Kitchener-Waterloo

Window of Kitchener synagogue broken, police investigating

Waterloo regional police are investigating whether an object thrown through a window at a Kitchener, Ont., synagogue was hate motivated.

Kitchener Centre MP Mike Morrice shared his outrage on Instagram about the incident

A boarded up front window of a synagogue.
The Beth Jacob Congregation seen Tuesday morning after a window was shattered overnight. Police are investigating how it happened. (Aastha Shetty/CBC)

Waterloo regional police are investigating how the window of a Kitchener, Ont., synagogue was broken and whether it was hate-motivated.

Police said they responded to a report of property damage on Monday to a place of worship in the area of Stirling Avenue South and Courtland Avenue East.

An email to CBC News from the Beth Jacob Congregation said a brick or rock was thrown through its window. Police have not confirmed how the window was broken.

On Tuesday morning, there was visible damage to the front-entrance windows. Police said in a press release that the window was damaged sometime between Monday and Tuesday overnight.

A boarded up front window of a synagogue.
The Beth Jacob Congregation seen Tuesday morning after a window was broken. Police say someone damaged the front entrance window sometime overnight. (Aastha Shetty/CBC)

Kitchener Centre MP Mike Morrice took to Instagram on Monday to share his outrage about the incident at the Jewish place of worship.

"This type of anti-semitism and intimidation has no place in our community. This is not who we are," reads Morrice's post. 

"While many — myself included — are justifiably angry with the actions of the State of Israel right now, the Jewish community in Waterloo Region is not responsible for Netanyahu's actions."

Regional police say the investigation, including looking into any potential hate motivation, is ongoing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karis Mapp

Reporter

After growing up in Waterloo Region, Karis Mapp obtained a diploma from the College of Sports Media. She has since spent time reporting for CityNews 570 and CTV Kitchener. Karis joined CBC K-W in February 2024 and is excited to explore the stories that mean the most to the community. Story ideas can be sent to her at karis.mapp@cbc.ca