WARNING: This story contains references to and images of antisemitic graffiti.
Two synagogues on Oxford Street, Shaar Shalom and Beth Israel, were vandalized with antisemitic graffiti over the weekend.
A nearby building associated with the Chabad-Lubavitch of the Maritimes Rohr Family Institute was also defaced with the words “Jews did 9/11.”
Rabbi Yakov Kerzner of Beth Israel synagogue said the “disturbing” graffiti was discovered Sunday morning.
A swastika was discovered on the entrance to the Shaar Shalom synagogue on Sunday morning as well, according to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
Kerzner said the vandalism at his synagogue is especially disturbing as it is believed to have happened while congregants were inside the building for a Saturday evening service.
The damage represents a troubling development for the city, he said.
“We haven’t experienced this until now in Halifax,” he said. “But this is an escalation which does concern the Jewish community.”
The graffiti on Beth Israel also made reference to Jews and 9/11.
“It’s antisemitism, it’s pure anti-Jew hatred,” he said.
Rabbi Gary Karlin of Shaar Shalom says he is also deeply troubled, but not surprised, by the defacement.
“I’ve seen it … throughout Canada over the last two years…. I don’t know where this is going but I’m concerned about it,” he said.
Kerzner said he sees a connection between the vandalism and a rise in local tensions and protests.
The incidents happened after days of peaceful protests in the city against Israeli participation in the Davis Cup tennis tournament.
He confirmed that the incident has been reported to the police and their hate crime unit.
Cleanup of the building will start once the police complete their on-site investigation, he said.
By Sunday afternoon, Shaar Shalom synagogue had already cleaned up their exterior sign.
Despite the vandalism, Kerzner emphasized the community’s resilience.
“We are proud to be Jews … this is not going to stop us,” he said. “We’re not going to hide.”
Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said he wants incidents to be taken seriously given the frequency that they are happening, including an incident in Montreal in August.
“If we become complacent, it’s only going to get worse,” he said.
“Now is the time for our our political leaders to take an unequivocal stand yet again to push back against this and to put forward real solutions to help keep our communities safe.”
In a social media post, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said the targeting of synagogues with antisemitic graffiti is “absolutely despicable.”
CBC News has contacted Halifax police for comment and has not yet received a response.
