Photo credit: the Canadian Press
Jewish community leaders in Toronto have called for more support after two Toronto-area synagogues were struck with gunfire this weekend.
Toronto Today reports that Sara Lefton of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto said the shootings represent “a threat to all,” not just Jewish Canadians.
Lefton called on all levels of government to provide rapid funding to secure Toronto’s Jewish communities.
The synagogue was struck by gunfire shortly after midnight on Saturday, Toronto police say.
Bullet holes were still visible on its doors as community leaders, police officials and federal, provincial and municipal politicians gathered at the synagogue’s doorstep for a news conference.
The gunfire comes as Israeli and American bombs rain down on Iran, including at an oil depot near Tehran. Iran is retaliating by widening its targets in the Middle East, hitting a desalination plant this weekend in Bahrain.
Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said Toronto’s Jewish communities have faced rising incidents of hate and violence in the lasttwo yearrs.
He’s calling for more funding dedicated to “building up the security infrastructure” in vulnerable communities.
He urged the federal government last year to substantially increase funding available through the Canada Community Security Program, which provides money for religious organizations to hire third-party security if they are at risk of hate-motivated incidents.
Public Safety Minister Gary Ananddasangaree stated during the news conference that the federal government will seek to modify requirements for funds that are “critically important to support Jewish and other community infrastructures,” as well as strengthen hate laws.
The shooting at Shaarei Shomayim synagogue on Saturday came just minutes after York Region Police responded to gunfire at the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue in Thornhill.
Toronto police and York Region police say they have stepped up patrols around Jewish neighbourhoods and places of worship as they continue to investigate the incidents.
