A Vancouver synagogue is set to hold its first service after an arson attack charred the building含羞草研究社檚 front door and left the Jewish community shaken.
Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt says he anticipates the Schara Tzedeck synagogue on Oak Street will be 含羞草研究社渇uller than usual含羞草研究社� for Sabbath and he含羞草研究社檚 encouraging members of the congregation to turn out.
Rosenblatt says the arson attack in which someone used an accelerant to set a fire at the synagogue含羞草研究社檚 front door on Thursday night was a 含羞草研究社渃owardly含羞草研究社� act.
He says the more worshippers who fill the building, the better the deterrent against a repeat.
Vancouver police say they are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime and are mobilizing at Jewish sites around the city.
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The fire, which Rosenblatt says was put out by a synagogue member with his jacket, blackened the door and left a strong smell of burning inside.
The attack comes after bullet holes were found at two Jewish schools in Montreal and Toronto in recent days.
No one was injured in the Vancouver attack or the other incidents.
Political leaders including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Columbia Premier David Eby and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim condemned the attack.
Jewish community members say they are facing a rising wave of antisemitism since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October.
含羞草研究社淲e can含羞草研究社檛 let it keep us from doing what we do,含羞草研究社� Rosenblatt said of the attack.
含羞草研究社淲e can含羞草研究社檛 let it deter our mission and hopefully, I anticipate that on Saturday this place is going to be fuller than usual, and it含羞草研究社檚 a sad state of affairs that that含羞草研究社檚 what brings people into the building.含羞草研究社�
Rosenblatt said he would like to see increased security around the synagogue and other Jewish facilities, but it should be done 含羞草研究社渨ithin reason含羞草研究社� given these are still community spaces that should feel welcoming.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 always a double-edged sword,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭he more security you put, the more intimidating it looks for people coming to visit. So we含羞草研究社檙e trying to harden the target and soften the entrance. I含羞草研究社檓 not exactly sure how else to put it.含羞草研究社�
The Canadian Press
