Community groups condemn swastikas spray-painted on Plateau synagogue

Religious leaders and community activists in Montreal are voicing their condemnation of last month’s act of vandalism of a Plateau-Mont-Royal synagogue.

BACKGROUND: Montreal synagogue spray-painted with swastikas

The front of the Bagg Street synagogue – at the corner of Bagg Street and Clark Street – was defaced with at least four swastikas on the weekend of March 25-26.

Representatives from the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, the Jamaica Association of Montreal and the Chinese Association of Montreal denounced the anti-Semitic symbols at a press conference outside the synagogue Tuesday morning.

“Everybody knows this synagogue, it’s the oldest living synagogue in Quebec, and so when it was attacked, members of the Jewish community as a whole felt attacked,” says Marvin Rotrand, the national director with the League for Human Rights at B’nai Brith

“I’ve seen swastikas before, but these look different,” said congregation member, Sam Sheraton. “These were purposely installed inside the window panes on both sides of the doors and they also crossed out all the monuments, the landmark monuments on the corner.” 

Members of the congregation say the hateful act hits close to home.

“I’m a child of Holocaust survivors on both sides. My father was actually hidden during the war, but as a result of the war and what he went through, died in 1963 as a result of the Holocaust,” said Sheraton. “My mom actually went through Auschwitz, survived, but suffered tremendously all her life with the beatings and other things she had incurred.”

The president of the Semaine d’actions contre le racism and Fo Niemi of CRARR were also in attendance.

“This despicable act of anti-Semitism shows the urgent need for all levels of government and civil society to take concrete actions to confront hate in all its forms,” said Niemi. “In the coming weeks, we will bring together victims of hate crime, various vulnerable communities, the police and other agencies to develop a Montreal action plan to combat hate.”

“There should be no place for hate, propaganda, racism, discrimination or vandalism towards any minority,” added Farida Mohamed, president of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women Montreal chapter.

Montreal police said last week they were investigating the vandalism as a hate crime. They say in the week of the investigation, no arrests have been made so far in connection to the case.

Bagg Street Shul, active since 1921, is Quebec’s oldest living synagogue.

The building does not have security cameras, so representatives are asking anyone with information about the “vile hate crime” to come forward.

B’nai Brith Canada says data show anti-Semitism is on the rise in the country – that it’s even worse in Quebec.

“In 2021, Quebec had 828 verifiable anti-Semitic incidents, an increase of almost 21 per cent over 2020,” Rotrand said. “There were 36 incidents of violence aimed at the Jewish community. That’s almost half the incidents nationally.”

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, B’nai Brith Canada asked Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante to do more to fight anti-Semitism.

The group would like the city to mark National Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 18 by inviting members of the Jewish community to read names of Holocaust victims – something former administrations did.

B’nai Brith also wants city administration to highlight Jewish Heritage Month in May.

They also want the province to make sure students learn about it.

“Quebec should follow the example of Ontario and develop a curriculum that is age appropriate and will help young people understand what the Holocaust was,” Rotrand said. “It will certainly have an impact on anti-Semitic incidents in Quebec.”

—With files from Tina Tenneriello