This past week's community email - Ki Savo

Shalom, The time has finally come! After a year and a half here in Cabo, we are moving on. This Shabbat will be our last one being celebrated at the current Casa Shalom location on Hidalgo. Starting next week, Shabbat services will be spent on the third floor of the Puerto Paraiso shopping mall, right next to the cinema entrance. It will be prefect timing coming just before the high holidays and G-d willing, with our new central location, our community will be able to grow to new heights. So make sure to stop by the center tonight and join us in celebrating a final Friday night Shabbat service at our Casa Shalom. One that will be memorable and exciting. We will pray with added energy and joy, dine over Sonia's delicious Shabbat food and say L'chaim to a bright past year, - but more importantly, to a shining Jewish future here in Los Cabos. *** With even more reason to celebrate, tonight is the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Elul. It marks the birthday of Rabbi Israel baal Shem tov, founder of the Chassidic movement. He was born in 1698 and until now, his teachings continue to revolutionize and infuse lives with joy and enthusiasm when serving G-d. But that's not all!! There's another great Rabbi who celebrates his birthday on this day. That is Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Rebbe of Chabad. He lived two generations after the Baal Shem Tov and taught Chassidism with a much more focused, effective approach... It is his structured spiritual path which has blazed the way for Chabad's original and very successful approach to Judaism and it's also what has generated the rejuvenation of our nation in this post-holocaust era. We will dedicate the services and Kiddush tonight to our last week in Casa Shalom, but also to the great leaders, guides and Rebbe's who celebrate their birthday tonight. We hope to draw inspiration and strength from them, to create for ourselves a better world, a better year and a better humanity. Shabbat Shalom and I look forward to seeing you tonight, Benny