"There is no place like home."
Most of us always have a special spot in our hearts reserved for that unique place we call home.
But not so for the thousands of Israeli tourists who come to South America for weeks and months at a time. Some even stay for over a year; trekking, climbing, sightseeing and camping.
We try to create some of that homey warmth for them when we make our weekly Shabbat meals. Backpackers who haven't seen home in months, never mind a Shabbat table, joined us for Shabbat. We sang, danced, laughed, and shared insight into our very special heritage.
This week, we are in Huacachina,pop.119. The town hugs an oasis in middle of the desert, surrounded by massive rolling sand dunes.
A nice place to be warm by day and chilly at night; most of the folks come down here primarily for sand boarding. Some also fly over the famous and mysterious Nazca lines.
If we stay any longer, I just might call this place home.
I think the town is called "Huacachina" If my memory doesn't fail, the town is called "Huacachina", not "Huachachina". The drying oasis was very popular in the days of my grandparents.
Anyway, it's good to see shluchim everywhere, not letting Jews stray.