The EAJC Vice President Assisted Hasidic Jews Stranded at Chisinau Airport in Returning Home

Alexander Bilinkis, Vice President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, in coordination with Rabbi Shimshon Daniel Izakson, spiritual leader of the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova, facilitated the repatriation of Hasidic Jews who had spent days stranded at Chișinău International Airport while en route to Ukraine.

Approximately 120 citizens of the United States, Israel, and other nations were forced to remain inside Chișinău International Airport for several days, deprived of proper food, accommodation, and the authorization to leave the transit area. They were traveling to the Ukrainian city of Uman to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nachman, the founder of Breslov Hasidism, for the upcoming Rosh Hashanah holiday. However, due to travel restrictions barred entry into Ukraine, they remained detained at the airport terminal.

Through the intervention of Mr. Bilinkis and Rabbi Izakson, the stranded passengers were provided with adequate meals, and emergency airline tickets were secured for their return flights. The majority were repatriated to Israel and Belarus, while several others departed for London on chartered flights.