A new chapter in shlichus has begun unfolding high in the Andes Mountains of Peru.

Just a short while ago, Rabbi Mendel and Chaya Mushka Tzikvashvili arrived in the area and quickly established Chabad of Pisac, a branch of Chabad of Cusco under the shluchim Rabbi Ofer and Yeal Kriper, who have served Jewish travelers and locals in the region for the past 20 years.

Located about 45 minutes from Cusco, the small mountain village of Pisac has become a popular stop for Israeli backpackers traveling through South America after their army service.

Recognizing the growing Jewish presence in the area, the shluchim opened a new Chabad center to serve the many Israeli tourists who pass through, and the response has been remarkable.

Each Friday night, over 120 young Israelis participate in the Shabbos meals in Pisac. What was once a quiet backpacker destination has now become a vibrant center of Jewish life, with singing, divrei Torah, shiurim, and a warm atmosphere that many describe as the highlight of their travels.

On Pesach, the impact was especially visible. More than 350 Jews gathered in Pisac for Leil HaSeder, an extraordinary sight for a small village nestled deep in the Andes. The sounds of the Pesach songs echoed through the mountains, transforming yet another remote corner of the world.

Over time, the shluchim learned that several Jewish individuals had quietly settled in Pisac and its surrounding mountains. Some lived far from the village center, literally in the middle of nowhere, accessible only by long walks along dirt paths winding through hills and open fields.

Determined to reach every Jew, Rabbi Tzikvashvili set out on foot to locate these homes. After extended searches through remote mountain terrain, the shluchim reached many Jews who lived in solitary houses standing against the vast Andean landscape.

There, they helped them wrap tefillin, put up a mezuzah on their door, and reconnect these ‘lost’ Jews to their yidishkeit.

“Sometimes you are literally walking in the middle of nowhere,” Rabbi Tzikvashvili shared. “There are no street signs, no neighbors, just mountains and open sky. And then you knock on a door and discover a Jewish neshamah inside.

“In that moment, we see clearly that the Rebbe reaches everywhere, even here, in the middle of nowhere in Pisac, Peru.”

In the heart of the Andes, Jewish life is not only present – it is growing, strengthening, and shining brightly.