"In Montreala suddenly rise of hateful incidents" | Rabbi in Montreal discusses following brutal assault
In the heart of Montreal, Canada, a disturbing escalation in antisemitic incidents has been unfolding. The latest incident, a violent assault on a Hasidic Jewish father in front of his children, has left the community shaken and demanding action from authorities.
Rabbi Reuben Poupko, the spiritual leader of Beth Israel Beit Aaron Congregation in Cote St. Luc, has been at the forefront of the community's response. The attack, he believes, was not a random act of violence but a targeted hate crime, underscoring the hostile environment that the Jewish community in Montreal has been facing.
The statistics are alarming. According to Statistics Canada and other sources, Jewish people remain the most targeted religious group for hate crimes in Canada, with 920 police-reported incidents in 2024, a slight reduction from 959 in 2023 but still significantly higher compared to 331 in 2020. The post-October 2023 period saw a notable spike, with the average monthly hate crimes against Jews rising from 51 to 148 between October and December 2023.
The community's response has been vocal. There has been strong condemnation, calls for increased protection, and support for police efforts to arrest suspects. Jewish community leaders emphasize the ongoing severity and call for sustained government action.
Canadian authorities, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, have publicly condemned antisemitic violence and pledged support for law enforcement investigations. However, critics, including Israeli officials, have argued that the Canadian government’s response is insufficient and called for stronger measures to combat antisemitism nationwide.
Rabbi Poupko is encouraging Aliyah, immigration to Israel, as a response to the rise in antisemitism. He believes that the Jewish community does not need encouragement to do the right thing. He has signed over 20 letters supporting young people from his synagogue who are immigrating to Israel.
The attack on the Hasidic Jewish father is not an isolated incident. Montreal has faced previous incidents of violence against the Jewish community, including schools being shot at overnight and synagogues firebombed. An attempted firebombing of Rabbi Poupko's own synagogue occurred last October on Erev Rosh Hashanah.
The perpetrator of the latest attack has not yet been apprehended. A man entered a Jewish business in Montreal and shouted "We're gonna kill you 1 by 1". The family affected by the recent attack is being well cared for by their compassionate, close-knit community.
Rabbi Poupko believes that there is a lack of accountability in the political and legal systems responsible for protecting the Jewish community. He continues to press government and political leaders to protect the Jewish community, reminding them about where they truly belong - implicitly in Israel.
Persistent anti-Israel demonstrations in Montreal do not seem to change public opinion, but do intimidate journalists, prosecutors, and city officials. The victim of the latest attack was a young man who was hospitalized but has since been released. The Montreal synagogue was firebombed for the second time since October 7th.
Canadian politicians have condemned the Montreal synagogue firebombing. Rabbi Poupko, despite the challenges, remains hopeful and resilient, reminding his community and the world that the Jewish people have faced adversity before and have always emerged stronger.
In light of the escalating antisemitic incidents in Montreal, politics and general news outlets have been closely monitoring the situation. The latest assault on a Hasidic Jewish father, believed to be a targeted hate crime, highlights the urgent need for justice and increased protection within the crime-and-justice sector. Rabbi Reuben Poupko, a vocal community leader, is encouraging immigration to Israel (aliyah) as a response to the rise in antisemitism, questioning the accountability and response of the political and legal systems tasked with protecting the Jewish community.
