
Wave of Antisemitic Attacks Hits Canada: Toronto Synagogue Vandalized, Montreal Shul Targeted in Arson Attempt
Jewish communities in Canada were shaken over the weekend after two separate attacks targeted shuls in Toronto and Montreal within less than 24 hours, prompting strong condemnation from officials and renewed concerns about rising antisemitism across the country.
During the early hours of Shabbos, a window at Congregation Mishkan Avraham in Toronto’s North York neighborhood was shattered after an unidentified object was thrown at the building. The synagogue is located near the intersection of Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue.
No injuries were reported, but authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. According to Canadian media reports, Toronto Police’s Hate Crime Unit is leading the probe and has appealed to the public for information.
Israel’s Consulate General in Toronto condemned what it described as an antisemitic attack on the synagogue, calling the incident part of a troubling pattern of anti-Jewish hostility seen across Canada in recent days.
The Toronto attack came shortly after another serious incident in Montreal. On Friday, assailants allegedly hurled Molotov cocktails at a shul in an apparent attempt to set the building on fire.
“Within less than 24 hours, two Jewish houses of worship were attacked in two major Canadian cities,” the Israeli consulate said in a statement.
The incidents occurred amid growing concern over antisemitism in Canada. Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned about a significant increase in incitement and attacks directed at the country’s Jewish community.
In its statement, the Israeli consulate noted that “the Jewish community has heard countless condemnations over the past two and a half years, yet Jewish institutions continue to be targeted.”
The consulate also praised Toronto police for their swift response while urging authorities to take stronger action against antisemitic violence.
“A synagogue must never become a crime scene, and Jews in Canada should not have to live with the feeling that the only question is which Jewish institution will be targeted next,” the statement said. “Authorities must make clear through actions, not only statements, that antisemitic violence has no place in Canada.”
{Matzav.com}