Fire set at doors of Vancouver synagogue, says Jewish federation

The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver says someone poured fuel and set fire to the front doors of a synagogue in the city and police are investigating.

In a correction issued Friday morning, the Federation clarified that new evidence showed it was not an “incendiary device” that was thrown, as originally suspected.

The Federation said that the incident occurred at the Schara Tzedeck synagogue on Oak Street near West 18th Avenue at around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday and that damage was minor and no one was hurt.

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“We finished last night about 9:30-ish,” said Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt.

“A few minutes after there was a bang here. There was another resident of Vancouver driving by who mentioned to some people who were chatting outside, ‘do you know your building is on fire?”

The federation calls the alleged incident a “deliberate act of hate” and an “attempt to intimidate” the Jewish community, saying “antisemitic rhetoric has reached a feverish pitch in our city and region recently.”

“But we refuse to be intimidated or to hide. Our community is resilient, and we are proud to be an important part of the multicultural fabric of our city, our province and our country,” the Federation said.

It says the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and a fire inspector searched the building before declaring it safe to be reopened.

In a statement Friday, the VPD explained its investigators believe “an accelerant was used to light a fire at the front of the building.”

“This fire was intentionally set at a place of worship for the Jewish community,” Const. Tania Visintin said. “While we collect evidence to identify the person responsible, we’re also working closely with faith leaders and community members to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Rosenblatt says the smell of the accelerant is detectable even on the upper floors of the building

“It’s really quite a penetrating smell.”

The VPD confirmed the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime.

“We’re doing everything in our power to solve this crime, while providing reassurance, comfort, and safety to the community,” added Visintin. “We will continue to have a higher police presence in strategic locations throughout the coming days, as this investigation unfolds.”

Extra police officers have been positioned at various locations across Vancouver, police add, including synagogues, Jewish community centres, religious schools, and public schools.

The major Jewish non-profit organization, B’nai Brith says it’s appalled by the incident, calling it “outrageous and repugnant.”

In a statement Friday, Aron Csaplaros the organization’s B.C. regional manager said, “This is a serious and dangerous escalation of antisemitic activity in Vancouver.”

B’nai Brith Canada said Schara Tzedeck Synagogue is the oldest Jewish congregation in the city, and one of the largest in Vancouver.

The group has posted a picture showing fire and smoke damage at the front entrance of the synagogue on Oak Street.

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Speaking to CityNews Friday, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, Ezra Shanken, says it is a “very, very painful situation for our community.”

“My initial reaction was, when you create the fertile ground, the tree will grow,” he explained. “I think that we have, unfortunately, created an environment, both in this country and in this province, in which the red lines are not strongly enforced, unfortunately. And then that has created an opportunity for people to really colour outside the lines when they’re expressing themselves.”

Shanken says that while the community doesn’t yet know the motive, the incident Thursday is the third time a Canadian Jewish Institution has been targeted this week.

“That, to me is unacceptable. And I think our people feel that very deeply,” he said.

Despite a documented 62 per cent rise in anti-Semitic acts in Vancouver, Shanken says there has been no “comprehensive plan” to protect the community.

“At the same time, we have seen, really a very challenging journey in prosecuting those who spew hate speech,” he said. “I feel terrible for our people who have to go through this and feel this sense of insecurity in this time in history.”

Shanken is grateful that no one was hurt during the fire attack Thursday, saying, “God works in mysterious ways.”

“The doors were made of metal, thank God. You know, we feel really blessed, that it worked out in that way. The intent was there to do significant harm, and if not for the structure of the building, we would have been in pretty bad shape,” he shared.

Shanken looks back to an incident in the 1980s, where Temple Sholom was the victim of a fire bombing. “[It] sustained enormous damage because it was a wooden building, a wooden structure.”

He doesn’t fault members of the Vancouver Jewish community if they’re feeling scared at the moment.

“It’s a very reasonable response for our community to feel a sense of fear. I would also say our community feels an enormous sense of pride and togetherness and strength,” he explained.

“We’re not going anywhere. We’re not going to be scared into doing things. … We’re not going to stand down from who we are. That’s not how we operate. So you know, for whatever this individual or individuals was trying to prove or to somehow move us [into doing something], we will not be moved this way. Not in our city, not now.”

Shanken hopes the investigation into the attack brings justice, but also shows those who may be thinking about taking actions like this, that it is “not appropriate. Not in our city. Not now, not ever.”

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim reacted to the attack Friday, calling it a “horrendous arson.”

“Vancouver is a city that prides itself on its diversity, inclusivity, and respect for all communities. We will not tolerate acts of hatred and violence against any group,” said Sim.

He offered a warning to whoever committed the crime, saying, “The VPD is using every resource they need to find and arrest you. We will not rest until you face justice.”

The incident comes after bullet holes were found at two Jewish schools in Montreal and Toronto in recent days.

The synagogue says it has surveillance video of the incident which police are reviewing, and the VPD is still looking for the suspect.

–With files from Kier Junos and The Canadian Press