The run-up to Chelsea's trip had been dominated by talk of possible trouble but few of Claudio Ranieri's team could have expected such problems on the pitch.
The locals had billed this as meeting of David and Goliath and the giant was deservedly slain last night.
Chelsea, reduced to 10 men early in the second half by the ill-discipline of Mario Melchiot, capped a miserable performance by conceding two goals in the final five minutes to suffer their first defeat of the season.
They are teetering on the brink of a humiliating, financially harmful Uefa Cup exit. The lively stadium could scarcely believe its eyes.
"It will be very hard to stay in the Uefa Cup," said Ranieri. "It's not so bad if it's one goal but two makes it very difficult. It was very incredible."
Shortly after the finish Hapoel reemerged to salute their fans and enjoy the biggest victory in the club's history. Chelsea, who mustered not a testing effort on target, could merely hang their heads. Even before Melchiot's dismissal they had been dominated by a skilful side.
Only John Terry, who conceded the 89th-minute penalty with which Hapoel took the lead, and the debutant goalkeeper Mark Bosnich emerged with any credit.
The Chelsea players who chose not to travel might feel a particular responsibility in a fortnight when the Premiership side attempt to avert total embarrassment.
At the start of Ranieri's reign he saw his team go down 2-0 at St Gallen and bow out of the Uefa Cup. This was worse, though, coming at a time when the Italian is settled in his job and trying to turn Chelsea into title contenders.
Melchiot let the side down by kicking Shimon Gershon off the ball, retaliating to being pushed. The home team played with plenty of heart and talent whereas too many Chelsea players lacked verve.
"I didn't see the sending off," Ranieri said, "but things like that are not good. We shouldn't be doing these things and I have already spoken to him."
That such players as Emmanuel Petit, William Gallas and Marcel Desailly were missing cannot excuse this result. Only the 17-year-old Joel Kitamirike, making his debut at centre-back, was not an experienced first-team player.
"The side gets used to playing with more or less the same players," Ranieri insisted. "Tonight that wasn't possible. I don't want to talk too much about the players who stayed at home."
Hapoel were scarcely bothered by who they faced. "This is one of the greatest moments of Israeli football," said their coach Dror Kashtan.
Hapoel had caused nervous moments in the first half with their attacking approach. But for three saves by Bosnich after Melchiot's dismissal, they might have lost more heavily.
Despite his performance the goalkeeper was less than happy: "I was told I would be playing twice this season but it did not work out like that," he said. "I did not even look on the board [when the team was pinned up] but it was fortunate I was selected and I did my best for Chelsea."
The only threatening spell they managed came after Melchiot's red card, when Frank Lampard hit the side netting and Gianfranco Zola briefly sparkled.
Security fears proved unfounded but in these troubled times - a minute's silence was held before kick-off for the assassinated cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi - Hapoel enjoyed this all the more. "With the things we are going through, it shows how sport can bring a lot of joy to this community," Kashtan said.
Chelsea had looked likely to survive until Terry handled on the floor when Ilan Bachar burst into the area and Gershon scored from the spot.
To make matters worse Sergei Kleschenko beat Bosnich with a header in the final minute of injury-time. Gershon had said beforehand that "after hearing that London and Liverpool were under threat of anthrax, we may be frightened to travel to the away leg."
It is safe to assume they will come. Chelsea have a mountain to climb.
Chelsea (4-4-2): Bosnich; Melchiot, Terry, Kitamirike, Babayaro; Stanic, Lampard, Jokanovic, Zenden (Dalla Bona, 56min); Zola, Hasselbaink (Forssell, 81).
Hapoel Tel Aviv (4-4-2): Elimelech; Bachar, Domb, Gershon, Antebi; Onishenko, Abuksis, Almai, Pishont; Osterc, Kleshchenko.
Referee : D van Egmond (Holland).
