As members of the Christian-Jewish Dialogue of Toronto (CJDT), we were horrified to learn that Kehillat Shaarei Torah, a Modern Orthodox synagogue in North York, was the site in recent days of an eighth attack by antisemitic vandals, who caused damage to the synagogue’s building.
While antisemitism is a social illness that has never really disappeared, the frightening rise in the number, intensity, and brazenness of antisemitic events that we have witnessed over the last 14 months is unprecedented in recent history, and it must be a cause for alarm for all Canadians. Many Jewish Canadians and Israeli-Canadians have warranted fears for their safety in public spaces right now.
Jewish religious and community spaces have had to raise the level of their security significantly to protect those who frequent them.
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Regardless of one’s views about the painful situation in the Middle East, violence against Jewish people, Israeli-Canadians, their homes, schools, and institutions can never be justified, rationalized, or normalized. At times like these, we must stand in clear solidarity with those who are made to feel afraid simply because of their national or religious identities.
Those of us who are Christians feel this responsibility particularly strongly because of the long history of Christian anti-Judaism and antisemitism. We recall that our churches have since repeatedly condemned antisemitism as the grave sin against both God and humanity that it is. Both of our faiths remind us that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27; 9:6).
We condemn these hate-filled attacks in the strongest terms, and we call upon our civic leaders and police forces to use all resources at their disposal to ensure the safety of our Jewish and Israeli-Canadian friends. We encourage all Canadians to reach out to their Jewish and Israeli-Canadian neighbours, co-workers, and their families with kindness and concern.
When they may be feeling vulnerable is when we must demonstrate our friendship and stand together against efforts to pit one Canadian against another. We stand in solidarity with Rabbi Joe Kanofsky and his community at Kehillat Shaarei Torah.
May we clearly denounce these attacks for the evil actions they are, and may we continue to work together in support of relationships of respect, cooperation, and friendship between Jewish and non-Jewish communities. No matter to what extent people may disagree with each other, hatred and violence can never be the answer. In difficult times, our power lies in our unity. May we continue to uphold that unity at a time of such tension, anguish, and fear, and may God enlighten and guide us on the way forward.
— Founded in 1975, the Christian-Jewish Dialogue of Toronto (CJDT) has for nearly 50 years brought together representatives from the Jewish and Christian communities to learn from each other, to grow in friendship, and to work together on projects that strengthen Jewish-Christian relations and enhance our communities and world.