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April 1, 2005/Adar II 21 5765, Volume 57, No. 31
Terror victims visit Ireland as soccer fans
JON IHLE
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
DUBLIN, Ireland - When they heard that Ireland would be playing Israel in a qualifying match for soccer's World Cup, thousands of Irish soccer-lovers rushed to book their Easter holiday in Tel Aviv.
Irish enthusiasm for soccer turned out to be good luck for a group of Israeli terror victims.
When Dublin's small Jewish community heard return tickets on the fans' charter flights were inexpensive, they organized to bring 20 Israelis to Ireland to celebrate Purim. The Israelis are involved with the Chabad Terror Victims Project.
Rabbi Zalman Lent, Dublin's Chabad rabbi, said he received a phone call from the managing director of Isram Tours, an English-language Israeli tour operator.
The man "said he was sending an empty plane from Tel Aviv and he offered us a very good price as a mitzvah," said Lent.
The goal of the visit was twofold: Dublin's Jews hoped to give at least a small number of Israeli terror victims a short break in a peaceful environment, and they wanted to demonstrate support for Israel and its people.
The Israelis arrived in Ireland on March 23, the day before Purim, just before the Irish fans flew to Tel Aviv.
Ironically, the group and their hosts were not able to watch the Ireland-Israel match live on television Saturday afternoon: The two-hour time difference between the countries meant the game was played while it was still Shabbat in Ireland.
The game ended as the Israelis tied the score on a dramatic last-minute goal by Abbas Suwan, an Arab Israeli.
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