[1]Eventually, I arrive at the Jewish Synagogue and try to converse with a group of Jewish people. I begin asking them in Greek what has brought them near Egypt to Ptolemy’s region. At first, no one speaks, eventually though a man comes forward and answers my question. He said simply, “Acceptance.” In response to this, I nod my head affirmatively as I too am familiar with the need. Despite what the man said, however, the area I had traveled to was unlike the rest of the city. It seemed poorer and less up kept than the other parts of the city that I had been through. Additionally, hardly any Greeks lingered in this area and those that did were mostly city guards. I decided that I’d seen enough for the day and started heading back to the shopkeeper who was watching my wares. Along my way back I witness a guard beating a Jewish man. The Jewish man is begging for the beating to stop, and the guard continues to wail on him. I intervene and say, “Guard why must you beat this man so senselessly? Has he not had enough?” The guard turns to me and raises his weapon to hit me then stops. The guard asks, “What is a Greek doing here? Can’t you see I’m teaching this barbarian a lesson for not paying the city guard tax?” He laughs and asks again, “So why is a Greek here? Run along while I protect this city.” The guard does relent and begins walking away from the beaten Jewish man all while bellowing with laughter. I approach the beaten man and lift his head on my knees then ask, “Do you need a doctor?”, he replies, “No I’ve gotten beaten worse before, but why, why did you help me, a Jewish man?” I hesitate and answer, “I do not know why I stopped your beating it seemed cruel to dismiss such a thing.” The Jewish man cries and says, “Thank you sir for I have not experienced such kindness in a while, while I love this land and its people, we shall never truly be accepted until we have our own home. That is why I shall be leaving on a ship to live on a distant land far from this brutality.” Sympathetically I agree that is the best thing to do and help lift the Jewish man to his feet and carry him back to the synagogue. The group there thank me, and I again begin walking back to my wares. While walking back I consider what both Jewish men had said to me and conclude that the Jewish people of this city are not accepted, despite there being religious harmony for those who pray to Greek and Egyptian gods, the Jews are just barely allowed to exist within these walls and are discriminated upon for not being Greek or Egyptian. (PLEASE REFER TO THE PICTURE LINK IT WOULD NOT UPLOAD PROPERLY)

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[1] AlexEliyahuHanaviSynagogue-e1499483394381.jpg (880×495) (timesofisrael.com)

Example of what the Jewish Synagogue of that time may have looked like.