Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center

Today, we had the honour of welcoming a number of Holocaust survivors to the FSWC office for an appreciation lunch. We are deeply grateful for their courage, resilience and unwavering commitment to Holocaust education. By sharing their testimonies, they ensure that history is never forgotten and that future generations continue to learn, reflect and stand against hate. It was a privilege to spend time together, to listen and to express our heartfelt thanks. Their legacy of truth and remembrance continues to inspire and guide our work every day.

These signs, displayed yesterday at Bathurst and Sheppard in the heart of Toronto’s Jewish community, depict contemptuous and clearly antisemitic caricatures used for the sole purpose of dehumanizing Jews. This is part of the systemic and sustained wilful promotion of hate targeting Jews in Canada, and it comes at a time when Jewish institutions, including synagogues, are being targeted. Section 319(2) of the Criminal Code makes the wilful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group a crime. FSWC has filed a complaint with @TorontoPolice, who are now investigating. Week after week, for far too long, hateful protesters have been allowed to spew antisemitic vitriol on this street corner. The line has been crossed repeatedly. Toronto Police must lay charges. The Crown must prosecute. And the courts must make clear that promoting antisemitic hate on our streets has consequences.

Thank you, Premier Doug Ford, for your strong display of moral clarity and for taking an important stand against the hatefest that is Al-Quds Day. Established by the murderous and tyrannical Islamic regime, banning this demonstration in Toronto will send a clear message that incitement to hate and violence and the glorification of terror are not welcome on our streets, and that the safety of all Canadians is a priority for our leaders. We are hopeful that this requested injunction will be successful in preventing a hateful celebration of terrorism on the streets of Toronto.

An Al-Quds Day march expected in Toronto this weekend, alongside others planned across Canada, is profoundly disturbing. These rallies have historically featured banners of Ayatollah Khamenei and chants calling for “intifada,” along with calls for death to the United States and Israel. If that unfolds in our city, it will be a shameful stain on Toronto and on our country. The threat environment in our city is already serious. In recent days, gunfire has targeted synagogues, Jewish-owned businesses and the U.S. consulate in Toronto. Jewish and Iranian communities remain under threat. At the same time, the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies continue to issue explicit threats against Israel, the United States and the West. Authorities in London have banned this year’s Al-Quds march over public safety concerns. Against this backdrop, demonstrations in Canada that glorify the leadership of the Iranian regime and amplify violent rhetoric should alarm every Canadian. If any leader in a position of authority is prepared to step up and act to protect public safety and social cohesion, now is the time. Hate and incitement have no place on our streets or anywhere in our country.

We are deeply disturbed by the ramming attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Thankfully, students and staff who were inside the synagogue at the time were not physically injured, and what could have been a far greater tragedy was ultimately prevented. Our thoughts and prayers are with the security guard who was injured while protecting the community. The heroic actions and swift response of security personnel helped stop the attacker and prevent the situation from becoming even more devastating. In recent days, Jewish communities in Canada, the U.S. and around the world have faced an alarming surge of violence and intimidation. These attacks serve as a stark reminder that antisemitism is a growing and dangerous reality affecting Jewish life today, and they reinforce the urgency of confronting hatred with clarity, resolve and meaningful action. We stand in solidarity with Temple Israel members and the broader Jewish community in Michigan during this difficult time.

We welcome today’s announcement by @Safety_Canada’s @gary_srp of a $10M investment to protect the Jewish community against hate crimes. The funds will be provided to eligible organizations to help enhance their security. As our community faces yet another spike in antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish institutions, this is an important step toward improving safety and security. Additional concrete measures are needed to confront and prevent the hatred putting Jewish Canadians at risk.

In his latest @TorontoStar article, @LevittMichael warns that antisemitic attacks in Canada are becoming disturbingly routine and calls on Prime Minister Mark Carney to take decisive action to protect Jewish Canadians and uphold the values that bind our country together. Read the full column: thestar.com/gift-redeem?t=…

We welcome this move by Premier @Dave_Eby and the BC government to introduce legislation that would ban disruptive protests near places of worship, including synagogues. While this measure would not prevent violent incidents like those we saw at synagogues in BC and recently in the GTA, it is an important step toward ensuring people can attend their place of worship freely and safely, without harassment or intimidation. ctvnews.ca/vancouver/arti…

Yesterday I stood with community leaders, elected officials and law enforcement at Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue following the recent shootings targeting Jewish places of worship and businesses in Toronto. A dangerous line has been crossed in Canada. Jews should not have to question whether it is safe to attend synagogue, run our businesses, send our children to school, or live our daily lives as Jews. An attack on Jews in Canada is also an attack on the values that hold this country together, the basic social contract that guarantees every Canadian the right to live in safety and dignity, no matter their background. Prime Minister @MarkJCarney, I urge you to direct a coordinated national response. The time for reassurances has passed.

FSWC is horrified by the latest wave of gunfire targeting synagogues and Jewish institutions in the Toronto area. Jewish institutions should not be under threat of violence in Canada. Leaders must act with urgency to ensure the safety and security of our communities. Read our statement: fswc.ca/news/fswc-urge…

Two more synagogues were shot at overnight in the GTA. Shaarei Shomayim in Toronto. The BAYT in Thornhill. On the Jewish Sabbath. As a Canadian Jew, I feel anger and dread. Antisemitic violence is escalating in real time, and tragically it’s becoming normalized. Gunfire at synagogues should shake this country to its core. Instead, it risks becoming just another headline. Canada’s leaders must confront this with urgency. Tragically, we all know where this road leads. Bondi Beach.

Iran’s tyrannical regime has long carried out grave human rights abuses, supported terrorism and destabilized the region. In The Globe and Mail today, human rights experts Irwin Cotler and Brandon Silver call on Canada to support international efforts to hold the Islamic regime accountable and stand firmly with victims seeking justice. theglobeandmail.com/gift/79cb87229…

Following repeated incidents of antisemitic graffiti and harassment at a school in Halifax, a 15-year-old student was violently assaulted by fellow students – simply because he is Jewish. This represents a serious failure by our education system to protect a student who was clearly being targeted. No child should feel afraid to attend school because of their identity. School leaders must be prepared to confront antisemitism directly and ensure every student feels safe and supported. FSWC is reaching out to the Halifax Regional Centre for Education to offer professional development for educators and staff on recognizing and addressing antisemitism, along with student workshops that empower young people to stand up against hate. nationalpost.com/news/hes-petri…

On the heels of the gunfire attack on a synagogue in Toronto earlier this week, a kosher restaurant and surrounding businesses in Montreal were vandalized with swastikas. Two cities. Two targeted antisemitic attacks. This is not a coincidence – it is a failure to ensure that Jewish communities can live openly and safely in Canada. At a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, our public officials must move beyond statements and implement concrete, visible measures to protect Jewish institutions and hold perpetrators fully accountable.

Last night, Temple Emanu-El in North York was struck by gunfire – the latest in a disturbing pattern of attacks targeting Jewish institutions. Multiple bullets damaged the synagogue’s windows. While no one was inside, this was clearly a deliberate act of intimidation against the Jewish community. @TorontoPolice Hate Crime Unit is investigating, and we anticipate that those responsible will be identified, arrested and prosecuted. toronto.citynews.ca/2026/03/03/nor…

The Iranian regime is an existential threat, to its own people, to Israel, and to global security. It represses brave Iranians at home, fuels terror across the Middle East and around the world, and has spent decades pursuing nuclear weapons. I stand with the people of Iran, and with hope for a future where they live in freedom and dignity, and where the shadow of this regime’s terror no longer hangs over Israel and the region.

FSWC welcomes @ONeducation’s newly announced updates to the Grade 10 History curriculum. Beginning in Fall 2026, students will receive enhanced learning on extreme political and social ideologies, the Holocaust and antisemitism.   We are also proud that Testimony for Tomorrow: The Survivor Memory Project – FSWC’s new collection of Holocaust survivor testimonies, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education – has been added to the official list of resources supporting the implementation of the updated curriculum. Ensuring students can learn directly from survivors’ voices is one of the most powerful ways to deepen understanding and combat hate.   Thank you to Minister @PaulCalandra and the entire Ministry for their continued leadership and commitment to strengthening Holocaust education across the province.

Earlier today, FSWC joined fellow Jewish organizations in meeting with @nolanmquinn, Ontario’s Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, for an important discussion on rising antisemitism at universities and how the government can further strengthen its response. We appreciate Minister Quinn’s continued allyship and the Ontario government’s efforts to combat antisemitism on campus, and look forward to continuing this work together to ensure Jewish students feel safe and supported across the province.

Holocaust survivor Nate Leipciger has been named one of the 30 newest appointees to the Order of Ontario – a well-deserved and meaningful honour. A survivor of Auschwitz and other Nazi camps, Nate has dedicated decades of his life to ensuring the world never forgets. Through his tireless commitment to Holocaust education and his steadfast advocacy for human rights and justice, he has inspired and educated thousands of young people across Canada, including through his powerful work with FSWC. Mazel Tov, Nate!

Our thanks to @CanadianFSWC for the opportunity for our members to deepen their understanding of antisemitism and the dangers of hate and intolerance. @PeelPolice remains committed to standing against hate and protecting all communities.