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Jonathan Milevsky: My synagogue was hit with a spray of bullets

None of this beggars the imagination. When other shuls have been targeted, it is only natural to begin wondering why yours has been left out

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It happened. Shots were fired Friday night at my synagogue, Shaarei Shomayim. To be honest, I have been expecting this. It is not as if this area, like every other Jewish neighbourhood, has not had an increased police presence for over two years. Indeed, I wonder if the increased presence of security personnel may have made this neighbourhood seem like more of a target.

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It is not as if I had not approached politicians of all stripes about the fact that synagogues need better protection, meaning armed guards. A few years ago, I specifically tried to meet with former MP Marco Mendicino on several occasions about this very issue. As you can probably predict, he kept putting off the meeting and eventually cancelled it. Evidently, it was not as urgent as a certain trucker convoy was.

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It is not as if I had not expressed serious concerns about the government of Canada not keeping us Jews safe, and openly questioned whether the Jewish community in Canada should reconsider the practice of saying a prayer for the government, a matter I have written about elsewhere. After all, it is the stability and safety for which we are thankful and for which we continue to pray, and neither of those is a given.

It is not as if this is not one of the oldest functioning synagogues in this city. Stated differently, a competing breakaway prayer service in our area does not have the same prominence as a synagogue that has been in existence for almost 100 years. Anyone with any knowledge of Toronto’s Jewish community — although I doubt the shooter is completing doctoral work on the subject — would be aware of this particular Jewish institution. The Beth Avraham Yosef Synagogue, which was where I grew up, is visible and architecturally prominent, although a relative newcomer in historical terms. It was therefore highly predictable that this one would be targeted.

That is to say, none of this beggars the imagination. When other houses of worship are targeted, as they have been, even earlier in the week, it is only natural to begin wondering why yours has been left out. In what resembles the efficient market hypothesis, this type of incident was predictable enough to have been absorbed into our new routine. Just as the market anticipates and already “prices-in” developments when they are anticipated, the community has already adjusted to the fact that Jewish institutions will be targeted.

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Even the feeling of coming to synagogue on such a morning was fairly commonplace. Perhaps a few more conversations in hushed tones on the way there.  You hear about broken doors and windows, which are unfortunately no longer uncommon even in this part of the city, so you think your neighbours are discussing a break-in. As you get closer, you recognize that something is off, and by the time you are in the building, you are in the know. Then the questions begin. Questions about when; questions about who heard what; questions about how anyone obtained the information; and questions about who notified police. Yes, there were more security measures, and now bullet holes for all to see. But it is the same prayer service, including a moving sermon. It is as it always was.

When all is said and done, I almost wonder what took so long. It is a sad reality. But it is also highly predictable and boring. All part of the not-so-new reality here in Canada for us Jews.

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