On December 20, 2024, Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School in Toronto was shot at for the third time in seven months, reinforcing concerns over escalating hate crimes in Canada.
Jewish School in Toronto Faces Third Shooting Incident Amid Rising Antisemitism
Jewish School in Toronto Faces Third Shooting Incident Amid Rising Antisemitism
Canadian authorities plan to hold a meeting with law enforcement to address the surge of antisemitic attacks targeting Jewish institutions in Toronto and Montreal.
On a seemingly quiet Friday morning, the Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School in Toronto became the target of gunfire for the third time this year, as six shots were fired at the institution around 2:30 a.m. Security footage captured an assailant exiting a vehicle before the assault, leaving the community reeling from yet another act of antisemitism.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his dismay over the attack, stating on social media, “This is a hateful, antisemitic attack on Toronto’s Jewish community.” This incident follows other distressing events this week, including an arson investigation at a Jewish community center and synagogue in Montreal, heightening fears among Jewish residents.
Rabbi Yaacov Vidal, principal of the targeted school, conveyed the anxiety gripping parents and the community, stating, “It’s very, very hard to be woken up in the middle of the night to such news, and it is now the third time.” As a result of these repeated attacks, community concern and frustration have escalated.
Authorities have intensified efforts to combat hate crimes, especially following the outbreak of conflict in Gaza last year. Reports indicate that hate crimes against the Jewish community constituted about half of the incidents reported in Toronto, though other groups, including Muslims, Palestinians, and Arabs, have also experienced significant increases in targeted hate crimes.
Toronto Police have made substantial arrests for hate-related offenses, totaling 161 since the onset of these issues. In a proactive measure, Rachel Bendayan, an associate public safety minister, announced that she would gather law enforcement agencies from across the country to devise strategies for curbing antisemitic violence.
In a further commitment to confronting this alarming trend, the Canadian government revealed a $191 million initiative aimed at reducing hate crimes over the next six years, supporting both police departments and community organizations in collecting data on bias incidents. The national census agency reported last year a record number of 4,777 hate crimes, representing a 32 percent increase from the previous year, underscoring the urgent need for action against this troubling rise in intolerance.
