Montreal synagogue spray-painted with swastikas

A synagogue in Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal was spray-painted with swastikas over the weekend.

The front of the Bagg Street synagogue – at the corner of Bagg Street and Clark Street – was defaced with at least four of the anti-Semitic symbols.

Michael Kaplan, the synagogue’s president, says it’s the first time he’s seen anti-Semitic vandalism on the building.

But he says it’s too quick to equate it with a rise in anti-Semitism.

“I have not personally felt any upsurge in anti-Semitism in or around the synagogue,” Kaplan told CityNews. “Very simply I see it as the isolated gesture of hate with a spraying can.”

Montreal police say they are meeting with synagogue representatives Wednesday and investigating it as a hate crime.

B’nai Brith Canada says data show anti-Semitism is indeed on the rise in Canada. Officials say it’s even worse in Quebec, claiming anti-Semitic crimes increased by 20.7 percent in the province in 2020.

“This is an act of hate aimed at the Jewish community,” said Marvin Rotrand, the national director with the League for Human Rights at B’nai Brith. “It’s unacceptable, it’s appalling. And we’ve reported it to the police department. We want the perpetrator of this hate crime caught and prosecuted.”

Big “X” spray-painted on front of Bagg Street synagogue. (Submitted by: Bagg Street synagogue)

The images of the vandalism circulated on social media Wednesday. Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante and Opposition Leader Aref Salem called it unacceptable and heinous.

“I feel like our message to Montrealers is so clear and loud when we say that there’s no place for any type of discrimination and racism,” said Plante on Wednesday. “When we are working with the police force, working with the different communities, putting together actions to make sure that Montreal keeps this, I would say to the sacred value of being safe, whoever you are. In Montreal, there is no place for that kind of violent actions. And for sure we are, I’m standing behind a community that is going through a shock right now, and we are shocked to.”

Front of Bagg Street synagogue edited to blur out swastika vandalism. (Submitted by: Bagg Street Shul)

B’nai Brith is calling on 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.

“Leadership has an impact, and by showing that political leaders stand with the community it does percolate downwards,” said Rotrand.

Bagg Street Shul, active since 1921, is Quebec’s oldest living synagogue. It was recognized as a heritage site by the City of Montreal and Quebec’s minister of culture.