An object was thrown through the window of a Toronto synagogue on Friday night, according to the Toronto Police Service, in the second attack on a Canadian synagogue within 24 hours.
A window of the Mishkan Avraham synagogue was broken, but no injuries were reported. An investigation was opened, but as of writing, there are no suspects.
Toronto Israeli Consul General Idit Shamir said on X/Twitter that the time for symbolic gestures had passed, as Canadian Jews had been left to wonder which Jewish institution would be attacked next.
“The Jewish community has heard many statements over the past two and a half years. It has attended countless announcements, roundtables, and consultations. Yet synagogues are still being shot at. Firebombs are still being thrown. Jewish schools, community institutions, and places of worship continue to require extraordinary security measures simply to function,” Shamir said. “Canada must demonstrate, through concrete action, that antisemitic violence will be confronted with the full force of the law.”
Shamir noted that the incident came just a day after the firebomb attack against a Montreal-area synagogue.
Montreal synagogue targeted for arson
The Temple Emanu El-Beth-Sholom was subjected to an attempted arson attack overnight on Thursday, Rabbi Lisa Grushcow said in a Facebook post on Friday. There were no injuries, and the building was not significantly damaged. The house of worship was open and operational for Shabbat.
Westmount Public Safety Department officers quickly arrested the alleged attacker, according to Grushcow and the Westmount municipality. The Montreal Police (SPVM) did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the Montreal Gazette identified the suspect as St. Leonard borough resident Steven Luu.
Luu reportedly faces six charges, including arson, arson by negligence, and possession of an explosive device.
Canada PM acknowledges rising antisemitism
Shamir and Grushcow both remarked that the Montreal incident had come the same week that Prime Minister Mark Carney had acknowledged in a speech that “Canada’s civic compact is failing Jewish Canadians.”
At a speech at the Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, Carney announced the formation of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion. The inaugural mission of the council is to review and develop plans to address rising antisemitism in the country. One of those appointed to the council, former senator Marc Gold, is a congregant of Temple Emanu-El-Beth-Sholom.
Sunday is set to be the annual Walk With Israel event in Toronto. On Friday, TPS Deputy Chief Frank Barredo announced security measures for the event, which will include contingents of officers from regional law enforcement groups on foot, bicycles, and horseback. Barredo also confirmed that counter-protests will be facilitated, but he warned that any hate speech or hateful signage would be investigated.