Two Halifax synagogues were targeted with hateful graffiti over the weekend. Photo: Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
Two Halifax synagogues were defaced with hateful graffiti over the weekend, sparking strong condemnation from Jewish community leaders and city officials.
The graffiti was discovered at Shaar Shalom Synagogue on Windsor Street and Beth Israel Synagogue on Oxford Street.
Both buildings were marked overnight while the city was already dealing with heightened security concerns tied to protests around the Davis Cup tennis tournament.
Halifax Regional Police say there were three incidents in total in central Halifax. Three times the graffiti was written on a building, but three times it was on sidewalks nearby.
A hate crime investigator is looking into the case, reviewing video and other evidence. Police say they will press charges when they find who did it.
“For those who feel so strongly that diversity is a problem – let me be clear – it’s not. Our community would be a much stronger place if we celebrated our differences together instead of allowing it to divide us,” read a statement from Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean.
Police have also released a photo of a suspect and are asking for the public’s help to identify the person.
Halifax Regional Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a suspect after two synagogues in Halifax were vandalized. (Halifax Regional Police)
Community, mayor condemn graffiti
In a joint statement, the Atlantic Jewish Council and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said the incidents go far beyond vandalism.
“On the same weekend that extremists silenced fans from cheering on Team Canada, with protestors even publicly displaying the severed head of the Halifax mayor, a Halifax synagogue was defaced with hateful graffiti,” the statement read.
“Whether intimidating sports fans, threatening elected officials, or targeting people at their places of worship, this is absolutely unacceptable in Canada — an assault on our core Canadian values. And requires an unequivocal and urgent response from police and political leaders.”
Police have not said whether the Davis Cup protests are related to the vandalism.
Mayor Andy Fillmore also condemned the incidents, saying, “I am appalled by the antisemitic graffiti defacing three Halifax synagogues last night. Attacking places of worship is unacceptable. It has no place in Halifax.”
He added that while debates over identity and justice may feel divisive, “we cannot allow that complexity to collapse into hate here at home. There is no path to peace anywhere that includes bringing fear and division to Halifax. We are better than this.”
Protesters approach the Scotiabank Centre on Brunswick Street, where the Canada vs Israel match was being held as part of the Davis Cup. (Jacob Moore/Acadia Broadcasting)
