MONTREAL — The Montreal Holocaust Museum will launch a series of online events beginning February 26 that focus on the sharp rise in antisemitism in Canada and internationally since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. The museum says antisemitic incidents in Canada have climbed by 172 percent in recent years and will examine how to recognize antisemitism, its effects on victims, and ways to counter it.
In Canada overall, hate crimes based on religion rose 67 percent in 2023, with anti‑Jewish hate increasing by 71 percent year‑over‑year. Nearly 900 incidents were reported to police in 2023. In Toronto specifically, Jewish people accounted for 40 percent of all hate crimes and 81 percent of religiously motivated incidents in 2024, despite being less than 4 percent of the population. That marked a 144 percent jump since 2021.
The events will begin with a discussion on February 26 featuring author Alex Ryvchin and Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather, who also serves as the Prime Minister’s special advisor on Jewish community issues and antisemitism. They will explore antisemitism from its early origins through its modern forms, drawing on historical and contemporary contexts with emphasis on Quebec.
These webinars come amid mounting violence targeting Jewish institutions. In Montreal, Congregation Beth Tikvah synagogue and a Jewish community centre were struck in an arson attempt on November 7, 2023. Jewish schools, including Talmud Torah Elementary and Yeshiva Gedola, were shot at multiple times in November. Concordia University saw Jewish students subjected to verbal and physical harassment, including slurs from a faculty member.
In Toronto, the Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School was hit by gunfire three times in 2024, including on Yom Kippur. No injuries were reported, but the attacks coincided with a broader wave of antisemitic violence across Canada.
Community leaders and advocacy organizations point to global trends. A May 2025 report by the J7 coalition, which includes Canadian Jewish agencies, found a dramatic uptick in antisemitic incidents worldwide between 2021 and 2023, driven in part by the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks, with synagogues, schools, and community centres repeatedly targeted.
Local Jewish voices emphasize the urgent need for awareness and education. Eta Yudin, vice president of CIJA in Quebec, warned that antisemitic activity is growing more violent and unchecked.
Michelle Stock, CIJA vice‑president for Ontario, urged a strong government response after Toronto’s 2024 hate crime report showed Jewish-targeted incidents rose again. She called for investment in hate crime units, prosecutorial training, and legal reforms to close gaps for prosecutions.
The federal government has committed significant funding to fight antisemitism. Budget 2024 allocated C$90.5 million toward Holocaust remembrance, education, and community safety initiatives. That included funding for the Montreal Holocaust Museum, Canada’s first national Holocaust remembrance programme, and support for the special envoy on combating antisemitism.
The museum’s online series targets a broad pro‑Israel, Jewish, and Zionist audience. It aims to inform participants about how antisemitism has evolved after Oct. 7, what its impacts are, and practical steps to resist its spread.
This article is based on verified information from government agencies, CIJA, Montreal Holocaust Museum statements, Reuters, and J7 diaspora community reports.