Suspected hate-motivated investigation underway after about 20 Jewish prayer scrolls stolen from homes in North York: Toronto police

A suspected hate-motivated theft investigation is underway after approximately 20 Jewish prayer scrolls were stolen from the doorways of units in a TCHC seniors’ building in North York over the weekend.

Toronto police say on Sunday, just before 10:30 a.m., they were called to the area of Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue West for reports of a theft.

Investigators say multiple residents of an apartment building had property, specifically a mezuzah, stolen from the doorways of their units within the building.

Approximately 20 of these traditional parchment scrolls inscribed with Hebrew verses from The Torah were removed, police said.

Toronto Police Service has not said exactly when the thefts occurred, but residents of the building told CTV News Toronto that they were missing when they woke up on Sunday morning.

Police said they do not have a suspect description available at this time.

York Centre Coun. James Pasternak said he understands the mezuzahs were taken between 1 and 6 a.m. on Sunday.

“This is a person who went through the wee hours of Sunday morning door -to-door (and) tore off mezuzah...I don’t know if it was a resident of building or someone who broke in to the building,” he said.

‘Shocked and disgusted’

The Ward 6 rep initially posted about the situation on X late Sunday afternoon, saying that the residence in question is located at 6250 Bathurst St. in the Westminster neighbourhood.

He later told CP24 that the Toronto Community Housing building is home to a large number of older Russian-speaking Jews.

The Ward 6 representatiive is denouncing what occurred, saying he’s “shocked and disgusted” by the incident and called it an “act of hate directed at Jewish residents – seniors who deserve safety, stability, and dignity in their own homes.”

Pasternak noted that he’s spoken with the rabbi and connected the building, which has small synagogue that is used on a daily basis by its tenants, 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,” he said.

“The residents are very upset about this targeting and this gross violation of private space and Charter rights. … (They) always felt that their building was welcoming and safe. They chose that building because of its community.”

Pasternak went on to say that those living in the building have “always lived their lives openly, celebrated their religion, and their history,” adding that what happened is a “major shock” to them.

‘Outrageous and vile act of antisemitism’: Chow

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is also condemning what occurred, describing it as 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 wrote in a post on X.

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

Jewish groups speak out, replace mezuzahs

On Monday afternoon, the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation held a news conference about the incidents.

Sara Lefton, UJA Federation’s’s chief development officer, shared that many of the seniors who live in the affected building are also Holocaust survivors.

“Some of these people faced horrific instances of antisemitism before they came to this country and coming here, they never, ever, would have thought that they would have to deal with something like this again,” she said.

“It’s a horribly, horribly frightening experience for these elderly seniors who are living in this building and another instance of horrific antisemitism in our city. Jewish citizens and seniors are being intimidated and it’s clear that someone wants to scare them away from their identity and frighten them into not being publicly and proudly Jewish,” she said.

Lefton said what has occurred is something that cannot be stood for.

“We need the help of our non-Jewish allies and peers, of leaders in the city, and of our politicians to stand with us. These are vulnerable Jewish seniors, and for them to look on their front doors and know that someone has been in their personal space and taken down a mezuzah on their door is a terrifying thing, and something none of these people should have had to face,” she said.

The incident, Lefton noted, isn’t isolated.

The Jewish Security Network, an independent agency dedicated to the security needs of the Greater Toronto Jewish community, is working closely with Toronto police to determine who is responsible for this crime, which she said was perpetrated against more than 20 homes throughout the building.

On Monday, Matthew Taub, the founder and director of Unapologetically Jewish’s founder and director, said he received a call on Sunday informing him of the thefts.

“It was a gut punch. It’s one more event, every other day, in the city of Toronto, where Jews are harassed, affected, taken advantage of, and live in fear,” he said.

(These seniors) have lived an amazing life, struggled through times (and) to have to deal with something (like this) in their end stages, where they have to live in fear, you know, nobody should have to live that way, not in our city or any city," he said.

Volunteers have since been going through the building installing new mezuzahs. Some tenants, however, have declined the offer.

Volunteers say they have replaced 47 of the prayer scrolls at the building.

“The few that didn’t want to put them back up was heartbreaking because this is part of our religion, our culture, our community,” Taub said.

Rabbi Yoseph Zaltzman, of the Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario, says he’s been telling upset, angry, and fearful residents to have courage.

“You’re here in Canada (where there are) laws. ... ”You don’t (have to) buckle down for someone who’s misbehaving. We have to stand up with our pride and rights,” he said.

Toronto police’s Hate Crime Unit is investigating and anyone with further information, including doorbell or security camera footage, is asked to call 416-808-3500 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.

“There will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days, including officers from 32 Division who will be present in the building today, supporting victims, seeking witnesses or additional complainants,” Const. Stephanie Miceli told CTV News Toronto.

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Janice Golding