Over the past decade, women's solo travel has evolved into one of the tourism industry's most rapidly expanding phenomena. Increasing numbers of women, predominantly young adults but spanning all age groups, are opting to pack their belongings and embark on independent global exploration. Beyond the appeal of autonomy and personal growth, this trend has been fueled by increased access to affordable air travel, expanded availability of female-friendly lodging options, and heightened awareness regarding women's safety concerns worldwide.

England presents an unbeatable formula

To address potential anxieties surrounding such journeys, Time Out magazine developed a specialized ranking of the world's premier destinations for solo female travelers. Seasoned travel writers from around the globe evaluated locations based on safety standards, transportation accessibility, and comprehensive travel experiences – yielding the unexpected outcome that England claimed the top position.

According to the publication's editorial team, England delivers an exceptional blend of charming villages, vast green countryside, dynamic urban centers, and remarkably efficient public transit systems. London itself, despite its enormous scale, earned recognition as a location where travelers can maintain reasonable security levels while exercising standard metropolitan caution.

Additional destinations featured

Sweden – recognized for its superior transportation infrastructure and widespread English proficiency among residents.

Greece – celebrated for its accessible and secure island destinations and coastal areas.

Japan – acknowledged as among the world's safest nations with exceptionally dependable transit systems.

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For the first time, an organization in South Florida is distributing "trauma kits" to Jewish houses of worship that help treat life-threatening injuries before first responders can arrive.

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The safety efforts follow several attacks on US synagogues in recent years.

The kits being distributed this week by the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County contain bandages, gloves, burn-care gel, mylar rescue blankets, and other equipment.

The kits were being distributed to area synagogues and Chabad houses of worship ahead of the Jewish holidays that start next week with Rosh Hashanah.

"Safety must be a component of every organization's culture," the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County said on its website.

During the last day of Passover services in April 2019, a man opened fire at the Chabad of Poway in California, killing a 60-year-old woman and wounding three others. In October 2018, 11 people were killed during a mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

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As Israel approaches the High Holy Days – traditionally celebrated with friends and family and in large gatherings –Israel Hayom has reached out to health experts for their advice on how to celebrate the festivities in the safest way possible during pandemic times.

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Social distancing

Professor Hezi Levi, former director-general of the Health Ministry and now director of Ashkelon's Barzilai Medical Center, said: "Instead of imposing a lockdown, what we need is more caution exhibited by the public. That is, to limit indoor gatherings to 50 people as per Health Ministry guidelines, to wear masks, keep social distancing, and – for those who come into contact with a carrier or test positive for the coronavirus – to self-isolate.

"The state and the public needs to step up its vaccinations as much as possible. If the public adheres to the guidelines, then despite the opening of the school year and the holidays, we will not see a significant outbreak, although we are expecting a certain increase in morbidity."

Extra caution in synagogues

Expert epidemiologist Hagai Levine stressed that gatherings in synagogues posed the biggest threat for COVID resurgence. 

"First, I'd like to note that it is difficult to foresee what will happen in the upcoming month. However, in my opinion, we need to keep our fingers on the pulse and be alert at all times. Even if only vaccinated attendees enter, there may still be carriers, and the worshippers will be at risk of developing serious illnesses."

At-risk Israelis should pray outdoors

Professor Zvika Granot, from Hebrew University's Faculty of Medicine, said that Israelis with chronic diseases, or others more prone to serious illness, should pray outdoors.

"At the end of the day, we need to learn to live alongside the coronavirus until it disappears. But until that happens, the elderly and at-risk population must protect itself. The thing is that triple-jabbed people can still catch the coronavirus. Therefore, making sure that all worshippers are vaccinated does not guarantee safety for the congregants.

"Remember that the vaccine does not provide 100% protection, and with elderly people and those with illnesses, even less so, and therefore, being careful is crucial. That is how we will be able to live alongside COVID until it is gone."

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A month after the Meron disaster, the head of the Mevo'ot HaHermon Regional Council Beni Ben Muvchar issued an administrative cancellation order for a religious festival due to a lack of safety precautions. The celebration was scheduled to take place in a month at the gravesite of Rabbi Yonatan Ben Uziel. It gathers tens of thousands of visitors annually.

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"Every year, the Holy Sites Authority submits a request for the celebration 30 days before the event [as is required by law], but this year for the first time, they submitted no request," Ben Muvchar explained.

What is even more surprising, he added, was that the council invited the representatives for a meeting, but they did not arrive.

"The police, the fire and rescue services and Magen David Adom told me the site is not safe, and I decided to issue the cancellation order. Also, representatives of the Local Planning and Building Committee inspected the site and discovered that all structures had been built without permits."

In a letter he sent to the Holy Sites Authority, Ben Muvchar also added that the Planning and Building Committee's engineer deemed the site's bear-loading walls at risk of collapsing, that the access routes to the area were winding and narrow, that the site had no safety rails and "according to experts, there are no suitable escape routes for rescue vehicles."

The council extended the cancellation order to include several days before and after the original date of the festival after it found out that worshippers planned to arrive at the site earlier and stay until the festival on Saturday (June 5).

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