A Montreal area synagogue was vandalized with Nazi swastika graffiti, according to Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
Rabbi Lisa Grushcow said the Saturday vandalization of the Westmount house of worship was “more a matter of if rather than when” with rising antisemitic incidents in Canada.
“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,” said Grushcow on Instagram.
Plante said on X/Twitter that the antisemitic graffiti on the synagogue that she had recently visited was unacceptable. The mayor assured that the Montreal police were investigating the incident.
Grushcow said the hate was painful but the “silence of our friends is disturbing.”
Hate was designed to isolate
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 Grushcow.
The Montreal Holocaust Museum echoed Grushcow’s call for education, welcoming visitors of all ages and backgrounds to visit to learn about the history of antisemitism in response to the vandalism.
Westmount Mayor Christina Smith condemned the incident in which she also praised 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.
Bnai Brith Canada said the vandalization was a “cowardly act and an insult to Canadian morals and values. Our synagogues are supposed to be a safe space where Jewish faith and culture flourish.”
The Jewish organization said the incident highlighted the need for legislative bodies to take action to protect houses of worship and hold those who incite hatred accountable.
The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs said the incident was “sickening” and urged all communities to speak up against it.
“If you can’t find your voice by now, you’ve confirmed our worst fears,” CIJA said on X.