Canada: Jewish centre targeted by hate on eve of Yom HaShoah

Police in the Canadian city of Victoria, British Columbia, are looking for two suspects after a Chabad Centre for Jewish Life and Learning was vandalised with anti-Semitic graffiti.

The incident took place on Tuesday when staff discovered the words “Gas Jews” and “Kill Jews” sprayed on the building. CCTV footage showed two suspects carrying out the hate crime.

Police were called to investigate and the graffiti was cleaned away by staff.

Update: it’s been painted over and the community has responded pic.twitter.com/fxpjIXYmG4

— Orgth BC זאב בן מאייר (@arbutuspointBC) April 8, 2021

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) condemned the incident, which occurred just prior to Holocaust Remembrance Day.

FSWC said in a statement that the words “Kill Jews” and “Gas Jews” were found drawn in front of the Chabad Centre for Jewish Life and Learning.

“As Jewish communities and many others commemorate the six million victims of the Holocaust who were murdered simply because they were Jewish, it is extremely shocking and sickening to see such graffiti,” said Michael Levitt, president and CEO of FSWC, who spoke with Chabad Centre’s Rabbi Meir Kaplan today to offer support and assistance.

“Members of the Jewish community should feel safe going to their local Chabad center, or any community center or place of worship, without being subjected to such a vile attack. The Jewish community will not be intimidated and will continue to fight the hate and bigotry that continue to exist in this country,” Levitt added.