Open displays of anti-Jewish hate marred this past holiday season, while rising social and political tensions continue to cast a dark shadow over the new year for Canada’s Jewish community.
Last week, a Jewish-owned deli International Delicatessen Foods was set on fire, with the words “free Palestine” spray painted on its doors, while other Jewish-owned businesses have been swarmed or vandalised since Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israeli civilians.
“The concern that we have right now isn’t just about the disruption or the hateful words, the property damage or graffiti intended to intimidate, it’s about what comes next,” said Noah Shack, vice-president of countering antisemitism and hate for UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
“Past experiences of antisemitism are top of mind for the community right now and the warning signs from the lead-up to the Holocaust are alarming all of us,” said Shack.
Police have conceded these displays are significant.
“This is not graffiti on a bus shelter. This is not a lawful protest protected by constitutional right. This is a criminal act. It is targeted. It is organised,” Toronto police Staff Supt. Pauline Gray told reporters at the scene of the fire.
The targeting of Jewish-owned businesses is particularly distressing for the Jewish community as it was a pogrom used by the Nazis in the years leading up to the genocide of European Jews during World War II.
“The words painted across the doors of the deli make clear the link to the protests,” said Shack.
In the last few weeks, an Israeli flag was ripped outside of a home in Mission, B.C.;
a vehicle displaying an Israeli flag was vandalised in Toronto, and; demonstrators stormed malls full of Christmas shoppers to protest a store’s ad campaign and disrupted skating parties organised by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.
“Everyone is afraid that people are going to get hurt,” said Shack. “These protests that we’re seeing in our city are not just being disruptive, but targeting Jewish people in largely residential Jewish neighbourhoods, even referring to these neighbourhoods in Canada as an infestation,” he said.
Weekly pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been taken place at the Avenue Road overpass over Highway 401, near an area with a large Jewish community.
In a press release Thursday morning, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said the demonstrations that had been taking place on the bridge had escalated, becoming more confrontational, and posing a threat to the public and officers.
“Hate and intimidation can have no space in our city and we have been unwavering in our commitment to restore the sense of public safety, and not tolerate behaviour that crosses the line to criminal activity,” said Demkiw.
“Moving forward, demonstrations or the congregation of individuals on the Avenue Road overpass will not be permitted. People can expect to be arrested if necessary,” said Demkiw in the statement.
Since the events in the Middle East began, Demkiw said that there had been an unprecedented 308 protests and demonstrations across the city, and Toronto police have arrested 54 people and laid 117 charges.
Over the week-end, Toronto police arrested and charged a 41 year-old-man, after he allegedly marched in the city’s downtown area waving a flag of an organisation listed as a terrorist group by Public Safety Canada.
“Hateful, slogans, and hateful messages that are being communicated as part of these protests don’t call for policy change on the part of the government of Israel or from Canada, but are directed at Jewish people,” said Shack.
There are other methods that demonstrators can use to communicate their concerns, said Shack. “The Avenue Road overpass is a long way from consulates in downtown Toronto, which are more effective places to protest and get a message across without targeting Jewish residents.”
