Second vandalism incident at North York synagogue investigated as hate crime
The glass in an outer door and window were smashed in the latest incident of vandalism
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A man is sought for smashing windows at a North York synagogue – the second time the Jewish place of worship has been vandalized in four weeks.
Toronto Police say officers responded to a mischief call in the area of Bayview Ave. and Fifeshire Rd., north of York Mills Rd., around 3:30 a.m. on Friday.
The outer glass doors and windows at Kehillat Shaarei Torah Synagogue were shattered, police said in a statement released Saturday.
Rabbi Joe Kanofsky says the synagogue was a target of similar vandalism in late April, but no one was injured in either incident.
He says police responded quickly on Friday and collected surveillance video from the scene, but they have not told him any suspects from the previous incident have been identified yet.
“People are shaken, understandably,” the rabbi said of his community, noting there’s been an outpouring of support since the first incident was reported last month.
“We’re a community of faith, compassion and charity,” he said in a phone interview. “The good is still outnumbering the not good.”
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said in March that the number of calls reporting hate crimes in the city has surged since the start of the Israel-Hamas war and that more than half of those crimes have targeted the Jewish community.
Police have released a security camera image of a suspect in the latest incident, which is being investigated by the Hate Crimes Unit.
The suspect was wearing a blue hooded jacket, black pants and back shoes.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s identity or whereabouts is urged to call police at 416-808-3500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
– With files from The Canadian Press
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