Stoliner Rebbe Returns to Israel via Sharm El Sheikh After Emergency Extraction from Cyprus

In a dramatic and carefully coordinated extraction, the Stoliner Rebbe has returned to Israel following a whirlwind trip to Ukraine, marking him as the first admor successfully evacuated amid the current international travel crisis.

The rebbe had departed Israel early Thursday morning on a private jet to visit the kever of the Beis Aharon of Karlin, located in the town of Malyniv, Ukraine. After arriving in Poland and crossing the border into Ukraine, the rebbe visited the kever and held a tish there in honor of the occasion.

On Thursday night, the rebbe set out on his return journey, traveling first to Warsaw and then flying to Larnaca, Cyprus, where he spent Shabbos together with his seven children. They were hosted at the villa of philanthropist Lev Leviev. A few well-resourced chassidim, who were also stranded in Larnaca, arranged all Shabbos provisions and meals for the rebbe and his family.

On Sunday, the rebbe boarded a private jet from Larnaca to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Upon landing, he was provided with Egyptian security detail and escorted to the Taba border crossing near Eilat. From there, he entered Israel and began the journey to his residence in Givat Ze’ev.

Sources indicate that the operation to bring the rebbe home spanned multiple countries and involved extensive logistical planning. The rebbe , determined to return to Eretz Yisroel, has now safely arrived.

Meanwhile, many Stoliner chassidim remain stranded in Larnaca, as well as in Italy and other locations. Some are reportedly en route to Israel aboard a luxury yacht.

The Stoliner Rebbe is the first gadol to successfully return to Israel since the escalation of the regional conflict disrupted global travel. Others remain abroad, including:

• Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, currently in the U.S.
• Rav Dovid Cohne, currently in the U.S.
• Rav Don Segal, in Switzerland, heading to the U.S.

• The Gerrer Rebbe, currently in the U.S.

• Rav Yitzchak Yosef, who traveled from Rome to the U.S.

• Rav Ezriel Auerbach, now in London

• Rav Meir Isamar Rosenbaum, mashpia from Derech Emunah, who remained in Kerestir for Shabbos and will return to the U.S.

• The Admor of Stropkov, still in Italy

• The Admor of Ozherov

{Matzav.com Israel}