Pesach in Turkey

A co-worker of mine is going to be in Turkey for Pesach. He asked me if I knew how he could find out information about the synagogues in Istanbul so that he could find a place to attend a seder. I suggested Chabad but he said he would prefer to do something else if at all possible. I told him I would look into it and see what I could find out.

I sent out an e-mail to some of my friends who I thought might have information to help him. In less than 12 hours, I received an e-mail from a friend of a friend of a friend who had spent the past year in Istanbul and knew several options for him to attend a seder during his visit. This individual, who I have never met or even heard about, offered all his information, and even offered to get together with my co-worker for dinner or coffee and tell him all about what there is to offer in Istanbul.

It's not a huge thing, but it really is. Because of this person I have never met, my co-worker will now be able to attend a seder with a family in Turkey. And that meant a lot to him.