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In the span of a few weeks, Jewish residents in Toronto faced two nearly-identical antisemitic attacks, each deliberately aimed at one of Judaism’s most visible and meaningful symbols.

In December, perpetrators tore mezuzahs from doorways inside a Jewish seniors’ residence in the city. Residents — many of them elderly, including Holocaust survivors — woke to find the mezuzahs ripped from their homes. The act sent a clear message of intimidation inside a space that should have offered safety and dignity.

Shortly afterward, a second incident followed at another Jewish residential building nearby, where attackers once again ripped mezuzahs from doorframes. The timing and similarity of the attacks made their intent unmistakable: Jewish homes were being targeted, deliberately and repeatedly.

An Attempt to Erase Jewish Presence

A mezuzah has nothing to do with politics. It quietly marks a Jewish home and reflects faith, continuity, and belonging. When someone tears it down, the act does not damage property alone — it sends a message meant to unsettle, exclude, and intimidate.

Moreover, both attacks took place in seniors’ residences rather than public or contested spaces. As a result, the message reached residents where they should have felt most secure.

Unfortunately, the Toronto incidents reflect a broader trend. As antisemitism becomes increasingly normalized, visible expressions of Jewish identity face growing hostility. What once appeared on the margins now reaches front doors.

Choosing Visibility Over Intimidation

One of the most effective ways to confront this hate is when Jews and allies respond with confidence, visibility, and collective resolve.

For that reason, the Combat Antisemitism Movement is calling on people around the world to take part in the #MezuzahChallenge — a direct response to the attacks in Toronto and a broader stand against antisemitic intimidation.

By displaying a mezuzah proudly and sharing it publicly using #MezuzahChallenge, participants affirm a simple truth: Jewish homes belong. Jewish identity will not be erased, and those targeted are not alone.

Importantly, this response goes beyond symbolism. It transforms an attempt to intimidate into a visible declaration of solidarity, repeated across cities and communities.

How to Take Part

Anyone can join the #MezuzahChallenge, and thousands have done so already. Display a mezuzah on your home, workplace, or community space. Then, share a photo online using the hashtag and encourage others to do the same.

Each post strengthens a shared message — Jewish life belongs openly and unapologetically in every city.

The mezuzahs torn down in Toronto this December were meant to signal exclusion. Instead, they have prompted a broader response rooted in pride, resolve, and unity.

Join the #MezuzahChallenge and stand with Jewish residents in Toronto — and with Jewish communities everywhere.