October 12, 2023

Once again, we are writing to reassure you that despite highly publicized social media posts calling for violent resistance in Jewish communities worldwide on Friday, October 13, 2023, at this time, we do not have any specific information that these threats are real.

Since the outbreak of the war, our Community Security Network (CSN) has been in contact with law enforcement in the municipal, provincial and federal levels.  With the recent global threat made yesterday, our efforts with the Montreal Police Department (SPVM) have doubled and they have been extraordinarily responsive. We appreciate today’s direct involvement of Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher.

Starting tomorrow and through the weekend, Police presence in Jewish neighbourhoods and around Jewish institutions will be increased.

These threats could be part of a disinformation campaign, also known as psychological warfare.

Although in the past, calls by terrorist organizations for global jihad have not resulted in physical attacks against Canada’s Jewish community, we must not become lax. While we don’t have any specific intelligence, vigilance is our number one ally. We are asking all Jewish community members to be extra vigilant on Friday, not only in Jewish institutions but in public areas such as malls, kosher bakeries, etc., and to continue to do so throughout Shabbat. This is out of an abundance of caution to ensure that wherever we go as a Jewish community, we keep an awareness of our surroundings. 

Also, we are aware of an incident in Toronto involving verbal threats made in the vicinity of a Jewish school. Our partners at UJA Toronto are in contact with the Toronto Police Service who have informed them that no one has been injured. Charges may be laid. Today’s incident in Toronto underscores the importance of heightened vigilance, preparedness, and rapid reporting. 

Our recommendations remain unchanged:

• The community should exercise heightened vigilance. If you see something, say something. In an emergency, call 911. Sharing unverified security concerns on social media can have unintended consequences—and is no replacement for calling law enforcement directly. Once it is safe to do so, report what you have witnessed to Federation CJA Emergency HOTLINE: 514-343-4343.
  
  
• Police and municipal Public Security will have a significantly increased and visible presence in our community tomorrow and into the weekend.
  
  
• We have also increased CSN volunteers’ presence at daycares, Jewish schools and synagogues on Friday and over the weekend.
  
  
• Police currently advise regular activities continue—with vigilance—in the Jewish community and have not advised the closure of Jewish institutions or facilities at this time. Should the situation change, we will advise the community without delay.

Our responsibility is to gather the latest, most credible information. The assessments we are receiving from multiple security leaders throughout the Jewish world align with what we have received from law enforcement here in Montreal.

We continue to engage with our security partners across Canada, North America, and in Israel. We are also in communication with Public Safety Canada and national security authorities, via the security team at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

As the situation is fluid, we are continually speaking with those best positioned to keep our community informed. Should police guidance change, we will immediately alert our community. Police have also informed us that they will communicate directly to the public if this guidance changes or if there is a need to close institutions.

While Federation CJA’s policy is to avoid emailing the community or posting on social media on Shabbat, the Jewish principle of saving lives clearly calls on us to override this policy when security developments require it. We will not hesitate to communicate any time or day of the week for the purposes of ‘Picuach Nefesh’.

We encourage community members, particularly those in leadership roles at synagogues and other organizations, to consider proactive measures for Shabbat. Extra attention should be paid to ensuring all protocols are being followed. This should include keeping doors locked and ensuring no one enters without being vetted.

Part of the psychological terror is to scare Jewish communities not to participate in Jewish life. In the absence of a real threat, we urge Jewish life to continue so that our enemies don’t win. Let’s vigilantly celebrate Jewish life and the freedom to live safely and securely in a democratic society.

After brutally destroying so much innocent life in Israel, it is no surprise that Hamas is now seeking to terrorize innocent Jewish communities around the world. There is immense concern in the community right now—and we very much share that concern. But we also share our community’s determination to not be intimidated from living our lives as proud Jewish Canadians. 

We will continue to do so responsibly, with the support and guidance of police and security experts in the Jewish world.

Am Yisrael Chai,

Yair Szlak, LL.B
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Federation CJA