Secrets of Las Cruces
An IDF missile range; a Homeland Security rabbinical chaplain & interfaith acts of charity, make a small city a kind of Zion in the American Southwest.
“One and one-half wandering Jews/ Free to wander wherever they choose/ Are traveling together/ In the Sangre de Christo/ The Blood of Christ Mountains of New Mexico…
…On the last leg of a journey/ They started a long time ago/ The arc of a love affair/ Rainbows in the high desert air/ Mountain passes/ Slipping into stones” – Paul Simon (“Hearts and Bones”)
It is consensus there aren’t many Jewish people in the desert of New Mexico. This holds true especially in a town such as Las Cruces, where NMSU (New Mexico State University) is found; situated on the border across from the fabled old town of El Paso, Texas. But this desert is different. People mainly flock to a quiet, friendly and scenic state, such as New Mexico, seeking spirituality; perhaps solace and solitude in union with their Creator. The desert is a fertile ground for divine union; Native American tribes such as the Navajo enjoyed the land this way, so why would American Jews see things differently? Contrary to a popular misnomer, there are Jews in New Mexico, and specifically, there are even some in the town of Las Cruces. In fact, there is so much going on that relates to Yiddishkeit, Zionism and Chabad, that the small city of just under 100,000 citizens, (according to the 2010 US Census), has the potential to become a miniature Zion for Jews and Judaism, where the religion of the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel will spread an influence all around: Jew and gentile, young and old, woman and man, alike.
Chabad of Las Cruces helps out the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) while they train for accuracy in operating the Iron Dome Missile Defense System, protecting the Jewish state from such bellicose and deadly forces as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade, Hamas and Hezbollah, et cetera. It is a not-so-secret secret that Las Cruces is the site of a range where test rockets are fired by IDF military engineers, and strategically intercepted—as they mostly, but not totally were, while in real, actual combat action during Israel’s recent Operation Guardian of the Walls. The success rate of the Iron Dome during Israel’s last war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip was 90 percent, according to Rabbi Schmukler of Alevy Chabad Jewish Center. That constitutes some 4,300 missiles fired into Israeli territory by the Palestinian (al-Quds) Iran-proxy, al-Qassam Brigade, according to a conservative count by BBC News. The goal is to get the Iron Dome up to a 100 percent rate of effectivity, so heaven forbid, a missile should never enter the Jewish state, and terrorize her citizens, and lay to waste her infrastructure. The name of the joint Israeli-American firm, which produces the Iron Dome, is Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., (RFL-NYSE) who work in concert, as is commonly known, with Israel Aerospace Industries (ISR-TASE).
But the co-director of Chabad of Southern New Mexico and Las Cruces, Rabbi Bery (Dov) Schmukler doesn’t just concern himself with the Israeli government, and the intersection of the Israeli and American militaries; he is also employed by the United States Department of Homeland Security, where he serves as a non-denominational chaplain. What’s more, Chabad of Las Cruces is a pinnacle of hope and service to the community in times of emergency and desperation, such as the era of the coronavirus pandemic; and the Rabbi and Rebbetzin of Southern New Mexico and Las Cruces have hosted a public Chanukah menorah-lighting ceremony and concert which draws in many hundreds of visitors, many of whom aren’t even Jewish, but find themselves exhilarated by what Chabad has to offer the community.
Constantly, Israeli soldiers are coming into Southern New Mexico, leaving their green IDF uniform and beret, behind; specifically they’re coming in droves to Las Cruces, to train and do drills, and Rabbi Bery and his wife, Rebbetzin Chenchie Schmukler, have taken it upon themselves to turn their home into a Chabad house for the brave IDF troops, visiting the region, for their career army service. “We had hundreds of Israeli soldiers coming in, so we fed them a full [meal]…I was always in touch with a few, but now they come in much bigger numbers, I’m feeding 60 at a time, and there’s some of them who keep full kosher, and one guy tells me, ‘They’re going to have kosher on an American army base.’ There is no kosher on an American army base. And this is his first hot meal all week,” explains Rabbi Schmukler, trumpeting well-deserved merit.
“So, I had two yeshiva boys fly in, now; and they flew in with boxes of challah and everything, and this past Shabbos, we had an unbelievable Shabbos meal made for them, making a full Shabbos meal that they’re eating on base. They [IDF soldiers, not in uniform] felt at home, in Las Cruces! Almost out of the blue, but it was a very moving experience for all of us,” he explains, before exposing his own selfless nature and commitment to the Jewish state: “One guy—we had a barbecue together—and they wanted to pay a little bit. [So I said], ‘When I hear that from you guys, people who are truly defending Israel,’ these are—I don’t know how many Israeli soldiers—these are the ones protecting and saving lives, ‘I’m really going to take money from you guys?’ This is the biggest mitzvah I can do. So it’s an unbelievable experience for them, [I], my family, to see that Jews in New Mexico were all one family…”
Rabbi Schmukler explained that in Israel the IDF can’t train on the Iron Dome Missile Defense System for accuracy, because there is no room to test fire rockets to shoot out of the sky. Either you’re firing rockets into Israel, where they can harm Israeli civilians, or you’re firing into foreign airspace, and thereby risking an accidental declaration of war. “You’re talking about very populated areas,” says Schmukler, continuing that, “Where I am, it’s not so populated; there is quite a bit of empty land.”
In addition to the exciting role he plays in assisting the IDF soldiers, and in turn, the State of Israel, through being a true Chabad house, the young Rabbi Bery Schmukler explains about being the go-to Chabad Rabbi in his jurisdiction, for all; and a little bit about the regional statistics and dynamics: “We cover [the south], that means there are small cities near us: Las Cruces, Deming, Lordsburg, Truth and Consequence…” he continues, “Some of them might have one Jewish family; some of them might have 20 Jewish families. We have people who come to our Shabbat services who can drive 120 miles, each way…because, there’s nothing else Jewish…We are close to El Paso, Texas, but that’s a different state. So we’re the only Chabad of Southern New Mexico.” One of the reasons people drive to an Orthodox (Chassidic) shul on Shabbat, is because there aren’t really any other options. “There is a Reform Temple, but they haven’t had a rabbi for a while. We are the Jewish presence in the area,” explains Rabbi Schmukler. “[We’ve been here] a little over 12 years now. In Las Cruces itself, there’re a little over 1,000 Jewish families… [We do it all], from circumcision, to, we have a Jewish cemetery.”
The community was severely affected by the covid pandemic. “It hit us hard, because it’s a ‘senior city’; people were very scared, (as the seniors took it more serious[ly]). But what we realize is, a lot of these seniors were used to going to their kids for the holidays, and now they’re stuck at home… So we decided to do meals ‘to-go’, as most people did. This year for Pesach, we took it to a higher level; and anyone 65 and over, no charge. So we did over 450 full Pesach dinners. Fully kosher!” exclaims Rabbi Bery Schmukler, with pride and fulfillment in his eyes. “So, instead of covid affecting us in a negative way, we really grew; and people realized there’s someone who cares.”
Among the volunteers who came to help for the pandemic-plagued 2020 and ’21 Passover seasons, was Ross Marks, Professor of Film at New Mexico State University, and his family. “Whenever they need a hand—the Rabbi and the Rebbetzin—we are always there to help, my family and I. It’s about four or 500 meals for Passover; so we got there at about ten in the morning, and left [at] about midnight, one night; and then stayed late the other day. But we will deliver meals when they drop-off to the folks in the community who are needy…we’ll drop off meals,” says Professor Ross Marks.
Rabbi Schmukler continues about his service during the covid pandemic: “We were one of the first Chabad houses, right when covid hit…we were able to get our hands on a crazy amount of masks, hand-sanitizer, toilet paper, even!” he says. “And we did a drive-by, not just for the Jewish community, but for anyone in the community. [We did this] about two weeks after the lockdown, and we had lines…the police department helped block traffic, and the lines went all the way up the whole main street. And we did this in one day, about 350 packages…and then we started helping seniors with grocery delivery, and then we started a covid relief fund, right in the beginning before there was any type of government relief, or anything like that, especially seniors that are on a fixed income, or a lot of single parents, unfortunately, there’s quite a few single parents.”
While Chabad of Las Cruces helps out Israel Defense Forces soldiers to keep kosher, put on tefillin, and feel at home in the Southwest of the United States, the Rabbi and Rebbetzin, of course, are strictly civilian volunteers for both the United States’ as well as the Israeli military. But when it comes to the Department of Homeland Security, Rabbi Schmukler’s role and duties are much different. He is no longer a civilian. “I’m…a chaplain,” he says.
He relays a frustrating but fun anecdote, “Mike Pence is actually very religious. When he heard there was a chaplain for the entire region, he wanted to meet me,” he says. “So he was flying to Phoenix for a rally, and then on his way back he was going to stop in Albuquerque, and I was going to drive into Albuquerque, and he was going to have his plane stop, just to meet me, and that morning that I was supposed to meet him, my wife went into labor and had a baby. So I had to cancel with Mike Pence. But I got an email from him, congratulating me on the birth, and he asked me the name of the girl that I had,” he smiles in reflection.
Rabbi Schmukler deals with all kinds of people and goes on all kinds of calls. “I do the Sheriff City PD (the city police department), and unlike most other chaplains—I’m not the Jewish chaplain—I am the chaplain. So, I help everyone,” he explains. “So, while a Jewish chaplain, in these places, would only be called once a month, when I’m on call with the city police department, for two weeks out of the month, I can get four [to] five calls a week. It’s a lot more training, but it’s a way of giving back. The police department doesn’t have the training to deal with the community, so we’re in-between style,” he says. “It’s also there for the officers, people can relate to them, especially now that we’re going through a very hard time. And they need some encouragement, some uplifting… When I’m on call I wear a vest [and] a gun. It’s a different type of chaplaincy than most people realize. I’m what’s called, ICPC (International Conference of Police Chaplains)…I do yearly training,” he says, continuing, “When they get to see a rabbi with a yarmulke, coming out there to help, is a beautiful opportunity, unfortunately, when you’re there to help, there’s a lot of times with Jews who come in, illegally or different types of things…with covid it’s been—it hasn’t been how it used to be, but sometimes people who’ve overstayed their visa, get stuck at border patrol… They call me up to help with kosher meals, or to try and get them a lawyer, and so on and so forth.” Rabbi Schmukler accented this description of what his job function is as chaplain, with the following thought on the Lubavitcher Rebbe: “What a lot of people don’t realize is: when the Rebbe sent representatives around the world, you’re not just there for the Jews physically; you’re also there to help every Jew spiritually, as well. So, we take that part very seriously. To be there for any type of help, anyone might need it.”
One of the most exciting times of the year in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is Chanukah. Rabbi Bery (Dov) and Rebbetzin Chenchie Schmukler work their hearts’ out to make sure that it’s always a memorable holiday event; and that it should go off without a hitch. Attached to this tradition—thanks to the Rabbi and Rebbetzin—is the annual appearance, at the celebration, of New Mexico’s Jewish State Senator, Jeff Steinborn (D-NM). “The Rabbi and…Chenchie have put together a wonderful event in Las Cruces, really bringing Jewish life, and the Festival of Lights to kind of ‘Main Street’ and mainstream visibility, by bringing in this giant menorah, and having a wonderful party in the downtown plaza of Las Cruces,” says Jeff Steinborn, New Mexico State Senator, continuing, “And in his—or I should say their usual way—because Chenchie’s a big, you know, an equal part of everything—in their usual way, they are very warm and welcoming and educational, and the Chanukah event certainly [is] all those things, as well,” says Senator Steinborn. He continues, “And it’s just a wonderful event, and they’ve given me the honor—several times—of lighting the candle on the first night. It seems like I’ve done that three or four times, with the Mayor of Las Cruces. And it’s just a really amazing honor that I’m privileged to accept…”
“So, I was speaking to a teenage kid one year, and he said, ‘Why do all the religions have such amazing holiday fun, and Judaism—?’ he didn’t have any pride, so we realized we had to give him his pride,” says Rabbi Schmukler, referring to the Chanukah celebration. “[Every year] we bring down a big singer; one year we brought down Yoel Sharabi; and it got so big now, that it’s not just a Jewish event, it became an in-thing to go to; Jews and non-Jews, and we get close to 1,000 people, in Las Cruces, for Chanukah,” says the Rabbi with pride.
The aforementioned film professor at New Mexico State University, Ross Marks, explains what makes Chabad of Las Cruces so special, and what Marks, himself, does to contribute to the community’s Jewish culture. “A couple years ago the Rabbi had a wonderful event where he had Eva Schloss, Anne Frank’s stepsister, speak; so I actually interviewed her on stage for the Rabbi,” says Marks. He continues: “So we help wherever and whenever. My daughter, Grace, was a counselor at Camp Gan Israel…; so she helps, my wife always helps. So for us—we are Jewish, and we had kind of become a little disenchanted with organized Judaism; and then we met the Rabbi and his wife, and they so inspired us, and we’ve become much more active Jews than we ever have been; in fact, the Rabbi inspired my middle son, Mason, so much, that he moved to Israel, and is now studying at the yeshiva, and he credits the Rabbi with instilling that strong sense of Judaism and that thirst for Jewish education and learning more about what it means to be a Jew.”
Professor Marks compares Rabbi Schmukler to other rabbis whom he’s known throughout the years: “I’m 54-years-old. We lived in Los Angeles, and I belonged to a couple different temples there. I grew up in a town called Highland Park, Illinois, which is a very Jewish community outside of Chicago; I belonged to several temples there. So, I’ve probably interacted in my lifetime with 15 [or] 20 different rabbis, and Rabbi Schmukler is just by far the most inspirational, energetic, caring—he and his wife, really, both, because they’re a team…and they’ve moved us to serve G-d, and perform mitzvahs, and just become a very active part of their community that they’re building in Las Cruces.”
Another member of the community whom Chabad of Las Cruces has touched and influenced and inspired is Martin (Marty) Poel. “We have a synagogue here [in Las Cruces], that’s been here for a long time, we didn’t have a rabbi for a long time, it used to be a very closely-knit unit; and then it’s kind of fallen apart as we’ve gotten older. And then Rabbi Schmukler came to town, and he’s just a wonderful guy; sometimes somebody moves into a neighborhood and turns a couple of houses into a community, that’s who he is. And part of what he did was, sometimes a synagogue can be kind of cliquish, and that was happening at our synagogue.” He mimics a hypothetical example, “‘You can get into our synagogue, you can’t get into our synagogue; you can get into our funeral, you can’t get into our cemetery,’ and he came along and he said, ‘Well, hey man, we’re all Jews,’ and so he started making arrangements to make sure that anybody could get buried; and it didn’t matter if you belonged to Chabad, it didn’t matter [what] you belonged to,” says Poel.
“There’s a world that most of society’s forgotten about, and we realize we have that responsibility…” concludes Bery Schmukler, “And that’s what the Rebbe sent us, that’s what the Rebbe was all about, he was making sure that no Jew would feel alone. So, even in a small city like Las Cruces, where people think there’s not many Jews, what you can do to one person’s life is truly unbelievable. And thank G-d it’s not just one, we’re doing it on a big scale; even if we weren’t doing it on a big scale, it’d still be worth it…”