With Flights Canceled, Shluchim Made Sure No Jew Is Stranded

As tens of thousands of Israelis found themselves stranded abroad, Chabad Houses around the globe became warm havens. On Erev Shabbos, shluchim suddenly found themselves preparing thousands of portions on the spot, immediately recruiting local staff to help.

By Anash.org staff

As tens of thousands of Israelis found themselves stranded abroad, Chabad Houses around the globe became warm havens: on Erev Shabbos, they suddenly found themselves preparing thousands of portions on the spot, immediately recruiting local staff to help. In Cyprus, the shluchim also handled a tragic car accident involving Israelis, working to prevent an autopsy and arrange for a proper Jewish burial.

These are the angels assisting their fellow Jews. With Israel in a flight lockdown, tens of thousands of Israelis are stuck overseas, unable to return home. While government ministries scramble to devise a rescue plan, Chabad shluchim have become the go-to address—not only for hospitality but also for vital help and support.

In Cyprus, Athens, Rome, Dubai, Berlin, and dozens of other locations worldwide, shluchim hosted throngs of Israelis for Shabbos meals on extremely short notice, while simultaneously fielding a wide range of urgent requests. “We’re taking care of blood pressure medication, baby formula, and responding to emergencies—‘call me a cab,’ ‘find me a place to sleep,’ and more,” shared one shliach.

“In Larnaca alone, close to 500 Jews joined us for Shabbos,” reported Rabbi Ze’ev Raskin, the Chabad shliach. “Another 700 were hosted in Paphos, and many more throughout the other Chabad Houses in Cyprus. We’re talking about thousands of guests.”

Rabbi Raskin added: “The atmosphere was incredibly uplifting. The crowd was diverse—from roshei yeshiva to regular Israeli Jews—davening together as one. We prepared the Shabbos meals within just a few hours. On Shabbos morning, minyanim took place around the clock, starting from early morning.”

Even after Shabbos, the intensity continued. “We’re doing our best to help everyone,” continued Rabbi Raskin. “More travelers keep arriving from around the world, having realized that it may be easiest to get to Israel from here. Some of them are chassanim scheduled to marry in the coming days and are desperately trying to make it home in time.”

In addition to the massive hospitality efforts, Rabbi Raskin described assisting in a car accident involving Israelis. “It was a heartbreaking situation—an Israeli family was involved in a crash on Shabbos. The shluchim arranged for the mother, who needed urgent care, to be flown out while sedated and on a ventilator. Unfortunately, the father passed away, and we are now working on funeral arrangements.”

One of the busiest spots in Cyprus was Ayia Napa. “It really took us by surprise,” said Rabbi Zusha Neimark, the local shliach. “A huge number of stranded Israelis arrived—far beyond what we expected. We helped with food, medicine, lodging, baby supplies, and countless other needs, just trying to calm everyone down.”

Rabbi Neimark was personally involved in the tragic accident. “We’re doing everything we can to prevent an autopsy on the Israeli who was killed in the crash.”

In Paphos, Rabbi Yitzchak Eisenbach hosted hundreds of Israelis but didn’t even have a spare moment to describe what was happening. “We haven’t had a minute to breathe. Every second I spend telling you what happened here is a second I’m not helping another Jew. I’m really sorry,” he told us.

In Berlin, Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, the city’s Chief Rabbi and shliach, together with the local shluchim, is helping many stranded Israelis. “We had a Shabbaton out of town,” said his son, Rabbi Dovid Teichtal, “but we did everything we could remotely to assist anyone who reached out. Right after Shabbos, we continued—and are still continuing—to provide whatever help is needed, through every available channel.”

Shimshon Horn, an Israeli tech professional who spent Shabbos in Paphos, shared: “What happened here over Shabbos was just unbelievable. I had come from Milan for work, and more and more Israelis kept arriving every hour. It just didn’t stop.

“There was a massive, emotional Kabbalas Shabbos. Rabbi Eisenbach told us excitedly: ‘There’s room for everyone—just make sure your friend has a place too!’ Everyone made room for each other. A table meant for ten held fifteen. There was food for everyone. Hearts opened. We sang Shabbos zemiros until 11 p.m. Words can’t describe the devotion of the shluchim. They gave themselves over to us completely. And all of Am Yisrael was here—from roshei yeshiva to people with tattoos.”

Rabbi Yosef Duferman, a world-renowned kashrus expert, described the hospitality he and many other Israelis received from Chabad in Thailand. “They arranged for everything—hotel food, a Sefer Torah, Chumashim, siddurim, drinks, wine, and hot plates. We were anxious the whole Shabbos. All of us have family back in Eretz Yisrael and had no idea what was going on there—nothing. There were about 70 of us. Now is the time and place to thank Chabad for all they’ve done, are doing, and will do.”

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Aharonov, chairman of Tzeirei Chabad in Eretz Yisrael, remarked: “Chabad shluchim serve as a pillar of support for every Jew, especially in times of crisis. The fact that every Jew instinctively turns to the shluchim as their primary address at a moment like this illustrates the special role of the Rebbe’s shluchim within the Jewish nation. Here in Eretz Yisrael too, the 1,300 shluchim are a vital source of support for countless Israelis in need. May we all merit the Geulah very soon.”