Canadian Synagogue Vandalized on Tisha B'Av

Victoria Police launched an investigation into a shocking act of antisemitic vandalism at Congregation Emanu-El, Canada’s oldest continuously operating synagogue, built in 1863 and recognized as a National Historic Site. Discovered around 8 p.m. on Tisha B’Av, the Jewish day of mourning for the destruction of the ancient temples in Jerusalem, the graffiti included hateful messages scrawled on the synagogue’s entrance columns: “Jews are evil! Because genocide is evil!” and “child-killing Jew-monsters.”

The timing amplified the pain for the progressive Conservative congregation, known for advocating humanitarian aid for Palestinians. Ezra Shanken, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, stated, “This is a synagogue that had been vocally helping to try to bring the care the Palestinians deserve. This is a progressive synagogue, which also tells you that it is about the Jews, isn’t it? Because what you’re saying by scrawling this on a synagogue that has been active in a meaningful way, is that there’s nothing that we can do that makes us not evil.”

British Columbia Premier David Eby condemned the act, declaring, “Antisemitism has no place in our communities, not now, not ever.” Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger echoed, “Hate vandalism, speech and intimidation are not protected expressions, they are crimes and will be treated as such,” announcing the expansion of the province’s Hate Crimes Unit to tackle such incidents. Officers documented the graffiti, collected evidence, and collaborated with the City of Victoria to remove it swiftly. The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver called it a “painful reminder that the fight against antisemitism is far from over,” pledging to work with partners to ensure community safety.

This incident reflects a broader antisemitism crisis in Canada, with 920 hate crimes against Jews reported in 2024, making them 25 times more likely to face such acts despite being only 0.9% of the population. Concurrently, in Australia, Victoria Police are pursuing a lone suspect who defaced the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation five times between March and July 2025, using phrases like “Stop genocide stop the Jews!”

Detective Inspector Martin McLean said, “Police certainly take a dim view of this sort of abhorrent behaviour in the public arena. We believe the offender is acting alone, but we’re asking the public for any information that could help bring this person to justice.” The vandalism follows Canada’s controversial July 2025 announcement to recognize a Palestinian state pending reforms, which Israel criticized as rewarding Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,189 and abducted 251. Social media on X decried the graffiti, with one user stating, “Targeting synagogues on Tisha B’Av is a vile escalation of hate.”