In doing some research for a project here at Airborne, for some random reason, I happened upon a town named Christchurch in New Zealand.
"Intriguing name for a city," was my first thought.
My second? "I wonder if they have a Jewish community?"
Well, Surprise of the day is that it appears that they do, and have had one for quite a while. Here's a picture of Christchurch's Temple Beth-El from 1906:
Not that this is wildly out of the ordinary, but the dichotomy of the Christchurch Jewish Synagogue is kinda cool.
In fact, I think it opens up a world of international merchandising opportunities. Imagine these t-shirts:
"I had my Bar-Mitzvah in Christchurch"
"Ouch! I had my briss in Christchurch"
Today Christchurch; tomorrow, the Vatican!