Something is rotten in Canada, not just the crumbling coalition government. Some 400,000 Jews – the fourth-largest Jewish population center in the world after Israel, the US, and France – live in the beautiful, spacious country known for its heritage of tolerance and pluralism. Now, this population is under attack. B’nai Brith Canada (BBC) reported record highs of antisemitic incidents, with 5,791 cases documented in 2023, marking a staggering 109% increase from previous years.
Shimon Koffler Fogel, the outgoing CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), testified before the Canadian Senate’s Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, detailing the troubling rise of hate crimes since the war erupted following Hamas’s massacre on October 7. Fogel disclosed, “Hate crimes have surged by 93% in Toronto, with nearly half of these attacks directed at the Jewish community.”
The situation is alarming across the country. Reports of antisemitism increased by 62% in Vancouver and show shocking numbers from Montreal, which saw antisemitic incidents rise by 250%. The Jewish community has faced real threats; gunshots have been fired at Bais Chaya, a Jewish girls' school, on three separate occasions, with the latest incident occurring just last Friday.
Montreal’s Jewish population has not been spared either. The Cantor of Congregation Beth Tikvah noted the community's fears after the synagogue was firebombed for the second time within just over a year, stating, “This is a terrifying reminder of how unsafe Montreal is becoming for Jewish people.” Richard Marceau, vice president of external affairs and general counsel at CIJA, echoed this sentiment, describing the rapid shift, “Canada has become a country where masked thugs take over our streets to burn Canadian flags, salute Hitler, celebrate terrorists, and call for violence.”
The rising tide of antisemitism highlights significant failures at all governmental levels to hold accountable those propagators of hate and violence. Critics argue there has been a lack of decisive action from Canadian leaders. For example, the recent public spat between Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Canadian Liberal MP Anthony Housefather displayed the conflicting perspectives on the state of safety for Jewish Canadians. Housefather described claims made by Minister Amichai Chikli asserting Canada’s unsafety for Jews as “false and exaggerated,” asserting instead, “Canada is one of the best places for Jews to live.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was quick to condemn the violence, saying he was “sickened by the reports of shots fired at the Jewish elementary school.” He labeled the incidents as “hateful, antisemitic attacks,” but many critics within the Jewish community feel his government’s responses have been muted to avoid upsetting Canada’s large Muslim population.
Despite this, the Trudeau administration has announced the formation of a National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism, set to convene in Ottawa by February 2025. Trudeau stated, “The Government of Canada recognizes the urgent need for national leadership to protect Jewish Canadians.” Deborah Lyons, Canada’s special envoy on preserving Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism, commented, “Despite making up just over 1% of the population, Jews are the number one target of reported hate crimes. Antisemitism shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”
This increase and the visible rise of antisemitic actions pose long-term consequences not only for Jews in Canada but for Jews across the globe. The indication is clear: if Jews cannot feel safe in Canada, they may not be safe anywhere. Community leaders hope for more than merely verbal commitments. They want tangible actions and policies. The call for zero tolerance against targeting people due to their Jewish identity must be executed with measurable steps. Only then can the assurance of safety for Jews mean something more than mere platitudes.
With upcoming discussions about strategies to combat antisemitism, the road is long, and actions must speak louder than words. The safety of Jewish Canadians, as well as the moral fabric of Canadian society, hangs precariously on the choices made by its leaders now and for the future.
