Ohio couple stranded in Israel amid conflict with Iran

CLEVELAND — The war overseas is hitting close to home as some Northeast Ohioans find themselves stuck in Israel as violence escalates.

Jeremy Sosin and Rabbi Stacy Schlein, a married couple from the Greater Cleveland area, traveled to Israel for a vacation and attended a wedding of a dear friend while in the country. But instead of reminiscing on a joyful celebration, they’re now sheltering in place amid missile strikes and growing tension.

“We went from one of the most incredible joys in the world to one of the most frightening things certainly that I’ve ever experienced,” said Rabbi Schlein, who serves as the director of Educational Capacity Building at the Jewish Education Center in Cleveland.

The couple arrived in Israel last Sunday. By Friday, they were awakened by an emergency alert on their phone, urging them to seek safety.

“We went to sleep and woke up at 3 in the morning to a terrifying alarm … and we were effectively notified that the war had commenced,” Sosin told 3News’ Danielle Wiggins.

Initially staying at a hotel, the couple has since relocated to a shelter offering more protection against potential missile strikes. Sosin described the experience as surreal and dangerous.

“We were close enough to explosions where we knew that something hit,” he said. “We feel immensely grateful to be alive.”

Sosin, who is also the regional president of the American Jewish Committee in Cleveland, said witnessing the impact of the fighting firsthand has been eye-opening.

“We’re only experiencing a small part of the devastation of war,” he said. “We feel the fear and we know that there are people suffering everywhere. Sometimes news coverage makes it seem as if Israelis are not suffering — they are.”

The couple was originally scheduled to leave Israel Monday, but their flight was canceled due to the conflict. As of now, it’s unclear when they’ll be able to return to the US. Right now, they’re waiting to get word on when it will be safe to fly.