel Druk announced that the new community center will be dedicated to his late father-in-law R’ Dovid Malka OBM.

The 15,000 square-foot building will be prominently located near the beach that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world, many of them Jewish and Israeli.

It will include a shul, mikvah, class and lecture rooms, library, social hall, tourist lounge and internet cafe with a supply of food and drink for visitors.

The Shabbos meals Rabbi Druk and his wife Rachel hold for the many visiting Jews will be held there as well.

City dignitaries and community members attended the ceremony, chaired by Mr. David Amar of Chabad of Cancun’s friends club who is the CEO of Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine and Food Festival.

Before the ceremony, the Druks met with Israel’s Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar who was in town for a private simcha of a friend.

“May this building be a center for Torah and Mitzvos and a light,” he said in a recorded message to Chabad supporters.

Rabbi Druk thanked Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky and his brother Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky for supporting Chabad of Cancun’s activities since opening 5 years ago.

Also thanked were R’ Shlomo Peles, Mr. Natan Terenew, Northern Cyprus Shliach Rabbi Chaim Hillel Azimov and Playa Del Carmen Mexico Shliach Rabbi Mendel Goldberg.