Today we spent the first part of the day in Chania, starting with the open air market where everything is locally grown. Then we walked around and came to the Etz Hayyim Synagogue, which has a really incredible history. The woman who spoke to us there told us about how during multiple time periods the Jews of Crete were persecuted for their religion, including being forced to live in ghettos and wear yellow caps to signify their religion. During WWII all the Jewish families in Chania were forced from their homes and onto a ship headed for Auschwitz, but before it made it there it was torpedoed by a British submarine. The synagogue has gone through many difficult times, including and earthquake and arson attacks, but has still persevered due to the hard work of dedicated people. Going to places like this one reminds me of the horrible things that can happen when people fail to see their common humanity in others simply because of differences of religion, race, or any other reason. It is truly admirable how the Jews of Crete (and really anywhere, for that matter) have continued to persevere even against unfathomable odds.