“We can’t give in to hate,” announced a Toronto synagogue targeted in an anti-Semitic attack.
By Yakir Benzion, United With Israel
Toronto police have launched an investigation after another Toronto synagogue fell victim to an attack by anti-Semitic ‘Zoombombers.’
Toronto’s Village Shul reported that during the middle of its virtual Shabbat evening Kiddush ceremony held June 5 on the Zoom video-conference platform with 150 members present online, a number of individuals connected to the event and one yelled, “Hitler should have killed you all.”
The local office of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the organization that was founded to hunt down Nazi war criminals and now fights anti-Semitism, contacted the Toronto police Hate Crime Unit calling for the culprits to be caught and charges laid. The group noted that the promotion of genocide is a crime in Canada.
“The Toronto Police Service is aware of this and investigating the incident,” Toronto police spokeswoman Const. Michelle Flannery told the CP24.com news website.
“Zoom Bombed: Take a Stand Against Racism and Anti-Semitism. A bunch of racists crashed our erev Shabbat program. It has emboldened us,” the synagogue said on its Facebook page.
Recognizing the powerful symbolism, the synagogue invited Simon Wiesenthal Center founder Rabbi Marvin Hier to deliver last Friday’s kiddush inspiration. Rabbi Hier has not only dedicated many decades toward fighting anti-Semitism around the world, he is also a two-time Academy Award winner.
“The anti-Semites from last week’s Zoombomb want us to be scared to join kiddush tomorrow, but we can’t give in! PLEASE support, and join us tomorrow, and let’s become stronger Jews and a stronger Jewish community,” the synagogue said, adding that the Zoom session is now password protected.
The SWC said the latest anti-Semitic Zoombombing incident follows a number of similar anti-Semitic attacks in Toronto that also targeted online prayer services at Toronto synagogues, including Shaarei Shomayim and the City Shul.
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Source: United with Israel
