Toronto, ON – March 3, 2026 – Last night, Toronto police reported that Temple Emanu-El in North York was struck by gunfire. The incident took place shortly after community members had left the synagogue, where they had gathered for a party to celebrate the holiday of Purim.  

“All Canadians should be alarmed by what’s happening in our country. This isn't solely a threat to the Jewish community—it's a threat to every Canadian who wants to live in peace and safety,” said Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. “The escalation of intimidation and extremism targeting Jewish Canadians will inevitably lead to much worse—and the consequences are potentially lethal. As we witnessed in Australia, when incitement goes unchecked and synagogues are threatened, we can expect to see mass violence and tragedies that could have been prevented.” 

“Last night’s shooting takes place at a time when Iran’s Islamic regime poses a heightened threat to Jewish and Persian communities worldwide,” said Shack. “Security officials have warned for years that hostile foreign states, including the Islamic regime, are present here and are actively threatening Canadians. It is critical that authorities redouble measures to safeguard our country and all Canadians.”  

“This is the fourth time a Jewish institution has been targeted for gunfire in Toronto over the past two years, in addition to countless threats and acts of vandalism,” said Adam Minsky, president and CEO of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. “Every day, families across our community carry deep concerns for the safety of their children. But we are resilient and refuse to be intimidated. We will continue to proudly celebrate Jewish life.”   

“UJA and the Jewish Security Network are assisting Temple Emanu-El, while coordinating with law enforcement and Jewish institutions across the region,” said Minsky. “Together with police, we have put into place robust security protocols and measures that are essential to ensuring Jewish community activities can continue over Purim and beyond. While this shouldn’t be necessary in a country like Canada, our community is well prepared.”