Publicly-Voiced Threats, Privately-enacted Violence

"We understand the fear and pain this causes, especially on Yom Kippur."

"To Toronto's Jewish community, we stand with you. Your safety is our priority."

"We are committed to finding those responsible."

Toronto Police Service

"I think it's very sad that people target schools where children are innocent and just create this extra fear and chaos for no reason."

"I think I would consider this a hate crime. I don't see any other reason why this would occur."

"[It was] pretty shocking [to be informed of the shooting that occurred on Shabbat, the Jewish Day of Rest, on the first occasion of the school being attacked in May]."

Rabbi Yaacov Vidal, principal, Bais Chaya Musha elementary school

"We live in a peaceful society. We've never seen anything like this. We all grew up in Toronto, we all get along, and it's just unacceptable what we're seeing."

"These people need to be caught [and] thrown in Jail."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford

Toronto police searching for suspects who shot at the Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School in North York early Saturday morning. (CBC)

 

 For the second time in a six-month period this year, Toronto police are investigating the shots that were fired at a North York elementary school for Jewish girls on Saturday morning. A "troubling" incident, according to police. For Jews it was all the more troubling that this second shooting happened during Yom Kippur,(Day of Atonement), the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

Toronto police had received a call at 4:00 a.m. reporting a smashed window. "Upon further investigation, it was determined that shots had been fired", explained Inspector Paul Krawczyk at the scene, speaking to reporters. The Hate Crime Unit is supporting the TPS's Gun and Gang Task Force, leading the investigation. Police, advised Insp. Krawczyk, were yet to determine whether the incident qualified as a hate crime.

On the first occasion in May, shots were fired at the school, damaging the front of the building; on both occasions no injuries were reported. Police advised that their investigation was partly to determine whether the two shooting incidents that took place at the Orthodox Jewish girls' school located in North York, with programs from junior kindergarten to Grade 8, were connected. 

 

"As we wait for more details, my heart goes out to the students, staff and parents who must be terrified and hurting today. Antisemitism is a disgusting and dangerous form of hate -- and we won't let it stand", declared Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who for over a year has stood by and done nothing to put a halt to the ongoing marches, protests and pure hate-fests against Canada's Jewish population by pro-Hamas supporters at events organized by Palestinians in Canada, their supporters and representatives of foreign interests.

 

Yet another hypocritical statement of empathy, care and concern emanated from Toronto's mayor of all the people, Olivia Chow, who spoke to reporters, while advising the suspects to "turn yourself in". "Understand that this is a time of the highest holiday, and think about children, think about a time of worship. For someone to do something like that is just horrific", she averred; the very person in authority in the city who has avoided scenes of support for the Jewish community against the forces of Islamist-led violent antisemitism. 

Police inspect broken windows at Bais Chaya Mushka elementary school Saturday October 12, 2024. The Jewish girls' school was shot at for the second time this year on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews. CTV