Our amazing, insightful trip has come to an end, but the stories we heard are coming home with us. We finished our last day in Athens outside the Panathenaic Stadium—the site of the first modern Olympic Games. The stadium helps manifest the pride Greeks have in their country, and this 19th century site ignited a sense of pride in all of us too. Another brilliant and historical structure reminded us of the influence Greece has had on the world.
From there, we went to the Athens synagogues. Personally, every synagogue I walked in blew me away; they’re all unique, special, and home to a proud Jewish community. In the Athens Synagogue, there were preparations for upcoming Bar Mitzvahs. The Rabbi, who was unfortunately guiding his community through a tragedy, made time for us and shared his optimistic views for the diverse Jewish community, as they come together with Ladino, Romanite, and Sephardic histories into one community. One observation I had in each Jewish community I visited was the sense of optimism and vibrancy. Although these communities, whether it’s in Athens, Thessaloniki, or Volos, are small in number, they open their doors to share their amazing stories and have undeniable energy and spirit to move forward. It’s a scary thought that some of these communities are hanging on with a population of less than 50 and could potentially not exist in the future. Despite being more than 70 years removed from the Holocaust, the ramifications of the genocide are present today in these wonderful Jewish communities. It’s reassuring, however, to see such proud leadership in each synagogue we visited.
This energy was present when we transitioned to the Jewish History Museum of Athens. The director, Zanet Battinou, told us her family’s story. She is a third generation Holocaust survivor and had family members saved by partisans in the war. Her pride in her community, much like what was displayed in the synagogue, showed an optimistic outlook for the future. The museum was full of many exhibits that capture the Jewish story of Athens. We were told museums help the present come in contact with the past in the most authentic way possible. One exhibit brought us into contact with the Good Shepherds— the clergy members who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. This exhibit echoed the museum director when she reminded us of Yehuda Bauer’s quote, “Thou shalt not be a victim, thou shalt not be a perpetrator, but, above all, thou shalt not be a bystander.” One person can create positive change.
We ended our last night with an incredible dinner full of classic Greek dishes. And in between the bites of lamb, stuffed grape leaves, and eggplant, we danced to live Greek music. This was a delightful end to an incredible and powerful journey.
As an educator, I leave Greece humbled and happy. I now have new friends I will collaborate with during this upcoming school year after this shared experience. I have a deeper understanding of the Greek culture and the Jewish history of this country. I came here as one person seeking an adventure through which I could better educate my students. I have that and so much more, as this Classrooms Without Borders group has become one family determined to ensure the stories we heard will continue to be passed on to those who can hopefully one day change the world.
John Frasca is a teacher at Carson Middle School.