An unexpected problem faced the Epstein family, which repatriated to Israel from Kharkov along with a pet - the cat Left. Red Leva was not the only fluffy on this flight, writes the Israeli edition of Vesti.

39-year-old Dima, his wife Julia and 12-year-old daughter Ksyusha flew to Israel on May 10 as part of a group of 53 people organized by the Jewish Agency Sokhnut and the Friendship Fund (Keren Le-Yedid). Together with repatriates 2 cats and 4 dogs flew in.

Epshteins even at the airport of departure stated that they were full of optimism and hoped to quickly learn Hebrew and start working in their specialty: Dima - a civil engineer, and Julia - a translator from English. The only thing that bothered them was the fate of a small but dear family member - the cat Lyova.

" He is a full member of the family, we love him very much and we can’t imagine our home without his presence, ”says Dima.. - During the preparation for repatriation and in flight, we were worried about his state of mind, because we did not know how Lyova would endure separation from us. The fact is that the Israeli Ministry of Health sends all arrivals from abroad to 14-day quarantine, and we were told that animals cannot be brought to the quarantine hotel. "

The Epstein family was to be quarantined at the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Hotel. They firmly stated that the rules for the prohibition of animals apply to domestic cats and dogs..

Sokhnut managed to agree that the cat Lev will be taken from Ben-Gurion airport by Uncle Dima, Ilya, who has been living in Ramla for 30 years. Uncle Ilya firmly promised that he would take care of the cat.

But before the plane soared into the sky, a government meeting was held that allowed arrivals from abroad to be quarantined at home and not at a hotel. Epstein and their group members were the first to be affected by these changes..

According to Ksyusha Epstein, Lyova is a very smart and affectionate cat.. He’s not afraid of outsiders, he always goes to meet guests and is very talkative - he purrs without stopping and loves to be stroked.

Leva is a good cat, although she suffered a serious injury in childhood. His street kitten was nearly torn to pieces by street dogs. Lyova was saved by a kind woman who drove away the dogs and took the kitten, which was expected to die, home. She could not hold him, so she placed an ad on the Internet that she would give the cat in good hands. Dima Epstein saw this ad - and a four-month-old kitten ended up in his house, where he has been living for more than five years.

After the quarantine is over, the Epstein people intend to spend several months with their uncle in Ramla.. And then they will move to Holon. There live the second uncle Dima and cousin. It is in this city that their daughter will go to school, and they will go to ulpan. In Kharkov, the Epstein people studied in the Ulpan, so they have some idea of \u200b\u200bHebrew.

" Of course, it will be difficult at first, but we have a wonderful, proven cure for stress at home.. This is our little saffron Leo. In whatever bad mood you come home, if you stroke it, it becomes easier, ”says Julia.