Less than a week after Kingston’s Jewish community gathered in Market Square to celebrate Hanukkah, the religious group was targeted by ant-Semitic hate mail Monday.
A letter was received which contained the phrase, “Jewry Must Perish” with a bleeding Star of David and a swastika in the centre.
It’s a hate message that’s sent shock waves through the city’s Jewish community.
“I thought it was unfortunate. It was not a big surprise. It’s happened before,’ explained Harvey Rosen, the incoming president of the Beth Israel Congregation.
It’s a sign of hatred that doesn’t belong in Kingston, a city known for its multiculturalism according to the city’s mayor.
“I just can’t say strongly enough how there’s no place for that in our community. I think this is an opportunity for me and others to just express our support for the Jewish community,” said Bryan Paterson.
The incident is being treated as a hate crime. Police are reporting similar incidents in Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and Edmonton.
Locally, the force has assigned a detective from the Criminal Investigations Unit to investigate. They’ll be working alongside their counterparts in other jurisdictions.
“Standalone, it’s a threat which is, by itself, serious and we take that very serious and it would be investigated. But when you add an element of hate based on faith or ethnicity or something like that it adds an extra level to it for sure,” explained Const. Cameron Mack.
Officials with the synagogue say the incident has been reported to its members but they question the motive behind it, suggesting it gives a stronger voice to a hate group.
“The broad media coverage of this particular event is only encouraging these people. They want notoriety, they want to have their 15 minutes of fame, this gives them what they want,” said Rosen.
City police would like to speak to anyone who may have any information about the letters.