We were able to find flights out of TLV in the coming days. First we booked TLV-EWR on El-Al, but only on October 19. Then we found TLV-BUD, also on El-Al, on October 13, which we snapped. Next we also booked BUD-FRA-EWR on LH on the following day. There are multiple daily BUD-WAW LOT flights so it could have been a relatively low cost re-booking by LOT, but alas, we are going independently and they will have to refund us $3,100. At the end of the day, it will cost us a bit less than the original trip but the return is in Economy (and El-Al will only give us a voucher for the soon to be cancelled TLV-EWR and there is the one night hotel stay at BUD).
Dan