Chabad Athens — November, 2011
This visit to Athens was a result of passing through on the way to Israel. Since I was allegedly headed to Israel a year prior at the beginning of 2011, there were a few non-believers who were convinced that I would never make it. I reassured them that I’d be taking baby steps — Madrid, then Athens, then finally Israel — closer and closer.
I showed up to Athens later than expected on Friday after a few days at the International Microcredit Summit outside of Madrid. I stayed at a hotel right near the CH and went out to immediately navigate the small streets with my new hotel map. I had a ton of trouble finding it and was a little scared because it was getting dark and all I had heard about in the news was the financial crisis, so I just assumed something scary would happen.
Of course everything was fine and the Greeks were actually amazingly helpful people. The following day I was walking around and wasn’t sure where to go and some woman literally walked with me for over 10 minutes to make sure I’d arrive properly. Most store clerks don’t even walk with me for 10 seconds to show me the right aisle!
Once I finally showed up, late, to the House, I saw everyone inside at the table through a closed gate. I tried banging and knocking and was getting really worried that no one would hear me. Then a passerby told me to walk around the corner and there I saw the front door :)
At the table was the Rabbi, his wife, their daughter and 2 sons, 1 who was probably about 4. Also an Israeli guy around my age living there, an Israeli guy and girl who were honeymooning there, a Greek husband/wife, and a husband/wife from LA. Conversations were happening in Greek, English, and Hebrew.
Somehow the Rabbi’s daughter knew all 3 languages AND some French! Pretty crazy. I kept hoping they were speaking Greek because if it was Hebrew my lack of understanding after my recent studying would have been sad.
Unfortunately this post is coming pretty late and I don’t remember too many details about the actual meal or things that were discussed other than the 4 year old son going crazy jumping on to me and pushing chairs all around — not what I was expecting, but pretty fun.
The Israeli guy who was there with his wife even invited me to stay at his place in Israel once I arrived as I was getting settled in. That kind of thing is exactly why I feel so comfortable in Israel!
