Toronto police are searching for a suspect seen on surveillance video vandalizing Kehillat Shaarei Torah (KST), marking the tenth time the shul has been attacked in less than two years.
The most recent act of vandalism occurred early Tuesday morning, when a hooded figure, armed with what looked like a hammer, smashed multiple windows before fleeing the scene. Cameras captured the assailant striking one window, sprinting past the front walkway, and shattering two more.
Authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway into what they suspect is hate-motivated mischief directed at a house of worship. Police described the suspect as wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants, and black shoes with white details.
The Canadian Jewish News reported that KST has faced repeated hate incidents, from defaced hostage signs and anti-Israel stickers to prior window-smashing attacks. The first occurred in April 2024, followed by another just weeks later in May.
Even after installing security cameras and fencing last summer, KST Executive Director Michael Gilmore said the intruder likely entered through a neighboring property. “It’s falling over. We’ve been trying to keep it propped up on our end,” he told The CJN.
Just hours after the latest attack, the shul continued with its scheduled 7:00 a.m. Shacharis. “We just kind of keep on moving on with our lives,” Gilmore said, noting that he’s grown used to pre-dawn alerts and the constant costs of repairing damage.
Gilmore also expressed frustration with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s remarks at a recent gala, where she spoke of “a genocide in Gaza.” He commented, “I don’t think she wants to incite violence against the Jewish community, but when she doesn’t care that her words will incite violence, we have to be protected from somewhere else.”
Rabbi Joe Kanofsky, who leads the congregation, said that while no one has been physically harmed, the emotional toll is heavy. “The community is a place where people come together as a faith community to thank God for the good life that we have and to pray for an even better world for everyone. This is obviously pretty far away from what we believe or what we hope happens around us,” he said.
He added that the community remains resilient. “We see that those who are determined to hurt other people seem pretty determined, so we have to double down on our commitment for good and for positive thoughts and prayer,” said Rabbi Kanofsky.
The vandalism comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic crimes across Toronto following the outbreak of the war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza on October 7, 2023. A report released by the Toronto Police Service in May revealed that 2024 saw record levels of hate crimes, with Jews once again the primary target.
In one recent case, eggs were thrown at the Yorkville Jewish Centre in August. Surveillance video showed a man shouting obscenities while pelting the building. In another incident last month, anti-Israel vandals defaced Cedarvale Park—the same day Jews worldwide celebrated the release of 20 hostages from Gaza.
Just one day after the latest KST attack, violence erupted again when a mob of protesters stormed an event hosted by Students Supporting Israel at Toronto Metropolitan University, breaking a glass door and injuring one of the speakers.
{Matzav.com}
