With heavily armed Toronto police guarding Jewish institutions during Passover, a Jewish-owned restaurant became the city’s latest target of antisemitic gunfire on Friday morning, prompting Israel’s ambassador to Canada to urge authorities to act “before it’s too late.”
Old Avenue restaurant in north Toronto was hit by gunfire around 1:30 a.m. on Friday. CTV reported surveillance video showing a man crossing Avenue Road and firing repeatedly into the restaurant, as well its own footage showing bullet holes in the door to the kitchen at the back of the restaurant.
A second location of the same restaurant had been hit by gunfire last month, along with three Toronto-area synagogues.
Iddo Moed, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, said the Old Avenue shooting was “the 12th incident of its kind in the latest wave of antisemitism and violence against the Jewish community in Canada.”
In a social media post, he called on Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Doug Ford and Mayor Olivia Chow “to immediately take necessary measures to thwart this dangerously escalating and ticking threat. Before it is too late!”
In her own X post, Idit Shamir, Israel’s consul-general in Toronto, said the restaurant was “owned by a prominent and activist member of the Jewish community,” and not random.
“It is part of a growing and dangerous pattern of antisemitic violence. Repeated targeting of Jewish individuals, businesses, and institutions is creating a climate of intimidation. Statements of concern are no longer sufficient. What is required now is enforcement, deterrence, and a clear demonstration that antisemitic violence carries consequences,” she said.
Toronto police had announced that “command posts” were being set up for Passover, specifying 12 synagogues and Jewish institutions as well as three other locations on Bathurst Street, home to much of the city’s Jewish population, and sites in downtown Toronto.Before Old Avenue was hit, police released video of officers carrying heavy weaponry outside Jewish community sites.
“This is what we are calling Task Force Guardian, a protective effort, a reassurance effort for the community,” Deputy Police Chief Frank Barredo, said in a video released by police.
“It is understandable that some people might find this to be something they are not used to seeing; I would reassure members of the public with those feelings that this is not at all meant to alarm, this is not at all an indication of an imminent threat … it is about protection. It is certainly not intended to frighten the public – frighten bad actors perhaps, we appreciate that they do exist. This is one measure that we are putting in place to be ready for what might happen.”
Antisemitic violence in Toronto prompted Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, to meet virtually with members of the city’s Jewish community on March 9.
Herzog referenced the Dec. 14 attack on a Jewish gathering at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, that killed 15 people, and other antisemitic attacks since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
“All eyes are on Canada: it’s time to halt the unprecedented wave of Jew-hatred that has erupted ever since October 7th,” he said.
The Tafsik Organization, a Jewish civil rights group that is holding an international conference on antisemitism in Toronto in May, said those attacking Jewish targets in the city are trying to intimidate Jews and drive them away from the places they cherish.
In response to the latest shooting, Tafsik announced plans for a community dinner next week.
“Instead of instilling fear, their actions have brought our community closer together, strengthening our resolve and our support for one another … Join us for an evening of solidarity, unity, and clear condemnation of hate and violence in all its forms,” the group said on X.
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