A visit to a Jewish Synagogue

Bri was helping to entertain an FSI employee, Hilary, that was in town visiting the embassy for language purposes.  Being Jewish, she wanted to visit one of the few Jewish synagogues that survived the Holocaust.  It was beautiful and made me miss my work at the Temple Rodef Shalom Nursery school in Virginia and our weekly Shabbat celebrations and frequent visits to the Temple.

Before entering, Bri was required to put on a Yamaka.

Hilary also wanted to go to the Occupation Museum where we learned more about the 51 year Russian "occupation "of Latvia that overlapped as well with WWII.  Many Latvians were killed during this time.  The anger toward the Russians is still here today.  They do not like to speak Russian with you if you speak Russian.  The only time Bri can use his Russian is if they feel weaker in their English speaking skills and then they'll speak Russian with him.  I've got a lot to learn about the complicated history of this country.