Jewish advocacy group urges Ottawa to boost security funding for faith groups

Jewish congregations are rethinking security measures in light of attacks around the world.

A national Jewish advocacy group is calling on Ottawa to boost security funding for synagogues across the country, amid what they call “increased” incidents of antisemitism.

Three weeks ago, all three Halifax synagogues were targeted with hateful graffiti, including swastikas and references to Jewish people and 9/11 scrawled across the front entrance and on sidewalks outside the places of worship.

“The antisemitic graffiti really shook us up,” said Joanna Mirsky Wexler, president of the Shaar Shalom Congregation in Halifax. “It really had a significant emotional impact on our community.”

Halifax police have made an arrest in the graffiti incident but the incident has left many fearful of escalating violence, said Mirsky Wexler, who pointed to the attack at a synagogue in Manchester, England, last week that left two people dead and several others injured.

Police there called it a terror-related incident.

“Yes, it’s in Europe, but it could have been anywhere, it could have been here,” said Mirsky Wexler.

The rising threats and violence are forcing Jewish congregations like Shaar Shalom to rethink its security plan, and that can be expensive for a smaller congregation.

A national leader in Jewish affairs is calling on the federal government to increase funding for faith groups to ease the financial and emotional toll.

“Since the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7th, Jewish Canadians have been in the Crosshairs,” said Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs CEO Noah Shack in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney.

“Schools have been shot at, synagogues firebombed and desecrated, Jewish-owned businesses targeted, coordinated efforts made to exclude Jews from public life, and community members violently assaulted,” said Shack.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs estimates security costs for the Jewish groups in the largest communities across the country have surged to more than $40 million in the past year alone.

“These aren’t just financial challenges for large institutions, they directly affect the ability of Jewish Canadians to express their identity and pass on traditions to their children,” said Shack. “This impact is felt even more acutely as the cost of living continues to rise.”

Halifax police have increased their patrols since the graffiti incident and that will continue this week as the Jewish community is celebrating Sukkot, a week-long harvest festival.

“We will have an increased police presence and that’s to ensure that members of our community can enjoy their holidays without concern or worry of facing any hatred,” said Halifax police public information officer Const. Martin Cromwell.

Mirsky Wexler says Shaar Shalom is applying for a federal security grant that covers up to 70 per cent of a faith group’s security expenses, which is becoming a major cost to the congregation of about 400 people.

“The more unsafe we feel, the larger the burden,” said Mirsky Wexler.

Last weekend the synagogue hosted faith leaders, politicians and community members for a “No place for Hate” event, which Mirsky Wexler described as a powerful show of unity and a call for peace.

“Sometimes a terrible moment can lead to actions that are very powerful and constructive for our whole city,” she said.