Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on May 30, 2024

A Montreal Jewish school at a synagogue was shot at over Monday night, local Jewish community groups announced, marking the second shooting attack on a Canadian Jewish school in a week and the fourth in Montreal since the October 7 Massacre.

A bullet struck the door of the Belz School at the Young Israel of Montreal synagogue, resulting in no injuries, the Jewish Community Council of Montreal (JCC) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Montreal Police are investigating the incident and assured the Federation Combined Jewish Appeal and Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Quebec that there would be an increased police presence at all Montreal Jewish schools.

"While, we do not have any knowledge of a specific threat against the Jewish community, we remind everyone to maintain vigilance," Federation CJA and CIJAQC said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

The JCC said it had repeatedly called on Canadian authorities to take action but had been ignored, and that municipal, provincial, and federal leadership had let them down. The Jewish community group asked for the federal government to make changes to security funding programs so that smaller institutions are able to implement security measures.

"There is no excuse for not having an increased police presence in our community," said the JCC.

"We are calling for a rapid and comprehensive response by the government of Canada, the Quebec government and the city of Montreal so that Jewish Montrealers can once again feel safe walking to school, attending synagogue, and going about their daily lives," said the JCC. "Ever since the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7 we have witnessed a frightening rise in antisemitism as well as drive-by attacks on our institutions."

Bnai Brith Canada said on X on Wednesday that it was outraged by the latest shooting, and demanded an immediate response from leaders at all levels.

"The incitement that has created an environment in which such diabolical acts can so readily occur must end and the safety and security of Canada's Jewish communities must be ensured," said Bnai Brith Canada.

CIJAQC and Federation CJA called for decisive action by Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante to put an end to an atmosphere of permissiveness toward antisemitism in the city.

"Mayor Plante referred to Montreal as this 'peaceful town,' but this is not the Montreal anyone wants to live in," said the Jewish groups. "We call on all citizens of good faith to raise their voices against the relentless hatred, intimidation, and fear mongering on our streets and campuses over a conflict that is taking place thousands of miles away; it must be stopped. Order must be returned to the streets of Montreal."

Plante said on social media on Wednesday that antisemitism had no place in Montreal and that it was unacceptable that a Jewish school had again been targeted. She expressed confidence that the Montreal Police would again find the culprit.

Abdirazak Mahdi Ahmed, 20, had been arrested last Wednesday for shooting at the Yeshiva Gedola school on Deacon on November 12. On November 9, bullets had struck the doors of the same school and the nearby United Talmud Torahs of Montreal.

Outremont MP Rachel Bendayan said on social media in response to the additional shooting in her riding that "this must stop. This is not who we are."

"Disgusted that another Jewish school has been the target of a shooting. Relieved that no one was hurt, but Im thinking of the parents and community members in Montreal who must be incredibly shaken," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday. "This is antisemitism, plain and simple and we will not let it win."

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre responded on Wednesday by demanding that Trudeau's government take action to protect Canada's Jewish citizens.

"The second shooting at a Jewish school in a week," said Poilievre. "We are witnessing a terrifying escalation of antisemitism in this country."

Two men had opened fire on a North York Jewish girls school on Saturday before dawn, causing no injuries but leaving bullet holes in the building. Police have still not caught the men who fired at the Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School.

On Monday, City councilors and Ontario and federal parliamentary representatives visited the school to show solidarity with the Jewish community.

Toronto City Councilor James Pasternak said on X that they would "continue to fight for safety bubble zones to protect faith-based schools and institutions from hate."

Continue reading here:

Canada sees second shooting at Jewish school in a week - The Jerusalem Post

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