Police investigating vandalism at North York synagogue
Synagogue’s executive director says this marks 4th vandalism incident since April
Toronto police's hate crimes unit is investigating incidents of vandalism outside a synagogue and a Jewish school in North York early Wednesday morning.
Around 2:30 a.m., three signs on the property of Kehillat Shaarei Torah Synagogue were set on fire, synagogue executive director Michael Gilmore said Wednesday.
Gilmore says the signs read: "Jewish Federation of Toronto," "Bring the hostages home" and "Support Israel." He says the synagogue has security video footage of someone on a motorcycle driving up to the synagogue with some kind of torch in their hand.
In a news release Wednesday afternoon, police say they responded to a call about the fire in the Bayview Avenue and Fifeshire Road area just before 3 a.m. The suspect fled on a motorcycle before police arrived, according to the release.
Around 3:30 a.m., police say, a person lit a sign on fire in front of a Jewish school located in the Avenue Road and Wilson Avenue area. Police say neither the school or synagogue were damaged.
Bram Costin, president of Temple Sinai Congregation, said in a statement that he's relieved only the signs were damaged. He said the temple is working with police and is not providing any further information about the incident.
Investigators say they believe the same person is responsible for both fires. The suspect was wearing black clothing and a light motorcycle helmet, police say, and riding a dark motorcycle. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
'Pattern of hate must be addressed,' says councillor
Gilmore says this is the fourth instance of vandalism at the synagogue since April. Synagogue windows were smashed in separate incidents in April, May and June, Gilmore said.
Coun. James Pasternak, who represents York Centre, called the acts "deeply concerning" in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday.
"This pattern of hate must be addressed and condemned," he said.
Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, senior director of policy and advocacy with Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, said that this incident was just the latest in "a series of other troubling incidents" at Jewish sites in the GTA this week. That includes a vandalism incident that was reported at a Markham synagogue Monday.
"The Jewish community remains on high alert, as it continues to face intimidation, threats and countless incidents of hate," Kirzner-Roberts said in a release Wednesday.
Insp. Jack Gurr said in a post on X Wednesday that Toronto police have seen "Very concerning cases in the last couple of days" and that the hate crimes unit "is taking them extremely seriously."
Hate crimes up from last year in GTA: police
Toronto police say the overall occurrences of hate crimes in the city are up 55 per cent from last year. Of the 273 hate crimes recorded so far in 2024, police say 45 per cent have been antisemitic, according to data police released this week.
"I want to reassure our communities again that the Toronto Police fully investigates every reported incident in an effort to hold those responsible accountable," Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw said at Toronto Police Service Board meeting Wednesday.
Jeff Rosenthal, chair of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto, says the organization is liasing with Toronto and York police in light of hate crimes against Jewish sites.
"When it comes to keeping the community safe, there is nothing that can replace the role of a strong police presence," he said in a statement Wednesday.
"We are also calling on city and provincial officials to increase resources for police to protect our community."