Stay informed
Jewish seniors 'extremely upset' after prayer scrolls ripped from doorways of homes in Toronto, says rabbi
Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman says residents are “extremely upset” after mezuzahs were ripped from their doorways over the weekend.
“They feel violated, that such a thing should happen literally at the door of their home,” the rabbi told National Post on Monday. Zaltzman is the CEO of the Jewish Russian Community Centre, located near the apartment building where the incident occurred in North York.
He said the seniors affected are mainly part of the Russian Jewish community.
Toronto’s 32 Division and the hate crime unit are investigating, after reports came in on Sunday, saying that mezuzahs — prayer scrolls that are affixed to the doorways of Jewish homes — had been taken from the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSCH) building, at Bathurst St. and Steeles Ave, a police spokesperson told National Post.
Zaltzman went to the building with a team of volunteers on Monday, offering residents new mezuzahs as well as a Hanukkah package ahead of the Jewish holiday, which is referred to as the Festival of Lights.
City councillor James Pasternak said on X that the incident was “an act of hate directed at Jewish residents — seniors who deserve safety, stability, and dignity.”
All of the mezuzas at 6250 Bathurst Street (TSHC) have been torn off. We have spoken with the rabbi and connected the building with 32 Division.This is an act of hate directed at Jewish residents — seniors who deserve safety, stability, and dignity in their own homes.There is… pic.twitter.com/p8W3CEI8s9
— James Pasternak (@PasternakTO) December 7, 2025
“There is no excuse for targeting people because they are Jewish. Toronto cannot look the other way while seniors are intimidated in their hallways,” he said.
He included a photo showing a spot where a mezuzah had been taken.
Later on Sunday evening, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow thanked Pasternak for connecting residents with police in a post on X . She also condemned the incident as “vile and outrageous.”
“This is a public supportive housing building for seniors. They deserve to live in peace without fear of being targeted for being Jewish. I will be reaching out to TSCH leadership to investigate this how this could happen,” she said.
Israel’s ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed said on X ripping off mezuzahs from Jewish homes was “reminiscent of the darkest days of Europe.” He added: “Such a vile act of hatred and intimidation must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.”
Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith Canada said in a post on X that it has “engaged” with municipal leaders and Toronto police after being made aware of the incident. It would be organizing a mezuzah drive for members of the community to donate mezuzahs for the seniors in need.
“The permissive nature of the City’s response to the rising levels of incitement and intimidation aimed at the Jewish community continues to embolden those who wish to target Jewish Torontonians,” said B’nai Brith Canada. “Now, it is a group of Jewish seniors who appear to be paying the price for the inaction of our municipal leaders. The inability to protect our elderly is a sign of the further decay of our society.”
Thornhill MP and deputy leader for the Opposition Conservatives, Melissa Lantsman, called out the incident as “cowardly” and “hateful” on social media. She also said it was “massive loser energy to target seniors.”
Canada should never be a place where Jews feel unsafe — yet here we are. Again. Thugs ripped every mezuzah off the doors of a seniors’ building in Toronto. Cowardly, hateful, and a brutal reminder of how dangerous this country has become for Jewish Canadians.Also massive… https://t.co/kgpguFPTR2
— Melissa Lantsman (@MelissaLantsman) December 8, 2025
A mezuzah in not just an object, but rather “a reminder of our faith, heritage, and identity,” explained Jewish advocacy group, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) in a post on X.
“It is placed on our doorways to provide a sense of comfort and spiritual protection. And yet the seniors at a building in North York were targeted in a place where they should’ve felt the safest,” the CIJA post said . “We’ve seen hateful conduct go from shouting in the streets to targeting Jews outside our homes to now in the hallways of our own buildings.”
City councillor Brad Bradford said a full investigation should be done to determine who was responsible in a post on X . Meanwhile, MP from B.C. Tamara Kronis called the incident “next level antisemitism.”
“There is nothing anyone can say to justify this remarkable act of hate and intimidation,” she said on X.
In 2017, mezuzahs were removed from the doorways of homes at a condo building in North York, near Yonge St. and Sheppard Ave, the Canadian Jewish News reported . There were also notes left behind that said: “No Jews.”
More to come…
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Unpublished Newswire
Comments
Be the first to comment