New U.S. Ambassador Joined Rosh Hashanah at Chabad of Cyprus

The newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, His Excellency John Breslow, attended a Rosh Hashanah event at Chabad in Larnaca, Cyprus, together with his wife, Sonia.

The ambassador and his wife were warmly welcomed by shliach and Chief Rabbi of Cyprus, Rabbi Aryeh Zev and Shneidel Raskin, along with hundreds of members of the Jewish community who participated in the event.

The visit came just days after Ambassador Breslow presented his credentials to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, formally beginning his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus.

During the event, Rabbi Raskin spoke about the significance of Rosh Hashanah and the importance of friendship, mutual respect, and understanding between the Jewish community, Cyprus, and the United States.

The Larnaca event was part of a broad network of Chabad activity held throughout the island for Rosh Hashanah. Alongside the main gathering in Larnaca, approximately 3,000 Jews participated in davening and Rosh Hashanah programs at seven Chabad locations across Cyprus, joining the Rebbe’s shluchim in welcoming the new year.

A central focus of the activities was hearing the shofar. Special educational programs were also held for children, helping connect the younger generation to the atmosphere of Rosh Hashanah and their Jewish heritage.

The activity began already during Elul, with special programs for children and teenagers, shiurim, and preparations for the Yomim Noraim. At the same time, Chabad Houses across Cyprus organized tefillin and mezuzah checking campaigns, giving community members an opportunity to ensure that their tashmishei kedushah were in proper condition for the new year.