Jewish Community ‘Outraged’ by Firebombing of Quebec Synagogue

Fire damage is shown at the entrance of the Congregation Beth Tikvah in Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Que., in this handout photo. The Canadian Press/HO - B'nai Brith Canada

Jewish groups say they are very concerned by the recent overnight attacks targeting a synagogue and a Jewish community centre in Quebec.

Montreal police spokesperson Sabrina Gauthier said on Nov. 7 that incendiary devices were cast at two locations in Quebec’s on-island suburb of Dollard-des-Ormeaux. The “firebombing” reportedly caused minor damage to the front door of a synagogue and the back door of a nearby Jewish community centre.

Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith Canada says the synagogue involved is called Congregation Beth Tikvah.

“B‘nai Brith Canada is outraged about a ’Molotov cocktail' thrown at the front door of Congregation Beth Tikvah last night,” the group said in a Nov. 7 X post.

In the post, Henry Topas, B'nai Brith Canada’s Quebec regional director, who also serves as a cantor at Congregation Beth Tikvah, called for a thorough investigation by the authorities to apprehend those accountable for “this violent act” that targeted their community.

Eta Yudin, vice-president at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Quebec, expressed concern about antisemitism which, she noted, has been on the rise since the terrorist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel exactly one month ago.

“Since the horrific terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, we’ve seen an explosion in antisemitism,“ she told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. ”Today, the same hate we’ve seen on the streets of Montreal crossed a red line and morphed into action. The targeting of Jewish institutions is unacceptable and must be addressed.”

Ms. Yudin said her organization will work with other Jewish advocacy groups to assist the Montreal police in its investigation of these incidents. She further urged leaders within Canadian civil society, including educational institutions, to take an active role in combating antisemitism, emphasizing that they must establish the standards for “what’s acceptable in our society and what will not be tolerated.”

Canada United for Israel, another Jewish advocacy group, echoed concerns about the increasing level of antisemitism.

“Luckily there were no injuries, but the incident highlights a growing trend of antisemitism across Canada and the world,” the group said on X. “We must stand with the Jewish community against hate and we must [stand with Israel] against Hamas terrorism." 

Montreal police have not confirmed a motive for the firebombings, but police have received 38 reports of crimes and incidents targeting the Montreal Jewish community between Oct. 7 and Oct. 25, as reported by The Canadian Press.

Several politicians have denounced the attacks and expressed support for the Jewish community.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the attempted arson targeting the Beth Tikvah congregation as “deeply disturbing.” In a statement posted on X, he said that “antisemitism is completely unacceptable and must always be condemned,” and he pledged to work with Jewish communities to “combat this hatred.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also took to social media to condemn the perpetrators involved in the incident.

“This is an appalling attack on the Jewish people. Police must find and arrest the monsters who threw a Molotov cocktail at this synagogue,” he wrote in a statement.

Sameer Zuberi, Liberal MP for Quebec’s Pierrefonds–Dollard riding, also condemned what he described as “heinous acts.”

“This is unacceptable,” he wrote on X. “Hateful acts like these have no place in Pierrefonds–Dollard or anywhere in Canada.”