Rabbis on Both Coasts Report Property Destruction, Fires, and Mass Unrest, But No Jewish Casualties, B”H

The arrest and subsequent death of Nemésio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the feared leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) – widely considered the most powerful criminal organization in Mexico – has sent shockwaves across the country. In the hours following the operation, cartel members launched a sweeping campaign of destruction, burning buses, taxis, government-linked businesses, and other properties across multiple states. Jewish communities from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean found themselves sheltering in place as fires broke out in their neighborhoods.

Belaaz spoke exclusively with two Chabad rabbis, one stationed on Mexico’s West Coast and one on the East, who described the situation on the ground and the steps they took to keep their communities informed and calm.

“A Great Lesson in Emunah”: Puerto Vallarta

Rabbi Schneur Hecht of Chabad of Puerto Vallarta described a city brought to a standstill. Puerto Vallarta sits on Mexico’s Pacific coast in the state of Jalisco – the CJNG’s home territory – making it one of the areas hardest hit by the unrest.

“They’ve been trying to get this man for a long time,” Rabbi Hecht told Hamodia. “He had millions of dollars on his head. The government launched an operation, captured him, and the Jalisco cartel – the most powerful in Mexico – is naturally very upset. They’re causing tremendous chaos, but they’re not hurting anyone. There are no killings, no injuries. They are burning down buses, taxis, and establishments connected to the government.”

Rabbi Hecht said the violence reached right to his doorstep. “They blew up the OXXO across the street from the Chabad House,” he said, referring to the ubiquitous Mexican convenience store chain. “There’s a lot of smoke, a lot of fire. Nobody is on the street; it’s very quiet. Everybody is at home.”

He noted that the cartel itself had circulated a message instructing civilians to stay off the streets, as the group wished to avoid civilian casualties. The state government of Jalisco canceled all public events, including a Jewish wedding that had been scheduled for that day.

Chabad of Puerto Vallarta responded quickly. “We sent an email and a WhatsApp message to the entire community – full-time and part-time residents – early in the morning, as soon as we understood what was happening,” Rabbi Hecht said. “We told people to shelter at home until they received word from the authorities, and we gave out our cell phone numbers. People have been reaching out all day, mostly out of fear and panic. Many are in buildings where fire-bombings are happening right outside their windows. As long as people stay home, everyone is safe.”

Chabad’s email list for Puerto Vallarta spans some 2,500 names. “All Jewish people here are safe,” Rabbi Hecht confirmed. “Everybody is inside, and b’ezras Hashem this will be taken care of soon.”

Rabbi Hecht drew a broader spiritual lesson from the upheaval around him. “The human mind wants logic, wants to understand, wants stability,” he reflected. “But there are many things in the world that are chaotic and defy explanation. A Yid knows that his only true anchor – the one place where there is no chaos, where there is always stability – is the Ribbono shel Olam. Everything else in the world will always have chaos. You cannot rely on governments. You cannot rely on people. Certainly not on cartels. We need to be anchored in something real and true.”

“People Feel Safe When They’re Together”: Eastern Mexico

Rabbi Dudi Caplin of Chabad Eastern Mexico described a similar picture on the other side of the country. He explained the sequence of events that led to El Mencho’s death: U.S. authorities, who had long blamed the CJNG leader for fueling America’s drug crisis, worked with Mexican forces to locate him. Following a confrontation involving significant gunfire, El Mencho was wounded and later died while being transported by a smaller aircraft.

Rabbi Caplin noted that Jalisco – the cartel’s base, several hours west of Mexico City and home to a Jewish community of approximately 300 families – bore the brunt of the violence. But the unrest spread far beyond it. “We woke up this morning, and even in Cozumel there were store burnings,” he said. “It’s everywhere.”

Despite the widespread destruction, Rabbi Caplin stressed that cartel members deliberately avoided targeting civilians. “Thank G-d, they don’t touch citizens,” he said. “They go against soldiers, against army personnel, against government banks and government property. They burned a plane at the Guadalajara airport. But not citizens, and not a single Jewish person has been hurt.”

At his Chabad House, Rabbi Caplin found himself hosting a steady stream of anxious visitors – tourists and locals alike – seeking information, a sense of community, and a place to feel grounded. “We have a full house right now,” he said. “We bring people in to eat, we tell them they can stay, we give them Wi-Fi, whatever they need. People feel much better when they see everyone together and when they hear from locals who can tell them what’s really happening.”

Rabbi Caplin, who has lived in Mexico for 17 years, said he has never seen anything on this scale. “I don’t remember anything like this,” he said. “In some towns they burned 20 or 30 places; buses, stores, businesses. It’s unprecedented.” He attributed the severity in part to American involvement for the first time. “America started to step in because, according to Washington, Mexico could not handle the cartels on its own,” he explained. “That pressure led to last week’s intelligence breakthrough on El Mencho’s location.”

Rabbi Caplin expressed cautious optimism that the situation would stabilize. “Historically, when something like this has happened with other cartel figures, it took one or two days to settle,” he said. “We’re watching and waiting.”

As of this time, Jewish communities across Mexico remained safely sheltered in place, with local Chabad rabbis serving as the primary point of contact and reassurance for a community spanning thousands of families on both coasts.