In the wake of gunfire that targeted three synagogues in the Greater Toronto Area, Aviva Klompas argues that Mayor Olivia Chow bears responsibility for the escalating antisemitic violence in the city. The article emphasizes that the responses from city leadership—ranging from expressions of sympathy to promises of support—are insufficient and highlight a troubling trend of normalizing violence against the Jewish community. Rather than effectively combating this rise in hate, the city’s leadership seems to downplay the risk of a serious attack on Jewish people.

Klompas reflects on the personal impact of these incidents, noting that one of the synagogues affected, Temple Emanu-El, is located mere blocks from her family synagogue, Kehillat Shaarei Torah. The recent violence reopens wounds from previous attacks, as Kehillat Shaarei Torah is still showing the scars of damage from a past antisemitic incident. This intimate connection underscores the grave fears held within the community, provoking thoughts on safety and the adequacy of protective measures.

The article calls into question the efficacy of the current leadership’s strategies, positing that mere statements of solidarity are not enough to quell the very real threat posed to the Jewish community. Klompas warns of the potential for a mass-casualty event if the city does not take more decisive action. The implications of such violence extend beyond individual incidents, representing a broader cultural failure to adequately address and counteract antisemitism in Toronto and beyond.