Tourists in Cancun Fill 4 Seders

Four Chabad-organized public Pesach Seders in Cancun, in the Mexican Caribbean, attracted over 700 people from all over the world.

The main Chabad Seder was held at the Plaza Malacon Hotel in central Cancun, along with three other seders led by bochurim at the Barcelo and Hilton hotels.

The Shluchim in Cancun, Rabbi Mendel and Rochel Druk who were assisted by Rabbi Yossi and Rochi Pruss, Rabbi Yochonon and Esti Klein, along with bochurim Shmuel Shur, Sholom Druk and Eliyahu Junik ran the seder which consisted of hundreds of Israelis, Americans and local Jews until late in the night.

For some of the people present it was their first community Seder and for many it was their first proper halachic Seder ever.

The social halls in which the Seders took place were beautifully decorated with massive designs and posters illustrating the different chapters of the Pesach Seder.

Shayna Bortunk ran the kids program.

Stanley, a key supporter of Chabad Cancun, said upon the conclusion of the evening, “this was the single most moving (Jewish) event I have ever seen in my life, many Jews live here in the region and don’t even know what Passover is- and for them to experience such a unified religious occasion is a beautiful thing.”

The Druks relocated down to Cancun four years ago after being dispatched by the central chabad headquarters, Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch to build the Jewish community there and to strengthen Jewish identity in general in the Quintana Roo region.

Chabad is famous for their massive community oriented seders that largely go unfunded, usually sponsorships don’t come in until way after the holidays are over. Many of the people in attendance can’t afford to pay to cover their costs at the seder so there is no official charge to attend.

Rabbi Druk thanked Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky and Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch for their outstanding support and encouragement towards everything we do and particularly in making the Pesach experience possible for so many.

He also thanked Gail and Gracy Nedelman for their help.