Budapest: Day 2

Budapest, Day 2, began bright and early with breakfast at the hotel and a brisk walk to Central European University, where we met Professor Michael Miller. Professor Miller gave a fantastic Introduction to Budapest Jewry (and may have successfully convinced several fellows to pursue graduate studies in Eastern European Jewry at CEU.)

Agi led us on a walking tour of Budapest's Jewish Quarter, including the famous Dohan synagogue and its small Holocaust museum.

We were treated to a surprisingly delicious lunch at the Chabad Yeshiva in Budapest and a lovely story. (Cliff Notes version: A man leaves his wife and two children in search of a job. His boat capsizes because of a bad storm, and he washes on the shore of an island. When he awakes, he discovers that on the shore of this island are thousands of diamonds. He shoves a few into his pockets, and goes in search of food. At the store, he is told that diamonds are of no use to the people on this island. Their currency is fish. The man spends days learning to catch fish, and is finally able to start a life on this island. He becomes very successfull, until he has the most fish on the whole island. He builds a boat and gathers a crew, to sail him back to his family. When he arrives back home, the whole town has gathered to greet him. But at the smell of all the fish aboard the boat, they turn and flee. Only his wife and children remain. He hugs them each and explains that they should worry no more! They are rich with fish! He sees his wife's face, slowly begins to remember that fish mean nothing outside of that little island, and faints. In his pockets, his wife finds the few diamonds he had stuffed in their the first day. It is just enough to repay their debts, but it will certainly not make them rich. Because the value of money is relative, and we must remember what is truly valuable in life.)

Very contrary to the theme of the rest of the week, Elliot took me to Budapest's big Christmas Fair, where I drank hot wine, tasted roasted chestnuts, and bought very warm socks for my Floridian-born toes.