Cyprus Jewish Community Celebrates Answered Prayers

Mirav Leshem Gonen, mother of captivity survivor Romi Gonen and a prominent advocate for the return of the hostages, paid a moving visit to the Jewish Community Center of Cyprus, returning to the very place where she had once davened for her daughter’s safe return.

During Romi’s captivity in Gaza, Mirav had joined members of the local Jewish community at a large gathering held on the same street, where they prayed and called for her safe release.

Now, returning after Romi’s release, Mirav visited the community’s large “Sukkah of Unity,” where she met with Chief Rabbi of Cyprus and Head Shliach Rabbi Aryeh Zev Raskin.

Also participating in the gathering were Kobi Waller, Deputy Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus; Yaron Zaluf, chairman of the Circle of Friends of the Jewish Community of Cyprus; and Rabbi Shneur Zalman Levitin, Chabad shliach in Larnaca.

Mirav described the visit as a deeply emotional closing of a circle: returning to the place where she had once stood with hope and tefillah for her daughter, this time to bentch lulav and esrog with gratitude for her return.

She noted that the arba minim symbolize the unity of the Jewish people, and concluded the visit with a tefillah and bracha for unity, peace and better days for the Jewish people.