'Enough is enough,' say Jewish groups after rock smashes synagogue window in London, Ont.
London police have found the rock and are asking the public for information
Jewish groups are condemning an act of vandalism at a London, Ont., synagogue calling it deeply troubling and demanding action from police and politicians.
The London Jewish Federation posted a photo on social media Friday of a hole in a window at the Beth Tefilah Orthodox synagogue, located along Adelaide Street North near Kipps Lane, where a rock had smashed it.
"This attack on a place of worship is deeply troubling and an affront to the Canadian values of respect and community," the group's post reads. "This incident is not isolated; it follows a disturbing trend of rising antisemitism and vandalism against synagogues across Canada. Such acts of hate and intolerance have no place in our society."
London police launched an investigation after the incident was reported Friday morning, and later confirmed the damage happened sometime between midnight and 8 a.m. the same day. Police spokesperson Sandasha Bough said a rock had been located nearby.
Rabbi Lazer Gurkow of Beth Tefilah said he learned of the damage around 8:45 a.m. Friday, noting the window was intact as of midnight. He declined to comment further, citing the investigation.
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre (FSWC), a Toronto-based Jewish human rights organization, said it was disturbed by the incident, saying "this is not the Canada we know and love."
"Our public leaders vow 'never again,' yet attacks on Jewish institutions happen again and again. Enough is enough!" the group said in a social media post.
"It doesn't seem that there's any place that is safe from the wave of antisemitic hatred ... washing over us here in Canada," said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, FSWC's senior director of advocacy and policy.
"The kind of ferocity of hatred that we're seeing is surely linked to the war taking place in the Middle East, which has not much to do with the Jews that live here in Canada," she said.
The group, she said, was grateful to learn police responded quickly and are investigating, but called on political leaders to take concrete action to address the issue.
"We've heard a lot of nice words from politicians at all levels about how they stand against hatred, they stand against antisemitism, and that's great, but it's been clear for a while now that the problem is escalating."
Hate crimes up
Incidents of graffiti, broken windows, assaults and threats have been reported at synagogues over the last several months in cities including Fredericton, Kitchener, North York, Toronto and Vancouver.
In other incidents, Jewish schools in Montreal and Toronto have been targeted by gunfire, while in March a Toronto councillor's office was hit with antisemitic threats. In January, a Jewish-owned business in the city was spray-painted and set on fire.
Police departments across Canada, including in London, have reported rising hate crime rates.
A report before the London Police Services Board last month found hate-motivated incidents had "risen significantly" over the past five years, with rising 39 per cent from 2022 to 2023.
The report found a "notable connection" between the timing of the 2023 increase involving the city's Jewish and Muslim communities, and the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
Last week in London, Muslim groups came together to demand tougher anti-hate laws after the front porch of a Muslim family's home was set on fire, and lawn signs calling for Palestinian human rights were stolen. London police said Friday they had a suspect they believe has fled the country who is facing multiple charges by way of a warrant.
Mosques have also been targeted, including in Mississauga, Montreal, and Toronto. In October, London police announced an investigation after a mosque was targeted with graffiti reading, "Kill All Muslims."
A London city councillor added her thoughts on social media, saying that places of worship need to be safe places for the Jewish community, and all faith groups, to gather.
"We must continue to call out antisemitism, hatred, and violence in our community," Ward 7 Coun. Corrine Rahman wrote.
Anyone with information about Friday's incident is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
