Not first time institutions vandalized (illustration)
Photo: Chabad info
Canada synagogues, school vandalized
Windows smashed, swastikas painted on walls as vandals attack Jewish institutions in Montreal. Jewish community not surprised by attacks, vows not to be intimidated
Four Synagogues and a Jewish school in Montreal were defaced by anonymous vandals Sunday night, the Montreal Daily Gazette reported.
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According to the Canadian newspaper, the vandals smashed the windows of the Jewish institutions and caused thousands of dollars worth in damages. The institutions which were hit include: Beth Rambam, Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem and Beth Zion synagogues in Côte St. Luc and Dorshei Emet synagogue in Hampstead. The Yavne School was also vandalized.
Montreal's Jewish community called the attack “an organized and systematic attack on Jewish institutional life". The community's rabbi, Rabbi Reuben Poupko promised that the people who use the buildings on a regular basis would not be intimidated by the vandals.
According to the rabbi, "the reason it’s so troubling is that was not an isolated affair. There have been similar incidents over the past few months that haven’t garnered any attention. It’s increasing in intensity and frequency.”
He also noted that while most of the cases of vandalism were limited to broken windows, but in one incident last March, the Ahavath Israel synagogue in Outremont was defaced with swastikas.
Montreal's police have announced that they have launched an investigation into the attacks on Jewish institutions and stated that they would be going over security tapes in a bid to identify the suspects in the case.
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