San Diego Teens Explore Global Jewish Identity in Mexico City 

Against the backdrop of Mexico City’s vibrant streets, ancient history, and welcoming community, a group of San Diego teens embarked on a journey that brought global Jewish connections into focus. Through Jewish Federation of San Diego’s Global Ambassador Program (GAP), they spent a week discovering Mexico City’s Jewish life through exploration, education, and cultural connection.   

Through immersive activities and close interaction with local peers, the teens experienced daily life in one of Latin America’s most dynamic Jewish communities. From visiting various Jewish institutions to sharing meals and conversations throughout the week, every moment helped deepen their sense of belonging to each other and to the global Jewish story. 

This growing connection was further enriched by opportunities to explore Mexico City’s broader cultural landscape. Teens visited the 2,000-year-old pyramids of Teotihuacan, walked through the historic Zócalo, and spent a day at Six Flags Mexico. Yet the most lasting impressions came from the relationships built—through laughter, learning, and the shared experience of being Jewish in different parts of the world.  

Mexico City is home to the third-largest Jewish community in Latin America, with an estimated population of 40,000 to 50,000. Throughout the week, participants engaged with both Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities, visited historic synagogues, and spent time at the Centro Deportivo Israelita, a vibrant hub of Jewish life and culture. These encounters gave teens a deeper appreciation for how Jewish identity is expressed across cultures and continents.  

GAP has taken San Diego teens to Jewish communities in Sofia, Bulgaria, Budapest, Hungary, and Mexico City, Mexico. Each journey opens a window into Jewish life abroad, while offering powerful opportunities to build friendships, explore identity, and strengthen a shared sense of global peoplehood. 

By investing in programs like GAP, Federation is nurturing a new generation of leaders who see themselves as part of a worldwide Jewish community. Whether traveling abroad to explore other global Jewish communities or hosting an exchange here in San Diego, GAP helps Jewish teens learn about each other’s cultures, create long-lasting friendships, and strengthen their sense of shared responsibility and Jewish peoplehood. The connections formed in Mexico City won’t end with this trip—they will continue to shape how these teens engage with Jewish life, both at home and around the world.  

Explore the full gallery of moments from their trip here.