Shooting at Ontario synagogue escalates antisemitism concerns
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On Sunday in Belleville, Ontario, a gunman opened fire on the Sons of Jacob synagogue during services, injuring a police officer and fatally wounding himself.
About 25 people were inside the synagogue at the time, but none were physically harmed thanks to the intervention of Constable Jeff Smith, who was stationed outside. The shooting occurred on the eve of Yom Kippur, a significant Jewish holiday, and represents a change in the nature of attacks against Jewish institutions in Canada.
For the past three years, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has recorded over two dozen incidents of vandalism targeting synagogues, schools, and other Jewish institutions across Canada, typically occurring at night and causing property damage. However, this attack was different because the gunman appeared to intentionally target the synagogue during peak attendance with the intention of harming people inside.
Noah Shack, CEO of CIJA, described the event as a fundamental threat to the safety and security of the Jewish community and Canada as a whole. Statistics Canada data show that in 2024, 70 percent of religiously motivated hate crimes in the country targeted Jewish people. Following the shooting, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed gratitude for Constable Smith’s actions and pledged federal support to combat hate.
Members of the Jewish community have begun fundraising for Constable Smith’s recovery, already raising over $240,000 by Tuesday evening. The congregation at Sons of Jacob synagogue plans to resume services soon, despite the trauma experienced by those present.
