TORONTO, Ontario — Two synagogues in Canada were targeted within less than 24 hours this week, days after Prime Minister Mark Carney told Jewish community leaders that Canada is facing a severe antisemitism crisis and pledged new federal action to protect Jewish Canadians.
In Montreal, police arrested a 38-year-old man after an attempted arson attack at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Westmount overnight June 4 to 5. In Toronto, police opened an investigation after a window was smashed at Congregation Mishkan Avraham in North York on Friday night. No injuries were reported in either incident.
The incidents came shortly after Carney spoke at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, where he said antisemitism in Canada has surged to levels not seen in the post-Second World War period. He said Jewish Canadians, who make up about one percent of the population, were the targets of more than two-thirds of religion-motivated hate crimes reported last year.
“The crisis of antisemitism in Canada today is specific, severe, and demands a targeted response,” Carney said in his June 1 address.
Montreal Synagogue Targeted
Montreal police said officers were called to the Westmount synagogue shortly after midnight after an alleged arson attempt. Police said the building was empty at the time and that damage was limited.
The City of Westmount said the attempted arson occurred during the night of June 4 to 5 and praised Westmount Public Safety and Montreal police for their response.
“I strongly condemn this attempted arson attack,” Westmount Mayor Michael Stern said in a statement. “The safety of our residents, institutions, and community gathering places remains a top priority for the City.”
Police said witnesses helped lead officers to a 38-year-old suspect. According to reports citing Montreal police, the hate crimes unit was consulted, but the arson squad is leading the investigation.
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom is one of Montreal’s most historic Jewish congregations. The City of Westmount said the synagogue has been part of the Westmount community since 1911.
Rabbi Lisa Grushcow said the attack caused limited damage because of security measures already in place, including reinforced windows. She said the incident reflected a broader pattern of rising antisemitism.
“We cannot ignore the broader issues and the unmistakable rise of antisemitism in our city and our country,” Grushcow told The Canadian Jewish News, according to reports. “We also know that we are seeing an escalation.”
Toronto Synagogue Window Smashed
In Toronto, police are investigating after a window was smashed at Congregation Mishkan Avraham in North York, near Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue.
According to reports citing Toronto police, an unidentified object was thrown at the synagogue, breaking a window. No injuries were reported. Police said no suspect description was immediately available.
The Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit was notified, according to reports.
Israel’s Consul General in Toronto, Idit Shamir, condemned the incident and said the attack followed the attempted arson in Montreal by less than 24 hours.
“Within less than 24 hours, two Jewish houses of worship were attacked in two major Canadian cities,” the Consulate General of Israel in Toronto said in a statement.
Shamir said Canadian Jews have heard repeated statements, announcements, roundtables, and consultations, but Jewish institutions continue to face threats.
“Canada must demonstrate, through concrete action, that antisemitic violence will be confronted with the full force of the law,” Shamir said.
Carney Pledged Federal Action
Carney’s remarks earlier in the week were among the strongest statements by a Canadian prime minister on antisemitism in recent years.
Speaking at Holy Blossom Temple, he said Canada’s “civic compact” was failing Jewish Canadians and announced new federal measures aimed at combating hate.
The federal government has pledged $75 million for security at faith-based and community institutions. It has also announced a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion, which is expected to study antisemitism, improve data collection, and recommend additional measures related to education, prevention, and safety.
Carney said the measures are not intended to restrict free speech, but to protect communities from hate and violence.
For many Jewish Canadians, however, the latest synagogue incidents underscore a central concern. Public condemnations have become frequent, but attacks on Jewish institutions continue.
Jewish schools, synagogues, community centres, and businesses across Canada have faced shootings, firebombings, vandalism, threats, and harassment since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Jewish organizations have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement, improved prosecution of hate crimes, and more consistent political leadership.
Community Safety Concerns Grow
The Montreal and Toronto incidents add to a growing list of attacks and threats involving Jewish institutions in Canada.
In March, Carney condemned gunfire attacks at Toronto-area synagogues, calling them “criminal antisemitic assaults.” Police reported no injuries in those cases, but the attacks intensified calls for stronger protection of Jewish institutions.
The latest incidents also come amid heightened concern over antisemitism on university campuses, at public demonstrations, and in online spaces. Jewish leaders have warned that anti-Israel rhetoric can create a climate in which Jewish Canadians feel increasingly unsafe in public life.
Authorities have not announced any evidence linking the Montreal and Toronto incidents to each other or to Carney’s speech. Police investigations remain active.
Still, the timing has intensified concern within Canada’s Jewish community. Within days of a national address acknowledging the severity of antisemitism, two synagogues in two major cities were targeted.
For many Jewish Canadians, the question is no longer whether antisemitism is being recognized.
It is whether consequences will follow recognition.
Calls for Enforcement
Jewish community advocates say the latest incidents should be treated as a test of Canada’s willingness to protect minority communities from targeted hate.
Statements of solidarity, they argue, are no longer enough.
The community is looking for arrests, prosecutions, deterrence, and visible security measures that allow Jewish Canadians to pray, study, and gather without fear.
Police in Montreal and Toronto have urged anyone with information to contact investigators.
As the investigations continue, Jewish institutions across Canada are expected to remain on heightened alert.
The incidents have reinforced the message that Canada’s antisemitism crisis is not theoretical. It is being felt at synagogue doors, school entrances, community centres, and Jewish homes across the country.
