It has been a difficult time for our community. 

Since October 7th, Jews around the world have witnessed a disturbing rise in attacks on our very way of life. Just last month in Toronto, Jewish-owned businesses and synagogues were shot at, antisemitic vandalism appeared across the city, and anti-democratic protests featured explicitly antisemitic signs and chants. 

Through all of this, safety of our community remains top of mind. Thanks to your ongoing support of our Annual Campaign, UJA, together with the Jewish Security Network (JSN), has been strengthening safety and security measures and advocating for immediate, increased funding at all levels of government. 

Securing the GTA 

The JSN will continue the critical work of securing our institutions. Since its launch in 2024, JSN has completed more than 100 security assessments at Jewish schools, synagogues, camps, and community centres across the GTA. Millions of dollars in security grants have already been distributed to more than 66 institutions to support security upgrades. And, nearly 80 institutions have implemented standardized security procedures to strengthen emergency readiness and co-ordination with first responders.  

This important work is part of JSN’s broader, five-pronged approach to security, based on best practices from leading Jewish security organizations around the world. 

1. Monitoring threats. The foundational layer, which identifies areas of greatest need across the GTA.  
2. Community volunteers. The second layer consists of trained individuals who understand the day-to-day rhythms of our institutions. These volunteers are best positioned to recognize when something is amiss and report incidents in real time. 
3. Physical security at institutions. The third layer ensures that Jewish institutions have barricades, alarms, and cameras, all connected to the security operations centre. 
4. Security operations centre (SOC). The fourth, and most central layer, is the SOC: a fully staffed hub that operates 24/7. The team monitors and analyzes camera feeds to gather real-time intelligence and act when necessary. 
5. Partnerships with law enforcement. This fifth and final layer reinforces all others. Over the past year, JSN has strengthened operational co-ordination, information sharing, and response capacity across the community. Today, JSN has active working relationships with municipal, provincial, and federal agencies, all of which encourage continued collaboration with the Jewish community. 

“It’s not the volunteer alone, it’s not the walls and gates alone, not the police officer alone—it’s everything coming together to protect the community.”  — Jevon Greenblatt, CEO, JSN 

Following the horrific shootings at Temple Emanu-El, Shaarei Shomayim, and Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT) in the GTA this month, JSN utilized these layers and sprang into action. The team immediately co-ordinated with police, intelligence agencies, and the affected institutions. Staff were deployed to assist with co-ordination and review security procedures with nearby Jewish organizations. JSN continues working with these partners to help prepare and secure our institutions. 

Through UJA and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs' (CIJA) collective efforts and advocacy with the federal government, you have likely already seen—and will continue to see—increased security and police presence around Jewish institutions. 

Federal funding has also been secured for the period of March 1 (retroactive) to April 11, 2026, to help offset the cost of guards and paid duty officers. This support will be available to institutions that meet the criteria for current CCSP funding. 

Advocacy at Work 

In the immediate aftermath of the shootings, CIJA’s CEO, Noah Shack, spoke directly with Prime Minister Carney to ask for immediate security funding for Jewish institutions. During that conversation, he underscored the seriousness of the situation, including the escalation of threats over the past two years from both domestic radicalization and Iran.  

Following this phone call, the federal government committed $10 million in immediate investments to support Jewish security and safety, with $5 million directed toward the Toronto Jewish community through JSN. While this is an encouraging step in the right direction, it is not enough. CIJA’s advocacy efforts continue to push for additional support to secure our institutions. 

Attacks on our community are attacks on Canadian values and democracy. It may begin with violence against Jews, but it will not end there. As a leading donor, you are enabling us to leverage JSN’s work to keep our community safe, while advocating for further support from all levels of government. The investments we make today will help ensure we are prepared for tomorrow. We thank you for your generosity and dedication. 

If you’d like to get more involved, there are several ways you can help: 

• Sign up to become a JSN volunteer, where you’ll be trained on best practices and how to help protect our Jewish institutions. 
• Register for the Catalyst Parents Forum on April 19th, in partnership with JHub and CCB, and learn how to navigate antisemitism as a public-school parent. 
• Support CIJA’s advocacy efforts through its Action Hub.  
• Register for a security grant at your school or synagogue. You can reach out to JSN for assistance with preparing and submitting your federal government grant application.