Toronto Synagogue Vandalized for 10th Time in 18 Months Amid Rising Antisemitism

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

TORONTO, CANADA (Worthy News) – Canada’s Jewish community was in shock Wednesday after the Kehillat Shaarei Torah synagogue in Toronto was vandalized again — marking the tenth such attack in about 18 months.

In the early hours of Tuesday, a vandal smashed five windows of the modern-Orthodox congregation on Bayview Avenue in North York using a hammer before fleeing, according to the Toronto Police Service and synagogue officials.

Police said the suspect was wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants, and dark shoes with white markings. Investigators have released surveillance camera images and are seeking public assistance.

Kehillat Shaarei Torah executive director Michael Gilmore said the congregation is devastated and believes the repeated attacks are driven by antisemitic hatred. “I honestly believe this continues to happen because of antisemitism,” Gilmore told reporters. “Our members are fearful, but we are determined to remain strong.”

The synagogue has suffered repeated acts of vandalism since April 2024, including smashed doors, graffiti, and dead animals left on the property.

Inspector Paul Kaye of the Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit confirmed that detectives are investigating whether the incident is part of a “larger pattern of targeted hate incidents” against Jewish institutions in the city.

“These crimes are deeply troubling,” Kaye said in a statement. “We are working closely with faith-based community partners to ensure their safety and hold those responsible to account.”

PREVIOUS ATTACKS AND ARRESTS

Police earlier arrested Amir Arvahi Azar, a suspect linked to a string of antisemitic arson and vandalism attacks between April 2024 and January 2025.

He faces 29 charges, including arson, possession of prohibited weapons, and advocating genocide — one of the rarest charges in Canadian law.

Yet attacks have continued. On June 30, a motorcyclist threw rocks through the synagogue’s windows, and in July, signage was set on fire with a blowtorch.

In December, vandals placed hate decals on the synagogue’s exterior and on nearby Jewish Federation signs, distorting messages such as “Bring Them Home Now” to “Take Their Homes Now.”

The congregation has since spent more than CAD $160,000 (about USD $114,000) on reinforced windows, fencing, and private guards to protect the building, officials said.

“We’ve had to invest heavily in security instead of community programming,” Gilmore said. “No faith group should have to live like this.”

‘EXPLOSION IN ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS’

The UJA Federation of Greater Toronto — part of the United Jewish Appeal network that coordinates Jewish social services, education, security, and humanitarian aid — and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center both condemned the attacks.

They called on federal and provincial leaders to increase protection for Jewish institutions amid what advocacy groups describe as an “explosion” in antisemitic hate crimes since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023.

Canada is home to roughly 335,000 Jews, according to the 2021 Census — about one percent of the population — with nearly half living in the Greater Toronto Area.

Jewish leaders say the community has faced a dramatic rise in threats, vandalism, and harassment over the past two years.

The Toronto Police Service reported a 49 percent jump in hate-motivated incidents targeting Jews between 2023 and 2024.

Despite fear and frustration, Gilmore said the congregation plans to continue services and public events. “We will not be intimidated,” he stressed. “We will continue to worship and live proudly as Jews in Canada.”

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