Report by Debbie Wasserman, ICJW’s Antisemitism and Racism Committee Vice-Chair.
Antisemitism in North America over the past six months has manifested in increasingly visible and concerning ways, reflecting both persistence and escalation in anti-Jewish hostility. Across both Canada and the United States, incidents range from symbolic intimidation to outright violence, contributing to a growing sense of fear within Jewish communities.
One of the most alarming developments has been the rise in violent attacks targeting Jewish institutions. In March 2026, three synagogues in the Greater Toronto Area were struck by gunfire over the course of a single week This was a significant increase in escalation of severity. Similarly, in the United States, a large synagogue in Michigan was the site of a vehicle-ramming and shooting attack, underscoring a broader pattern in which places of worship are increasingly targeted. In the US situation, the car was filled with fireworks, having the potential to have caused great damage to not only the building, but to those inside.
Vandalism and symbolic acts of intimidation also remain widespread. In January 2026, a synagogue in Winnipeg was defaced with swastikas, while in Toronto, mezuzahs were removed from apartment doorposts, including in residences housing seniors. These acts deliberately target Jewish identity, extending antisemitism into both communal and private spaces. Comparable incidents in the United States, including synagogue arson, further highlight the shared nature of this trend.
Harassment in public settings has also intensified. In both countries, some protests and demonstrations have included antisemitic rhetoric or the targeting of Jewish individuals and institutions. It is feared that such events are normalizing antisemitism in public discourse.
Taken together, these developments illustrate a broader pattern across North America in which antisemitism follows a continuum—from rhetoric and harassment to vandalism and, in some cases, violence.
In Canada, I recently attended a meeting involving all levels of government to discuss the safety of the Jewish community. People are very concerned and many feel the police are not adequately handling the problems. Some Jews spoke of obtaining guns to protect themselves and their families. Generally this is not something that Canadians do, but the situation continues to worsen with no end in sight.
The persistence and escalation of these incidents suggest that antisemitism remains a significant and evolving challenge.
