Residents of Toronto's North York region, an area with a large Jewish population, were outraged to learn that the Beth Tikvah Synagogue and Robbins Hebrew Academy building was defiled Thursday evening with anti-Semitic graffiti. The words Islam will rule and a swastika were spray-painted on the building's facade. Police were called to the scene about 6 p.m. Thursday and retrieved surveillance footage from the synagogue's security system. But synagogue Rabbi Jarrod Grover said, "It seems [the perpetrators] picked a spot on the building where they knew there were no cameras." "We take it very seriously," Toronto Police Staff Sergeant Brian Kenny said. "We have our detectives on it to figure out who and why someone would do this. The graffiti consisted of a black-and-red swastika along with the phrase "Islam will rule" spray-painted below it. Rabbi Grover said he was particularly surprised that the incident occurred in the Bayview neighborhood of North York, one considered to be a very socially tolerant area and one that includes a mosque, churches and synagogues. He stressed that this was not an attack on a synagogue, but an attack on Jews. He also conveyed concern for the Hebrew Academy students and members of the Beth Tikvah congregation. The synagogue has contacted the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy for assistance. The synagogue has been active for more than 40 years, and also offers social, educational and youth activities to the community. Rabbi Grover noted that he has received an outpouring of support from people and groups from differing backgrounds and religions, saying, "We are going to join together and make sure that the message of tolerance and of peace overpowers whatever message the person responsible for this intended. The graffiti was removed from the building's exterior Friday, while police continue with their investigation and attempt to determine whether the act was a hate crime or an act of vandalism.
