Calendar
View previous Speaker Programs on the NMJHS YouTube Channel
Information on individual events listed below.
If you have any questions or need assistance, email us at admin@nmjhs.org or call 505-348-4471
It’s Mayan, Not Yours! Leading a Congregation in Guatemala for the Jewish High Holidays
Presented by Rabbi Jack Shlachter
August 18, 2026
7pm via Zoom
meeting link will be sent 1 week prior to program
About the Program:
The Jewish community of Guatemala is small by world standards; Jewish population for the entire country of 18 million people is estimated to be under 1000 or a mere 0.006%. Nonetheless, Guatemala as a country is strongly pro-Israel. The current president lived in Israel for ten years, speaks Hebrew, and received his college degree from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and Guatemala was the second country in the world to move its embassy to Jerusalem. Rabbi Jack will describe his experiences leading a small, non-Orthodox congregation in Guatemala City for the Jewish High Holidays in 2025 as well as a first-time traveler’s impressions of Guatemala. He’ll also touch on his other recent High Holiday gigs in Warsaw (2023) and Bangkok (2024).
About the Speaker:
Jack Shlachter is a physicist who spent most of his career at Los Alamos National Laboratory. In parallel, Jack is an ordained rabbi. He has led congregations in Center Moriches, NY, and Los Alamos and Santa Fe, NM, and he has also provided itinerant rabbinic support to far-flung Jewish communities including those in Vienna, Beijing, Warsaw, Bangkok, and Guatemala City. Jack is a recovering bibliophile with a personal library comprising nearly 8,000 volumes.
For more information email admin@nmjhs.org or call 505-348-4471
Join NMJHS for our 2026 Fall Conference, Jewish Life in New Mexico Through the Arts, on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at the Santa Fe Woman’s Club.
This special event will explore the many ways Jewish life and identity have been expressed through the arts in New Mexico, featuring presentations and performances by Sara Novenson, Isabelle Sandoval, and Jacqueline Bell. The day will also feature artist tables showcasing artwork by local artists, with pieces on display and available for purchase.
Registration opens in August.