JL;DR SUMMARY In the article "A Thriving Shtetl in the American Desert" by Ross Kagan Marks, the author discusses the growth and impact of the Jewish community in Las Cruces, New Mexico, led by Rabbi Bery and Rebbetzin Chenchie Schmukler of Chabad-Lubavitch. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.