Israeli Families Open Homes to Help Voters Return for October Elections

As Israel prepares for its October 27 elections, a grassroots initiative has emerged to assist Israelis returning from abroad to vote. Sociologist Chen Katzavitz Persler and her husband Yuval Persler, a clinical social worker, started by offering their home in Kfar Harif near Kastina to host returning voters for a couple of nights. Chen posted an invitation on Facebook, which quickly sparked a wider movement of families across Israel volunteering spare rooms to accommodate those without family hosts or the means to afford travel and lodging.

The Perslers have made four bedrooms and an additional gallery space available, providing full hospitality including meals and transportation to polling stations. They also helped launch a platform called "Kibbutz Galuyot" to connect hosts and guests by geographic area. The initiative has drawn emotional responses from the public, with many offering their own homes, such as Orna and Aryeh Bornstein from Haifa, who opened their private studio apartment near the sea for two guests.

Chen, who studies gender and sexuality, sees the initiative as a revival of traditional Israeli solidarity and mutual support amid political and social divisions. She emphasized the uniquely Israeli spirit of inviting strangers into one’s home, describing the movement as a hopeful sign of renewed national unity. The hosts do not inquire about political views, focusing instead on fostering connection and support during the election period.

This volunteer-driven hospitality effort reflects a broader desire among Israelis to ensure maximum voter participation and to rekindle a sense of community ahead of the upcoming elections.