Jewish presence on the neighboring island, with its proximity to Israel and climate, has evolved from a forgotten colony to a 12,000-strong Israeli community; Is a new diaspora budding just 40 minutes from home?
By Dr. Joel Rappel
Nov 8, 2013
“Jews shouldn’t seek refuge in lands favorable for European settlement, as they would encounter resistance in every such country. They also won’t be able to efficiently settle in tropical regions. Given these conditions, Cyprus is the most suitable location for Jewish settlement. While the island isn’t a magnet for European settlers, its climate is suitable for Europeans, and notably, it is in close proximity to Israel, serving as a gateway to it.”
These words are part of a speech by the diligent Zionist activist David Trietsch. In it, he introduced to the Zionist Movement, during the Third Zionist Congress in 1899, the idea that the Jewish state, which Theodor Herzl had dreamed of, would initially be established in Cyprus. Once the situation in Eretz Israel clears up, all Jews from Cyprus would move to the promised land. Trietsch’s proposal, aimed at alleviating the plight of East European Jews, was presented with Herzl’s consent but was immediately rejected by the Congress’s leadership.
Though the proposal for the establishment of a Jewish state in Cyprus was officially removed from the Zionist agenda, Herzl did not forget it. In November 1899, he wrote: “Since the last congress in Basel, there’s been a growing fondness within the movement for the island of Cyprus. Given that the Ottoman government shows no inclination to reach an agreement with us, some want to turn to this island, which is under British control and which we could enter at any time. Until the next congress, I still have control over the situation. But if no results are in hand by then, our plans will sink, like water on the island of Cyprus.”
Herzl saw Cyprus as leverage to achieve Zionism’s primary goal – the Land of Israel. Over time, he even considered that this island, situated close to the shores of Israel, could serve as a literal springboard.
“We would gather on the island, and one day travel to the Land of Israel and reclaim it by force, just as it was taken from us.” Alongside Herzl, the persistent and restless David Trietsch continued to advocate for his proposal. With Herzl’s consent, he revisited the idea during his closing speech at the Sixth Congress, known as the “Uganda Congress,” in 1903.
‘Just a 40-minute flight away’
A Jewish state was never established in Cyprus. Over the years, the number of Jews in the “near-yet-far island” as per Prof. Yossi Ben-Artzi’s book, barely reached several hundred.
The most significant change occurred in the 21st century when the number of Israeli-Jews on the island began to rise sharply. In 2003, the Jewish community on the island numbered between 300 to 400 individuals. However, two decades later, the Jewish population, predominantly Israelis, exceeds 12,000. The current monthly growth rate is around 250 to 300 individuals, meaning more than 3,000 Israelis annually relocate to Cyprus.
In every conversation with an Israeli in Cyprus, you’ll hear the phrase, “Cyprus is just like Israel, only a 40-minute flight away.” Indeed, it’s easy to get the impression that this belief is wholehearted. At a resort in Northern Cyprus, we meet an Israeli who states explicitly: “I have a nearly 100-year-old grandmother, a native of Israel, and I frequently fly to Israel just to spend two or three days with her before returning here.”
Who are these thousands of Israelis who have permanently relocated to Cyprus? I pose this question to the local Chief Rabbi Aryeh Raskin, and to the director of the Jewish community, Rabbi Levi Yudkin.
Rabbi Raskin responds, “Primarily those who can work from home. Many are high-tech professionals who reside in one of the cities. Unfortunately, some choose to live in rural areas; they can connect to anywhere in the world from their homes, but they’re disconnected from Jewish life.”
“We meet many Israelis in one of the six Chabad houses on the island,” adds Rabbi Yudkin. “We have Hebrew-language kindergartens, a central school in Limassol, kosher food and a synagogue open to everyone. The consistent growth in the number of congregants, 90% of whom are Israelis, is testament to their desire to maintain their Jewish identity.”
In the community house courtyard, we join three Israeli kindergarten teachers sitting with fifteen toddlers, engaging them in activities. “Israelis have no other option, especially not during the summer,” Rabbi Yudkin says, leading us to the kosher food store in the community house. Most of the dry goods come from Israel, meat and fish from Europe and beverages and wines — some from Cyprus, Italy, France and a few from Israel. “Nothing is lacking here.”
When I inquire about the level of security of living on the island, the answer is unequivocal. “In Cyprus, there are no instances of antisemitism. There’s no concern about placing a mezuzah on the entrance doorframe. Observant Jews can walk around wearing a kippah, sporting a beard or in traditional attire. The majority of the population highly respects the Jewish people and Israel.”
How many Israelis get married in Cyprus each year? Rabbi Raskin responds that according to the information he has, around 5,000 couples marry civilly, with an additional roughly one hundred Israeli couples that he marries in coordination with the Chief Rabbinate. “I certainly conduct halachic weddings in Cyprus, and I believe those who married through us did so with joy.”
The rabbi’s room is immaculately clean, and bookshelves lining the walls are filled with texts covering all facets of Judaism. As part of his and the community’s activities, he is already planning the establishment of a yeshiva on the island.
Regarding the distribution of Israelis across the island, Rabbi Yudkin says, “We don’t have precise information about Israelis staying or living in various vacation spots. However, we do know that the largest community resides in Limassol, the economic center of the island, with 800-900 families. In Larnaca, there are 300-350 families, and in significantly smaller numbers in Paphos, Kyrenia, Nicosia and Ayia Napa.”
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