A chilling sense of vulnerability is gripping Toronto’s Jewish community, as a pattern of escalating attacks goes largely unanswered. Aviva Klompas, a leading advocate and Toronto native, warns that the city’s tolerance of anti-Israel activism is creating a dangerous environment, one where violence feels increasingly inevitable.
The latest incident – the tenth targeting of Kehillat Shaarei Torah synagogue on Bayview Avenue in just two years – represents a disturbing turning point. Klompas, founder of a prominent think tank, describes a clear message being sent: Jews are targets, and in Toronto, there are no repercussions. She recalls growing up within those very walls, celebrating her bat mitzvah and serving as a youth director, making the repeated vandalism deeply personal.
The synagogue attacks aren’t isolated events. They are part of a surge in anti-Jewish intimidation that has exploded since the October 7th attacks. Far-left activists have exploited the conflict to stage frequent protests and marches through Jewish neighborhoods, creating an atmosphere of fear and hostility.
This escalating hostility extends beyond protests. Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School, a school for young girls, has been repeatedly targeted by shootings. A recent attack on a Toronto Metropolitan University event hosted by a student organization resulted in five arrests, yet Klompas argues this is insufficient.
The core of the problem, she asserts, is a lack of accountability. A frustrating cycle of blame is unfolding, with elected officials deferring to law enforcement, who in turn point to the prosecution, and prosecutors citing a lack of political support. The Jewish community, Klompas emphasizes, doesn’t need condolences; it needs concrete action.
“We have enough thoughts and prayers to float Noah’s Ark,” she states, her voice laced with urgency. “What we need is enforcement – arrests, charges, prosecutions, and a clear deterrent.” The current inaction, she fears, is paving the way for tragedy.
Klompas draws a stark parallel to escalating violence seen elsewhere, including England, Washington, and even Boulder, Colorado, where a Holocaust survivor was horrifically set on fire. She implores police, lawmakers, and community leaders to unequivocally demonstrate that antisemitic hate crimes will be met with the full force of the law, not simply dismissed with lenient penalties.
The growing frequency of attacks – one is unacceptable, two are shocking, but ten feels like a deliberate escalation – has left Klompas speechless. She believes it’s no longer a matter of if, but when, this escalating hatred will result in the loss of life.
