Anti-Semitism in Toronto: "Watch your Kids"

Serious anti-Semitic incident in Toronto, Canada: Orthodox family living on the Baterhurst and Wilson streets in the city discovered graffiti - including a threat to the lives of their children - painted on the wall of the home and garage door.

On the side door to the garage, a swastika was painted, and inside the building reads: "You better watch over your children."

Recall a few months ago graffiti was sprayed on the walls of the Mishkan Torah Yeshiva. This was the second time graffiti was sprayed on the structure of the yeshiva; the police opened an investigation but so far without results.

In Montreal also recently occurred at least three cases of firebombing towards Jewish businesses, Peace Coffee, Restaurant chops, and an Orthodox home which suffered a Molotov cocktail in the middle of a Shabbos meal. Even in these cases an investigation is underway, but police refuses to determine them as 'hate crime'.

In an attempt to diffuse the situation, a meeting took place last week in the local library between representatives of the Hasidic community and factors in the general public in the city, which was attended by about 150 people. The meeting was initiated by the Friends of the Hasidim quarters Hutchison and Outremont, intending to bring dialogue.

Lila Merschi, a Palestinian-born director who helped organize the meeting, explained that she joined, having seen the campaign organizers distribute leaflets against the disciples only in homes that don’t have a mezuzah. According to her, such a pattern is not directed against the expansion of a synagogue but against Jews.

Alongside tasting of kosher food, the participants raised various issues related to coexistence in the neighborhood, including: joint clean streets, teaching Hasidic children the French language, accusing Hasidic critics of anti-Semitism and the schools of the Hasidic community even during vacation days.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!