Advocacy @ HBT: The week of June 20, 2025

Host Stranded Israelis in Canada

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Blossom Temple,  

As you may have read, when the war with Iran broke out on Thursday, it left 100,000 Israelis stranded abroad. While the Israeli government has begun taking steps to bring stranded Israelis home, Ben Gurion Airport and Israeli airspace remain indefinitely closed.   

You can help by offering temporary housing!   

Hosting our brothers and sisters at this moment of crisis is not only an act of generosity and love, but also a mitzvah without compare- הכנסת אורחים, hachnasat orchim.   

We hope that you will get involved, as this is one way in which Canadians can make a significant, personal, and human difference in this ongoing conflict.   

🕊️ Bayit Beyachad Emergency Hosting Network   

✅ Safe, secure, and coordinated with Israel’s Foreign Ministry 
✅ Hosts and travellers fill out a short form 
✅ Volunteers are matched with those in need  

💙 Please share widely and support this urgent act of care!  

CLICK HERE TO GET INVOLVED 

Note: When registering to help, please adjust your response using the drop-down menu to indicate that you are in Canada.  

You can also assist Canadians currently in Israel  

Additionally, we know many of you might have Canadian family or friends in Israel right now, either on programs or visits. Some may be ‘stuck’ there, experiencing the current reality, since there are no outbound flights scheduled at this time.  

The staff and leadership of IMPJ (the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism) can reach out to them personally. Please send their contact information directly to Anna Avital ([email protected]).  If they are Holy Blossom Temple members, please also copy Marni Turner, our Interim Director of Membership and Community Engagement ([email protected]).  Please make sure to include the phone number that your family and friends are using (whether local or international), and IMPJ will try to check in with them, connect them with local congregations and generally just make sure they feel safe in their home away from home.  

We draw strength from our communities, our values, and from you, our friends and partners around the world. We will get through this together.  

The Holy Blossom Temple Advocacy Committee   

Click here to learn more about the Advocacy Committee