Warning: Graphic content TORONTO – When Rabbi Debra Landsberg first came to Canada 25 years ago, the doors of her synagogue were open and unlocked. Now, security guards check worshippers’ bags and patrol the outside of the building. “It’s painfully saddening,” she said. “While this isn’t new for the Jewish world … so many places have needed physical security … I think that it’s newer here in Canada.” Security around synagogues and Jewish community centres have been heightened in the past several years in the wake of targeted, and sometimes violent, acts of antisemitism. In March, roughly 20 shots were fired at Temple Emanu-El, where Landsberg is the rabbi. Purim services had ended, and no one was physically hurt, but the incident was frightening for the community. “It has seemed like it has been growing more intense, growing more frequent,” she said. While the temple has had security in place for many years, it has been ramped up to help protect worshippers while also giving them peace of mind. “It’s always playing a role in how we decide what we do and how do we gather,” Landsberg said. “And when our kids are here, what is it we need to have in place to make sure that they and their parents know that they’re as safe as they can be?” But even a visible security presence isn’t always enough to ease the concern of congregations, especially smaller ones without the resources of a major urban synagogue. At Beth Jacob Synagogue in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Sukkot services have been moved to a private home. It’s not the first time the community has decided to observe Sukkot discreetly, but it has taken on a greater significance due to a recent attack in Belleville, Ont. On Sunday, a gunman opened fire outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue during Yom Kippur services. Armed police exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who was killed. One officer remains in hospital. “It really struck a chord, because this felt the closest to home of all of the attacks,” said congregation president Tova Arbus. “The congregation there seems to be a similar size. It’s another small, close-knit town.” In Montreal, Rabbi Adam Scheier of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim says the Belleville shooting has reinforced his synagogue’s approach to security. “We’re constantly in communication with the local police and with all of our levels of security to make sure that at all of our moments of worship and congregating as a community, that we have the protection that we need,” he said. But Scheier adds it is “tragic” the Jewish community needs this type of protection to begin with. “We look at other houses of worship of other of other faiths in our city, in our province and our country, and we wish that we could keep our doors open and say, “Whoever wants to come in, come on in.” Unlike Ontario, Scheier notes that off-duty police officers hired as private security in Quebec cannot be armed. “The presence of police and of armed guards would certainly be a benefit to the community,” he said, adding that changing Quebec’s law is “a legal question that I’m not qualified to answer.” While increased security measures at synagogues and Jewish community centres are necessary, they come at a cost, with many organizations having to cut positions or programming to help pay for them. While it can be more difficult for some communities to cover the cost, Landsberg says Jewish organizations and other groups are working together to help cover some of the costs “We can gather and help support the Jewish communities that are more isolated or don’t necessarily have any wiggle room within their budget … do this on their own,” she said. “If every institution was left to do it … on their own, it would it would be impossible to sustain.”
