CHAIM V’CHESED UPDATE – Crisis Support Hotline and Evacuation Flights

Crisis Support Hotline Launched in Conjunction With Chai Lifeline

Published October 15, 2023 1:27 AM IST As the leading address for members of the English-speaking community in Israel, Chaim V’Chessed has been inundated with calls relating to the ongoing war in Israel. These calls have included travel questions, passport issues, medical challenges and much more. The organization has transferred staff from other departments to handle the crush of war-related inquiries. There are also countless members of the English speaking community in need of emotional support. To meet this need, Chaim V’Chessed has now partnered with Chai Lifeline to operate an Emotional Crisis Hotline. Chai Lifeline is the leading trauma and crisis resource in the Jewish community, and we are honored to work together with them. The hotline serves all members of the English speaking community in Israel, including yeshiva and seminary students. It is also geared to English speaking parents abroad who have children located in Israel.  Staffed by responders from around the world, the hotline is available 24 hours a day. It can be reached by at 03-978-6304 from within Israel or at 732-377-5135 from the USA. The post Crisis Support Hotline Launched in Conjunction With Chai Lifeline appeared first on Chaim V'Chessed. US Evacuation Flights Commence Published October 14, 2023 9:27 PM IST  US Transportation Command flight TLV-ATH, on Friday October 13 As previously reported by Chaim V’Chessed, the United States has joined the dozens of other countries who are providing transportation to their citizens who are stranded in Israel. The first US Transportation Command evacuation flight took off on Friday afternoon, heading to Athens. More followed on Saturday morning. For the first flights, passengers were contacted and invited to join a specific flight. Beginning Sunday, October 14, US citizens and their immediate family members may arrive at Ben Gurion Airport’s Terminal 3 and approach the desk for US citizens, located on the 2nd floor of the terminal. There will be numerous flights departing, to Athens and Frankfurt, and passengers will be placed, on a first come, first serve basis. Each traveler must be a US citizen or an immediate family member, such as a spouse or children under age 21 of a US citizen. Each passenger must hold a valid passport. American citizens who do not have valid US passports, should contact Chaim V’Chessed at support@chaimvchessed.com for assistance. Family members who are not US citizens must be eligible for entry to the destination country.    Please note that passengers will be asked to sign an agreement to repay the U.S. government. However, no exact amount has been released. Chaim V’Chessed has been informed that the amount, if eventually charged, will not exceed the equivalent of a full fare economy ticket to the same destination. Passengers will not be allowed to choose their destination. This arrangement will be most challenging for passengers, who will be therefore be unable to plan onward flights or lodging. Both Delta and United have bolstered their flight from Athens to New York/Newark, to accommodate passengers arriving from Israel. We are currently unaware if flights have been added between Frankfurt and the United States. However, there are generally many flights to US destinations on a regular basis. The post US Evacuation Flights Commence appeared first on Chaim V'Chessed. Donate to Chaim V'Chessed Get the latest updates as they happen! Besides our monthly newsletter, you can get the latest updates, as they happen, straight to your inbox.  Click here to subscribe. For more information, visit www.chaimvchessed.com.