Congregants at Temple Emanu-El Beth Sholom, a Reform congregation in the French speaking city in Canada, noticed that their holy site was defaced with a swastika as they were rehearsing for a Purim spiel.
By Rachel Avraham
According to various reports in the media, anti-Semites sprayed a swastika on a Montreal synagogue over Shabbat. According to Arutz Sheva, a congregant at Temple Emanu-El Beth Sholom, a Reform congregation in the French speaking city in Canada, noticed the 3-foot-wide anti-Semitic symbol on the synagogue’s side on Saturday, when members of the synagogue had been rehearsing for the synagogue’s Purim spiel.
The following morning, the synagogue’s Rabbi Lisa Grushcow told the Jewish Chronicle that she wasn’t surprised by the graffiti, citing heightened levels of antisemitism in Canada and worldwide: “This is a place where we try and open doors and build bridges. We love it here. Now here’s the thing: With how the world is right now, it was a matter more of when, rather than if, something like this would happen. But for some of us, what’s just as disturbing as these acts of antisemitism is the silence of our friends. The world’s a bit of a mess right now, but we can make a difference.”
She also told the Jerusalem Post: “This is our holy space, where we come to pray, to build a community for children to learn, to play, and to grow, where we cook food for the hungry, where we do our bit to make the world a better place.” The rabbi urged Canadians to reach out to their Jewish friends during such a time, as hate was designed to isolate. Grushcow also called on others to educate themselves on the Holocaust to see where such hate leads. “We don’t like this history either, but ignoring it doesn’t make it go away,” said Rabbi Grushcow.
The Montreal Holocaust Museum echoed Rabbi Grushcow’s call for education in the Jerusalem Post, welcoming visitors of all ages and backgrounds to visit to learn about the history of antisemitism in response to the vandalism. Michael Levitt, President of the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, tweeted on X following the incident: “A swastika on a Montreal synagogue is not just vandalism—it’s an attack on Jewish Canadians and the values we hold dear. Antisemitism is rising, and words aren’t enough. We need action: stronger enforcement, better education, and a united stand against hate. To our Jewish community: You are not alone. We will not be intimidated. To our allies: Your voices matter. Stand with us. Speak out.”
According to the report, Westmount Mayor Christina Smith, who rules over part of Montreal, condemned the incident in which she also praised Rabbi Grushcow’s wise leadership and noted that the synagogue had been present in the city since 1911. “We must all take a stand to denounce these acts that in no way reflect the society in which most of us want to live and raise our children,” said Smith, who promised that the Westmount Public Safety team would pay particular attention to synagogues in the city.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante condemned the anti-Semitic graffiti being placed on the holy site, noting that she recently visited the synagogue. “Such attacks are unacceptable in our metropolis and I can assure Rabbi Lisa Grushcow that the [police department] is investigating,” she told the Jewish Chronicle. “We must all unite and denounce all forms of antisemitism.”
According to the National Post of Canada, police spokesperson Florence Stafford says police have not made arrests but are looking for witnesses and security camera footage to help identify a suspect. According to various reports in the media, anti-Semitism has been on the ascent in Canada since the October 7, 2023 massacre, which resulted in the slaughter of over 1,200 and over 250 others being abducted to Gaza.
For example, JNS reported that University of Montreal Professor Yanise Arab was filmed telling Jewish Concordia students to “go back to Poland, sharmuta,” using the Arabic cussword for prostitute. The Jewish Chronicle reported that last December, another synagogue in the city was firebombed for the second time in just over a year; the first such attack took place in November 2023, right after October 7. According to the report, that same month, shots were fired at an Orthodox girls’ school in Montreal.
JNS reported that the Federation Combined Jewish Appeal and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in November released a joint statement saying that “Campuses across Quebec are facing threats from local demonstrators inspired by calls from the U.S.-based organization, Students for Justice in Palestine—a group with ties to Hamas—to strike and shut down academic institutions.” According to the report, the statement was in response to the temporary closure of Dawson College in Montreal due to anti-Israel protests.
