JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An unusual initiative of a couple from Beitar Illit caught the imagination of a large number of Israeli chareidim. The couple wrote that a group was organizing to create a chareidi community in Cyprus, which would have cheap housing and cost of living, relative closeness to Israel, panoramic views and low taxes.
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The advertisers invited people to join a whatsapp group and were stunned when over 1000 people expressed interest in the idea.
“Torah life with dream views near a large city in Cyprus” was the slogan of the advert, which then proposed: “Are you looking for a more relaxed life? Communal experiences? Time for the family? This is the place.”
Cyprus is a 45-minute plane journey from Israel and real estate prices are significantly lower. Cost of living is also 30-40% cheaper than in Israel. Cyprus is also deemed one of the five safest countries in the world. The country already boasts kosher hotels and is a popular tourist attraction for many Israelis.
The project’s innovators also claim that “if you miss Israel and want to go to the Kotel or to tombs of Tzadikim, its a short ride by plane, and almost the same price (as commuting from northern or southern Israel).
Currently more and more whatsapp groups are opening as the idea went viral.
According to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda as explained by Rashi (Gitin 8b), Cyprus is considered to be part of the land of Israel, although this is not the accepted halachic ruling.
And how will they make a living? And the Cypriots will welcome chareidi families with open arms? Who are they kidding?
Unless this was meant for elderly retirees this must be a joke. Without Cypriot citizenship this plan’s likelihood of success is very small. For a non citizen to apply for residency in Cyprus they need to have an investment of about $320,000 in real estate and an income source from ABROAD that amounts to about 10,250 for the head of household and about $5000 for each additional family member. (unless they already have a permanent job offer ) And that is without all the infrastructure problems like making schools that this plan will run into.
Cyprus is a wonderful country and they are extremely Jew friendly. I often describe it as “Israel without the attitude”. The people are there are honest and hardworking. Our companies corporate office was moved there a few years ago and I look forward to my visits there. Chabad there is also extremely welcoming. I am not going to be the one to tell people to leave Eretz Yisroel but if you must leave, Cyprus is not a bad choice.
They can make the wine for the Ketores.
I wonder if they will have the same problems as the schools in Lakewood?
What a Busha. Leaving Eretz Yisrael to live in Chutz l’Aretz, and trying to entice others to do so as well? I can understand individuals doing so due to personal circumstances, but to present this as a l’chatchila???
This is disgusting.
How beautiful this would be if we can push the Netuei Katrta, all the Litvisha protester’s, and all other who don’t believe in a Jewish state to move there. It would be a “win -win” situation. those that dislike Israel wont be living there anymore, and the rest of society wont have to put up to demonstrations everyday that disrupt their lives.
Go for it – great idea!!
it is as part of the land of Israel as the southern negev near Elat
In under a year they’ll be widely hated & in under 2 years asked/told to leave.
The Palestinians would be thrilled to learn that religious Jews want to move out of Israel?!
Nu? Bottom line. What does a 4 bedroom house cost over there? Front yard? Back yard? Zoning laws/codes? Shul in basement?
They should do an Anglo community there for those who have remote jobs, etc.
Meraglim! Spies! This was precisely the sin of the spies! Despising the holy Land!
Its amazing how some “frum” Jews hate everyone outside their own group. And you wonder why Moshiach isn’t coming?
It seems like a very good idea. If they can pull it off. But few concerns.
1. What business opportunities are existing in Cyprus? Or will the large part of the kehilah be telecommuting?
2. The housing may not remain inexpensive for long. Whenever the frum start moving into a neighborhood, the house prices irreversibly skyrocket. When my wife and I moved to our neighborhood about 20 years ago, there were very few frum homes, the vast majority were secularconservativereform, and few goyim, and houses were relatively inexpensive. But frum moved in and replaced them. And today, you would be very hard pressed to find a house for under $500K. And it happens like this everywhere.
3. Whenever a fledgling community is established in the area where there is already some Chabad presence, the cooperation with Chabad becomes almost inevitable. And the consequences of such initial cooperation linger long past the time when cooperation is no longer necessary. I hope the frum move into this new area in Cyprus in such numbers that they can ignore Chabad from day one.
maybe this will wake up the politicians to supply housing for charedim before they move out of israel
life in israel isnt easy for anyone living under threat but charedim have the added hardships of being hated by both arabs and non religious
i can see why many are fed up and would want to move we see many israelis here in the usa who are fed up with the israeli life style and have packed up and moved here
we just go for a visit and are enamored by the country, but try living their for a few years
This is how “chareidim” feel about living with (or without) mitzvos hataluyos ba’aretz?
Rejecting Eretz Yisrael – after we’ve returned to our land after 2000 years! Shame Shame! Wanting to LEAVE the land and rejecting Eretz Yisrael!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think anyone is rejecting E”Y, all of us want to settle there, we’re just all smart enough to realize that the governments of Israel and America are dangerous for our survival – spiritually and economically. Cyprus might actually be a good place to live until the geula!