Israelis stranded in Cyprus find shelter and kosher meals with help of rabbis and residents
LARNACA, Cyprus (AP) — Yossi Levitan was only making a brief stopover to visit his brother in Cyprus. His travel plans didn't include slicing mushrooms for kosher meals at a local Jewish community center to help feed thousands of other stranded travelers.
Levitan is one of approximately 6,500 people who are in Cyprus attempting to reach Israel, located about 470 kilometers (292 miles) from the island nation in the Mediterranean Sea.
Initially, 2,400 passengers aboard Israel-bound flights were stranded in Cyprus after their aircraft were abruptly diverted last week to avoid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Since then, thousands more have traveled there in hopes of using Cyprus, the nearest European country, as a depot to find a flight or chartered boat that will take them back to their families in Israel.
Levitan, 44, has a flight booked next week and said he is eager to rejoin his eight children and one grandchild in Ramla, 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Tel Aviv. His eldest daughter, 18, recently gave birth and is looking after her siblings with help from her grandparent.
'We're waiting for the moment when we can get back,' Levitan said. "In the meantime, we here are helping however we can all the people who are stuck her in Larnaca, in Cyprus.'
Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin, the Jewish faith's leader in Cyprus, said the island's 14 rabbis mobilized from the moment the first 2,400 people arrived aboard at least 10 Israel-bound passenger aircraft that were diverted to Cyprus' main airport in Larnaca on June 12.
Finding accommodation all at once for so many people at the height of the tourist season was a huge challenge. There also was the issue of providing hundreds of kosher meals, which was handled by the community center, or Chabad, he said.
'Above to this, new flights have started to arrive from Hungary, from Rome, from Georgia, from New York, all people who are on the way ended up here with the hope that since Larnaca and Paphos are the closest nearby neighbor of Israel, once the flights will begin, they will be the first shuttle to go,' Raskin said.
Locals have provided shelter while doctors have treated travelers in need, he said.
Some were desperate to return to Israel right away, Raskin said, including two mothers with kids with special needs. Thankfully, they departed Wednesday aboard a pair of EL AL aircraft that landed at Ben Gurion airport.
'To take people back to Israel, obviously there are priorities. Priorities would be elderly people, single mothers, nurses, people who need medical issues," he said. "Anyone that is in urgent would get a priority to go on the flight.'
Raskin pulled out all the stops to secure a seat on the same flight for a groom whose wedding was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. He later got a message that the young man was able to attend the ceremony promptly at 4 p.m.
A few who could afford it and weren't prone to seasickness rented boats or yachts for the 20-hour trip to Israel. But arranging boat trips has been a fickle affair, Raskin said, as many voyages were cancelled at the last minute.
Raskin has vaulted into the role of coordinator for thousands of Israelis who see Cyprus as a springboard to Israel.
'Why this should be like a gate of a door to Israel?" he said. 'It's like I'm being now at the western wall of Israel.'
But he advised against more people using Cyprus as a stopover to catch a short flight or boat ride to Israel, given the difficulties faced by those who are already there.
"Do not come. We don't have enough rooms, we don't enough beds now in Cyprus to accommodate, unfortunately,' Raskin said. 'So if someone is in Budapest or in Vienna and you have a place to stay, to eat, stay there, you are safe there, don't rush to come. Once things will get better, yes, welcome.'
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Buzz Feed
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27 Comfy Shoes From Zappos To Have At The Ready For Your Next Trip
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They're perfect for spending long days exploring new places on foot. Zappos Promising review:"Shoes are really comfortable; they actually feel like walking on a cloud, so expect some bouncing. They are cool but very sporty looking." — Kari 25. A pair of cork sandals with arch support and ankle straps so they'll stay put even if you wander off into an old cobblestone alley somewhere when you're trying to find your hotel. Zappos Promising review:"These sandals were perfect for my two-week trip to Spain. They were comfortable from the first time I wore them, and provided good support and comfort through days of walking on uneven streets. The footbed is super supportive and just the right amount of cushion. The heel is high enough to give a little height, and they are good-looking with everything. Love these!" — JV Price: $140 (available in sizes 5–12 and seven colors) 26. 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Business Insider
3 hours ago
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We loved living in Barcelona, but left after a year. The language barrier made it impossible for us to thrive there.
When my company restructured and offered me a voluntary redundancy package, I felt like I finally had my chance to follow my dream of living in Barcelona. With no corporate career tying me down, a modest payment, and my husband's salary (his job was already remote), we could afford to take a " grown-up gap year" of sorts. As European citizens, we also had the option to stay if things worked out. So, in our mid-30s, we left our comfortable life in Edinburgh behind and headed to the Spanish city with no real plan. We didn't have jobs or a place to live lined up, but we'd loved our previous trips to Barcelona and were excited to call it home. At first, it felt like luck was on our side. We found a lovely apartment with a balcony in the trendy El Born neighborhood that was just a 20-minute walk from the city center or beach. For a few weeks under the Mediterranean sun, I felt like I was living a dream. Soon, I realized it wasn't built to last. It was hard to fully integrate without being fluent in the local languages I wasn't arrogant enough to think I could move to Spain without a decent grasp of the local languages, Spanish and Catalan. However, I didn't appreciate how hard it would be to fully feel part of the city without being fluent. On other trips to Barcelona, I got by with "vacation-level" Spanish. I could order from a menu and ask where the changing rooms were in a clothing store. However, I lived here now, and understanding my Spanish electricity bill or making meaningful small talk became herculean challenges. I threw myself into trying to become fluent in Spanish, since I already knew some of the basics. I signed up for as many language-exchange sessions as my calendar could fit, and I took copious notes during my classes. As I started to improve, I had regular coffee dates and formed fledgling friendships with native speakers. However, language mastery can take years. After a few months, I could speak decent Spanish, but I was far from fluent. Sometimes, I felt powerless, like all I could do was keep practicing Spanish and taking more classes. I often missed the easy banter of life back in Scotland and how easy it used to be to consume and participate in culture. In Barcelona, I struggled to read the local magazines or understand the radio. Activities I'd taken for granted before, like going to the local theater for live performances, were now impossible for me to fully enjoy. Making and saving money was also more challenging than we expected Since I didn't speak fluent Spanish, my career options felt somewhat limited. Soon, I got a part-time position teaching English. My teaching post was rewarding, but it barely put food on the table. I had a tough time finding a full-time teaching role that paid well. In many ways, my husband was worse off. He was originally working remotely, but his company folded not long after the move. As an IT professional who only knew basic Spanish, it was tough for him to find a new role. For a while, his best options were working in a call center or in hospitality — neither would pay nearly as much as he'd been making before. Although our living expenses in Barcelona were mainly lower than they were in Edinburgh, we still had bills and travel goals and hoped to retire one day. With what we were making, we wouldn't be able to save for retirement or put money aside for vacations. Soon, we realized we could survive here financially, but not thrive. Living in Barcelona was dreamy in many ways, but it wasn't our forever Although we were enchanted by Barcelona's beautiful buildings, beaches, and endless sunshine, we didn't stick around. After a year, we decided that the sensible decision was to move back to Scotland. I've no regrets about my choice, but there's a little part of my heart that still beats in Barcelona. We go back every couple of years to visit our friends and grab some much-needed sunshine. After our year there and several trips back, the city's allure has never faded. I love the idea of living there again when I retire and don't need to worry about work. As an EU citizen, anything feels possible. Until then, I'll keep working on my Spanish.
