A 71-year-old Jewish woman in Ottawa, Canada was stabbed just because she is Jewish.
By Rachel Avraham
The stabbing of a 71-year-old Jewish woman in an Ottawa supermarket is more than an isolated crime. It is a chilling reminder that antisemitism is not an abstract idea confined to history books or distant places — it is here, in Canada, manifesting in broad daylight at the most ordinary of locations.
On August 27, 2025, a Jewish grandmother shopping at the Loblaws on Baseline Road was suddenly attacked with a knife. The suspect, Joseph Rooke, 71, of Cornwall, was arrested on the spot and later charged with aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. Investigators quickly classified the crime as hate-motivated, citing not only the target’s Jewish identity but also the suspect’s openly antisemitic social media posts, including a declaration that “I am antisemitic and atheist” and references to Judaism as “the world’s oldest cult.”
This swift categorization by Ottawa Police underscores how serious the authorities consider the link between ideology and violence.
In Canadian law, a crime is considered “hate-motivated” when evidence shows it was carried out against an individual because of their religion, ethnicity, or other protected characteristic. That distinction matters: it acknowledges that the harm extends beyond the immediate victim to the entire community. For Ottawa’s Jewish residents, the message is clear — daily routines, like grocery shopping, may no longer feel safe.
Jewish advocacy groups such as B’nai Brith Canada and CIJA have long warned of this normalization of antisemitism. CIJA’s response was blunt: “We are at a tipping point in Canada. Inaction in the face of antisemitism is complicity.” The Ottawa attack tragically validates this concern.
Ottawa’s Mayor Mark Sutcliffe condemned the attack and offered support to the victim’s family, reaffirming that Ottawa must remain inclusive. Nationally, nearly 20 Liberal MPs co-signed a letter denouncing antisemitism’s rise, warning against its creeping normalization. This is a rare show of cross-political unity on an issue that touches the country’s very identity.
But such statements, while important, will not suffice. Stronger security measures in public spaces, more robust hate-crime legislation, and educational campaigns against antisemitism are urgently needed. Otherwise, political words risk being seen as symbolic rather than substantive.
The Ottawa stabbing follows a string of antisemitic incidents across Canada. Just weeks earlier in Montreal, a Jewish father was attacked in front of his children; his kippah was thrown to the ground, symbolizing the targeting of visible Jewish identity. From vandalism at Holocaust memorials to assaults on rabbis, the frequency and brazenness of these incidents suggest a pattern, not random coincidence.
Experts point out that such acts are rarely spontaneous. They often stem from online radicalization, conspiracy theories, and a broader global trend of emboldened antisemitic rhetoric. The suspect’s Facebook history — filled with hostile posts about Jews controlling governments and media — is a textbook example of how digital hate translates into real-world harm.
Canada has long prided itself on multiculturalism and inclusivity. Yet the Ottawa case challenges this image. If elderly Jewish women can be attacked in a grocery store, then the very promise of Canadian pluralism is under strain. Protecting Jewish Canadians is not just about one community’s security; it is about safeguarding the country’s democratic identity.
The Ottawa supermarket stabbing must serve as a turning point. Condemnations, while necessary, are not enough. Canada must now answer hard questions: Are hate-crime laws strong enough? Are security measures adequate? Are educational institutions equipping young Canadians to recognize and reject antisemitism?
The answer will determine whether this attack is remembered as just another disturbing entry in a growing list — or as the moment Canada finally chose to confront antisemitism head-on.
Photo from CBC News: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oMmeh9XgvYE
