Amid our tranquil expatriate enclave, the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation (LCJC) finds itself grappling with a dilemma echoing through diaspora communities worldwide: in an era of rising global antisemitism, is it safer to stand visible or retreat from view?
This internal debate, which one LCJC member described as having created a palpable schism, cuts to the heart of modern Jewish identity. It pits deep-seated fear against resilient openness while becoming inextricably tangled with fiercely divided opinions on the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.
The controversy crystallized last year when the congregation’s board, apparently acting on advisories from a Jewish security organization in Mexico City, removed its physical address from public listings. For some, it was a prudent step. For others, it was an overblown reaction that misreads the local reality and concedes to fear.
“For some members, the call for discretion felt excessive,” said Ellen Sigle, the congregation’s current president. “We’ve experienced virtually no antisemitism here … but we’re told that Lakeside is in a bubble,“ she said, adding that the reports of escalating antisemitism in Guadalajara and Mexico City have been taken seriously.
Although the congregation eventually backtracked on the decision not to publicize itself, Sigle admitted that new security measures were implemented for public events, including at the Jewish Film Festival, which has gone ahead as planned this year.
A community divided?
Beneath the debate over visibility lies a more profound ideological rift. Interviews with this newspaper reveal a community divided over whether criticism of Israel constitutes antisemitism — a divide that fuels the argument over how to present themselves to the wider world.
“The whole Jewry needs to be on guard against this terrible antisemitism that continues to spiral seemingly out of control,” said Rabbi Jonathan Case, reflecting the anxiety triggered by attacks like the one at Bondi Beach last year.
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