Report warns of dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents in Canada in 2023

Antisemitism in Canada exploded last year as the war unfolding in Israel and Gaza was used to 'justify' the targeting of Jews in Canada, B'nai Brith said Monday as it released its latest report on antisemitism.

Antisemitism in Canada exploded last year as the war unfolding in Israel and Gaza was used to "justify" the targeting of Jews in Canada, B'nai Brith said Monday as it released its latest report on antisemitism.

It comes as the world marks Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the rise in antisemitism was a key part of speeches delivered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre at the ceremony at the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa.

"Since Oct. 7, there has been a disturbing increase in antisemitism to a scale we had not witnessed for generations," Trudeau said.

Based on incidents reported to B'nai Brith, including through collaborations with police, there were 5,791 documented acts of violence, harassment and vandalism aimed at Jews in 2023, more than twice the 2,769 documented incidents in 2022.

"In 2023, we entered a period of crisis," said Richard Robertson, the director of research for B'nai Brith Canada.

Robertson said 77 violent incidents were recorded, more than three times the number in 2022. That included firebombings and shootings at Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres.

"This means that on average, a Jewish Canadian was threatened or assaulted every fourth day in 2023," he said. "These figures are horrifying and warrant an immediate action in response from all societal stakeholders, both governmental and non governmental."