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Jewish institutions in Halifax, Canada, faced antisemitic graffiti attacks over the weekend in a disturbing escalation of hate, with vandals striking two synagogues and a Jewish community building in the same neighborhood.
At Beth Israel Synagogue, the perpetrators scrawled the words, “Jews did 9/11.” On the same street, they painted a swastika on Shaar Shalom Congregation. Soon after, “Jews did 9/11” also appeared on a building connected with the Chabad-Lubavitch of the Maritimes Rohr Family Institute.
We condemn the vandalization of three synagogues in Halifax last night with antisemitism graffiti. We urge the authorities to respond urgently and swiftly. pic.twitter.com/cSzYpWblwX
— Israël à Montréal (@IsraelaMTL) September 14, 2025
Halifax Incidents Mark Alarming Shift
“This is an escalation which does concern the Jewish community,” Rabbi Yakov Kerzner of Beth Israel told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Rabbi Gary Karlin of Shaar Shalom warned that the targeting reflects a troubling national trend. “We haven’t experienced this until now in Halifax,” he said. “I’ve seen it … throughout Canada over the last two years…. I don’t know where this is going but I’m concerned about it.”
Their warnings underscore the unease gripping Jews worldwide as antisemitic incidents spread from major cities into smaller communities once seen as safe.
Old Lies, New Targets
The phrase “Jews did 9/11” is not random graffiti. It promotes a modern conspiracy theory that recycles centuries-old antisemitic myths. In the Middle Ages, Jews were falsely accused of poisoning wells and murdering children in ritual blood libels. In the 20th century, extremists spread fabrications that Jews caused world wars, orchestrated both capitalism and communism, and engineered economic collapse. Today, antisemites twist the September 11 attacks and virtually any major tragedy into accusations against Jews — even falsely claiming Jewish responsibility for the recent murder of U.S. activist and media personality Charlie Kirk. The pattern is constant: whatever the crisis, Jews are cast as the culprits.
These lies change with history. Nevertheless, their purpose never shifts: they cast Jews as villains and legitimize hate. The appearance of such rhetoric in Halifax therefore shows how ideas once confined to the fringe now move into the mainstream.
Canada Must Respond Decisively
Authorities have not announced arrests, but the attack on multiple Jewish institutions in one weekend demands a forceful response. Law enforcement must investigate fully, and political leaders must speak clearly. Stronger security and decisive action are critical.
Moreover, Halifax is not an isolated case. In Ottawa, an elderly Jewish woman was recently stabbed in a grocery store by a man with a long record of antisemitic hate speech. In Montreal, a Jewish father was beaten in front of his children and had his kippah ripped from his head and thrown to the ground. Both incidents, reported in recent weeks, show how violent attacks on Jews now occur in everyday spaces once considered safe.
Consequently, Halifax joins Ottawa, Montreal, and other cities where Jews face not only symbols of hate but also direct physical assaults. Together, these incidents reveal the normalization of antisemitism across Canada and the urgent need for national leadership to confront it.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
