Sandy Nachlis, a Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI) Annual Campaign Co-Chair represented
Indianapolis during The Jewish Agency for Israel’s (JAFI) mission to Mexico City in February.

The mission included 16 people from across Jewish Federations and JAFI executive board. The goals of the mission included learning about the work of the Jewish Agency on the ground in Mexico, connecting with the local Jewish community, visiting with the next generation, and spending time together as members of the Board of Governors and Jewish Agency leadership.

“I enjoy travel and love learning about Jewish communities in different parts of the world,” Nachlis said. “I had never
been to Mexico. It was interesting to experience the culture, learn, and visit the schools and synagogues.”

JFGI CEO Marc Swatez learned of the mission and immediately forwarded it to Nachlis.

“Sandy is a rising leader in our community,” Swatez said. “This trip was a great opportunity to meet other Jewish Federation leaders and bring back vital knowledge to elevate our Jewish community and our Annual Campaign.”

Nachlis said the Mexico City Jewish community is incredible. From the tours, Nachlis learned that Jewish people
started migrating to Mexico City in 1912. Today, the city has four religious Jewish sectors: Sephardic, Olepo, Ashkenazi and Syrian. Each sector has their own community, schools, and synagogues. There is one agency that oversees all of the Jewish education with 13-15 Jewish day schools, and 95% of Jewish families send their kids to a Jewish day school. For those who need it, there are scholarships to attend the day schools as well. Many graduates then either serve in the Israeli Defense Forces or take a gap year to experience Israel.

She was also fascinated at howthe Mexican culture was woven into Judaism. She learned that the community spoke Spanish and then either Hebrew or English. Prayer books in the synagogues were in Spanish and Hebrew. When Nachlis signed up to attend the mission, she did not know Doron Almog, Chairman of the Executive at The Jewish Agency for Israel, and his executives would all be there. She enjoyed meeting Almog and said his presence definitely elevated the entire experience.

“We were able to have more high-level members of the Jewish community meet and speak with us – opportunities that wouldn’t have occurred if he had not been there,” she said.

Nachlis says she is grateful for her experience on the mission and looks forward to sharing more opportunities with the greater Indianapolis Jewish community.

"This trip was a great opportunity to meet other Jewish Federation leaders and bring back vital knowledge to elevate our Jewish community and our Annual Campaign." - Sandy Nachlis