A New Yorker trapped in Israel amid the war with Iran has described the terror of living under constant rocket fire. Joy Rosenthal, 39, from Queens, flew to Tel Aviv three days before the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 25 for family celebrations, including her nephew's bar mitzvah and a cousin's wedding.
She was due to fly back to New York via London on March 10, but her El Al flight to the UK capital was cancelled. Virgin Atlantic, the partner carrier for the London-New York leg, offered a full refund or a flight from Tel Aviv to New York in late April. Rosenthal took the refund, saying she didn't want to wait until the end of April.
Now stuck in Jerusalem, Rosenthal said she receives constant warnings of missile strikes on her phone. 'Every time the alarm goes off, my heart starts racing. It's petrifying. I don't film the bombs or explosions. I just run to safety,' she said via video chat.
She is staying in a neighbour's apartment with access to a bomb shelter and a windowless bathroom, which she described as a luxury. In contrast, the synagogue's bomb shelter had no bathroom, requiring a risky trip upstairs. Rosenthal, who runs a website about Broadway shows, has registered for the US Embassy evacuation list but has been told to wait and be patient.
She feels the US government has not given enough guidance and does not always answer the phone. She was warned that if she does not take the offered evacuation option, no alternative will be provided. Travel to Egypt by land is an option, but she has heard reports of women being sexually assaulted at the border, making her uncomfortable.
Rosenthal misses her brother Yoni, who has Down syndrome and lives in New York. 'I visit him every week. I haven't seen him since I got here. I really miss him. He doesn't want to FaceTime, he doesn't talk and doesn't understand the concept,' she said. She has pleaded for help on her Instagram profile @thebroadwaywiz.
