Syrian family reunited in Montreal thanks to Westmount Jewish community
Surrounded by overloaded airport baggage carts, and under the gaze of TV cameras, two brothers separated by war shared their first hug in years on Monday in the arrivals lounge of Trudeau airport.
Adnan, a McGill University student who fled the civil war in Syria, sobbed and grasped his brother tightly, burying his face in his shoulder as the two rocked back and forth.
Adnan kissed him on the cheek, before finally letting go to greet his brother's wife and their four children.
"Finally, it's happened," he said, his voice raw through his tears. "I'm so happy."
The reunion of this Syrian family was made possible by their refugee sponsors, Westmount's Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom.
'We have an obligation to help people'
Adnan's brother's family fled Syria for Jordan in 2012. Adnan did not want to give his family name, because he fears for the safety of family members back in Syria.
He was approached by a member of the temple after giving talk there about the situation in Syria, mentioning that he was trying to bring his family to Canada.
Members of the temple raised roughly $50,000 to sponsor two Syrian families. After more than two years of waiting, Adnan's finally arrived.
"In our community we have people who, not long ago, lived through the same kinds of experiences," said David Berger, a board member of the temple.
"My own mother was born in Germany and at the age of 17 in 1939 ran away ... and spent some time in an internment camp."
We really feel that in times of crisis like this, we have an obligation to help people."
Help for winter
Members of Emanu-El-Beth Sholom presented the family of six with gift cards so they can buy winter clothing. They will also help the family find housing and schools for the children.
Adnan said back in the Middle East, where politics are often divided along religious lines, he never could have imagined visiting a synagogue to talk about the situation in Syria.
But his experience in Canada has been different.
"It's people who sponsored my family, despite the fact that there are many differences between our beliefs," said Adnan.
"We're all human. At the end of the day, we're all human. We feel each other. We care about each other."
