ISTANBUL, TURKEY

"How does it feel to be a Jew in Istanbul? I'll tell you a story that haunts me since my school days. I was a student in an American school, so I was studying with non-Jews. I didn't use to share the fact I'm Jewish. One day, a friend of friend was introduced to me. She was enchanted by my name, Lisya, and kept on asking me where is my name from. I didn't want to answer. She kept on, asking and asking. I finally told her - it's a Jewish name. Than she paused and said "you're Jewish? But you are so nice..""

The name Lisya is a short form of Elisheba.