Mezuzahs have been ripped from the doorways of homes belonging to Jewish seniors at an apartment building in North York over the weekend. Police say the hate crime unit is investigating.
Toronto police’s 32 Division received reports on Sunday that mezuzahs — prayer scrolls that are affixed to the doorways of Jewish homes — had been taken from apartments located at a Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSCH) building, at Bathurst St. and Steeles Ave, a police spokesperson told National Post.
City councillor James Pasternak
on X that the incident was “an act of hate directed at Jewish residents — seniors who deserve safety, stability, and dignity.”
All of the mezuzas at 6250 Bathurst Street (TSHC) have been torn off. We have spoken with the rabbi and connected the building with 32 Division.
This is an act of hate directed at Jewish residents — seniors who deserve safety, stability, and dignity in their own homes.
There is… pic.twitter.com/p8W3CEI8s9
— James Pasternak (@PasternakTO) December 7, 2025
“There is no excuse for targeting people because they are Jewish. Toronto cannot look the other way while seniors are intimidated in their hallways,” he said.
He included a photo showing a spot where a mezuzah had been taken.
Later on Sunday evening, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow thanked Pasternak for connecting residents with police in
. She also condemned the incident as “vile and outrageous.”
“This is a public supportive housing building for seniors. They deserve to live in peace without fear of being targeted for being Jewish. I will be reaching out to TSCH leadership to investigate this how this could happen,” she said.
Israel’s ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed
on X ripping off mezuzahs from Jewish homes was “reminiscent of the darkest days of Europe.” He added: “Such a vile act of hatred and intimidation must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.”
Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith Canada
in a post on X that it has “engaged” with municipal leaders and Toronto police after being made aware of the incident. It would be organizing a mezuzah drive for members of the community to donate mezuzahs for the seniors in need.
“The permissive nature of the City’s response to the rising levels of incitement and intimidation aimed at the Jewish community continues to embolden those who wish to target Jewish Torontonians,” said B’nai Brith Canada. “Now, it is a group of Jewish seniors who appear to be paying the price for the inaction of our municipal leaders. The inability to protect our elderly is a sign of the further decay of our society.”
Thornhill MP and deputy leader for the Opposition Conservatives, Melissa Lantsman, called out the incident as “cowardly” and “hateful” on social media. She also said it was “massive loser energy to target seniors.”
Canada should never be a place where Jews feel unsafe — yet here we are. Again. Thugs ripped every mezuzah off the doors of a seniors’ building in Toronto.
Cowardly, hateful, and a brutal reminder of how dangerous this country has become for Jewish Canadians.
Also massive… https://t.co/kgpguFPTR2
— Melissa Lantsman (@MelissaLantsman) December 8, 2025
A mezuzah in not just an object, but rather “a reminder of our faith, heritage, and identity,” explained Jewish advocacy group, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) in a post on X.
“It is placed on our doorways to provide a sense of comfort and spiritual protection. And yet the seniors at a building in North York were targeted in a place where they should’ve felt the safest,” the CIJA post
. “We’ve seen hateful conduct go from shouting in the streets to targeting Jews outside our homes to now in the hallways of our own buildings.”
City councillor Brad Bradford said a full investigation should be done to determine who was responsible in a
. Meanwhile, MP from B.C. Tamara Kronis called the incident “next level antisemitism.”
“There is nothing anyone can say to justify this remarkable act of hate and intimidation,” she
on X.
In 2017, mezuzahs were removed from the doorways of homes at a condo building in North York, near Yonge St. and Sheppard Ave, the Canadian Jewish News
. There were also notes left behind that said: “No Jews.”
More to come…
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