Community Security

Helpful Tips: The 12 Warning Signs

Securing Our Community (For posting in your local synagogue, school or Jewish community centre)

Security Alert - 18/11/09

To synagogues, schools, community organizations and individuals

We wish to bring to your attention a rash of antisemitic incidents which have taken place across Canada recently:

• Calgary, AB - swastikas and antisemitic slogans, including "Kill Jews" and "Six million more," were spray-painted on Jewish community institutions including a synagogue, the Jewish Community Centre, and a Holocaust memorial.
• Toronto, ON - numerous cars were vandalized with antisemitic graffiti outside of a prominent Sephardic synagogue during Shabbat.
• Toronto, ON - apartment of a Jewish tenant was broken into and defaced with antisemitic references.
• Barrie, ON - a synagogue was vandalized overnight with a swastika (same synagogue was targeted in 2008).
• Oshawa, ON - a synagogue was defaced with antisemitic graffiti (same synagogue targeted in 2004).
• Woodstock, ON - ongoing vandalism has targeted the community including swastikas on a cenotaph and other community sites.

Clearly, this is a time to exercise caution, to be on the alert, and to ensure that all appropriate security measures have been put in place.

The 2008 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, published by B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights, has documented the ongoing problem of antisemitic incidents in Canada.  The 2008 findings and the data recorded to date for 2009 indicate that antisemitism continues to be an ever-growing threat, occurring in all regions of our country, and range from harassment and vandalism to physical assaults on individuals.

As always, B’nai Birth’s community Anti-Hate Hotline is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, to provide assistance and consultation. We urge you to call this Hotline to report all acts of antisemitism and to contact your local police in the event of an emergency. Our trained professionals are available on an ongoing basis to offer their expertise on safety and security matters.

For further information, please call B’nai Brith’s Hotline at 1-800-892-2624.

B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the Jewish community’s foremost human rights organization. To learn more about its advocacy work and diverse community and social programs, please visit http://www.bnaibrith.ca.  

Security Alert - 01/08/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

‘Jewish institutions targets for potential attacks,’   
warns B’nai Brith Canada in security alert to community

TORONTO, January 8, 2009 – B’nai Brith Canada has issued a community-wide security alert calling for heightened vigilance during this time of Middle East crisis as events abroad begin to reverberate here at home. Since the launch of Operation Cast Lead, the Jewish human rights organization has documented a spike in incidents against Jews in Canada, including harassment and death threats. This comes amidst reports of violence abroad, notably the firebombing of a synagogue in Paris, and credible reports emerging that point to possible other global targets. 

“Warnings of possible hostile attacks against Jewish community targets demand your attention as a matter of top priority,” said Frank Dimant, B’nai Brith Canada’s Executive Vice President, in a security alert that went out across the country to synagogues, communal institutions, and Jewish individuals.

“Security monitoring groups are reporting increased Internet chatter that point to targets across the United States, as well as in Canada. 

“Following extensive, ongoing consultation with security experts, B’nai Brith Canada advises all Jewish community institutions to ensure that proper security measures are in place at all times. The organization urges persons to report suspicious activity to its Anti-Hate Hotline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-892-2624.

“B'nai Brith will continue working with all major policing, national security and safety bodies to help ensure the security of the community.”

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For more information, please contact, Karen Lazar, National Director of Communications:

416-633-6224 X 140 / cell: 416-312-9173

B’nai Brith Canada has been active in Canada since 1875
 as the Jewish community’s foremost human rights agency

Security Alert - 06/20/08

Following the release of media reports regarding imminent threats of Hezbollah terrorist attacks against Jewish targets, B'nai Brith Canada, as the frontline Jewish defense organization in this country offering grassroot support to the community, immediately held major debriefings with Canadian national and local security personnel, Israeli sources and Canadian security experts.

While officials agree that there is no specific threat at present, B'nai Brith Canada has warned that it is crucial that continued vigilance be maintained given the established presence of Hezbollah in our midst. In a community alert, which the organization releases when the circumstances demand, institutions across the Jewish community were reminded that given the ongoing nature of the threat of terrorist attacks here in Canada, it was essential that security protocols be reviewed and that vigilance be maintained as a top priority. Equally imperative was the need to inform members of the Jewish community of the ongoing need to be "aware and prepared" and the availability of community resources including the 24 hour/7 day a week hotline run by B'nai Brith Canada where suspicious behaviour should be reported promptly (1-800-892-2624).

B'nai Brith continues to meet with federal and provincial politicians and law enforcement officials to ensure the highest priority for the community's needs. Frank Dimant, Executive Vice-President of B'nai Brith Canada and recent appointee to the Federal Government's cross-cultural round table on security, will raise Jewish community security concerns this weekend with the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minster of Public Safety as a top priority.