Hate Crime Unit investigating after Jewish prayer scrolls removed from doorways of North York homes

Toronto police’s Hate Crime Unit is investigating after multiple mezuzahs were removed from doorways. Councillor James Pasternak on how residents are feeling.

Toronto police’s Hate Crime Unit is investigating after multiple Jewish prayer scrolls were removed from the doorways of units in a TCHC apartment building in North York.

Known as mezuzahs, these traditional scrolls are affixed to the doorposts of Jewish homes and are seen as a public expression of Jewish identity.

Police say an unknown number of mezuzahs were taken from the doorways of units within a residential building in the Westminster neighbourhood, near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue West.

Investigators have not said exactly when the thefts occurred.

They did, however, say that all of the reports came in to them on Sunday.

York Centre Coun. James Pasternak is speaking out about the incidents in a post on X, saying that all of the mezuzahs at a building at 6250 Bathurst St. were “torn off.”

“This is an act of hate directed at Jewish residents – seniors who deserve safety, stability, and dignity in their own homes,” he said, adding he and his team have “spoken with the rabbi and connected the building with 32 Division.”

“There is no excuse for targeting people because they are Jewish. Toronto cannot look the other way while seniors are intimidated in their hallways. We will continue working with residents, Toronto Seniors Housing, and police until safety is restored.”

Local councillor ‘shocked and disgusted’

In a follow-up a statement provided to CP24, the Ward 6 rep said he’s “shocked and disgusted by the hateful vandalism that took place last night at the TCHC building at 6250 Bathurst Street.”

“Approximately 15-20 mezuzahs (a Jewish prayer in a small case) were removed from the door frames of Jewish residents during the night. The residents are very upset about this targeting and this gross violation of private space and Charter rights,” he said, thanking Toronto police for their “prompt response and investigation.”

“This hate-motivated crime is a by product of the antisemitism and incitement that is going on in our city and the lack of universal condemnation about the mobs that have taken over the streets over the past two years.”

Speaking with CP24 on Sunday night, Pasternak said his office got word on Sunday afternoon that late Saturday night someone had “pried off” the mezuzahs, which he described as little prayer boxes that sit on the frame of Jewish residences.

He added that most of the tenants of the building are older, Russian-speaking members of the Jewish community.

“(They) always felt that their building was welcoming and safe. They chose that building because of its community,” Pasternak said, pointing to a small synagogue in the building that is used on a daily basis by its tenants.

“It is a wonderful, primarily Russian-speaking Jewish community, and they’ve always lived their lives openly, celebrated their religion, and their history. And so, this is a major shock that someone would go through the night ripping off or tearing off these mezuzahs, and they were fixed very strongly so it’s not an easy task to pry off.”

‘Outrageous and vile act of antisemitism’: Chow

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is also condemning what occurred, calling it an “outrageous and vile act of antisemitism.”

“This is a public supportive housing building for seniors. They deserve to live in peace without fear of being targeted for being Jewish,” she said.

“Jewish Torontonians deserve to live in peace and safety. Thank you Councillor Pasternak for connecting residents to the police who are investigating.”

A mezuzah ‘isn’t just an object," says CIJA

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) has also issued a statement on the incident, saying that a mezuzah “isn’t just an object — for us, it’s a reminder of our faith, heritage, and identity.”

The organization went on to say that it is placed on the doorways of Jewish homes to “provide a sense of comfort and spiritual protection.”

“And yet the seniors at a building in North York were targeted in a place where they should’ve felt the safest. We’ve seen hateful conduct go from shouting in the streets to targeting Jews outside our homes to now in the hallways of our own buildings,” CIJA said.

“The time for words is over. Our political leaders - at all levels - must take action to protect the community.”

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Toronto police at 416-808-2222 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.