Wilfrid Laurier University in the southern region of Ontario is currently looking into an incident where two Jewish prayer scrolls were damaged and removed from residence doors during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year holiday.
Rabbi Moshe Goldman, the director of Waterloo’s Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life, expressed his disappointment, stating that the vandalism detracts from the positive efforts they are striving to achieve. He emphasized the need for assistance for the individual responsible, noting their lack of maturity and kindness.
The scrolls, known as mezuzahs, contain parchment inscribed with Torah passages and are traditionally affixed to the doorways of Jewish households.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service confirmed their awareness of the situation and mentioned that they have reviewed information provided by Laurier’s Special Constable Service, although the investigation is under the university’s jurisdiction.
In response, the university released a statement to CBC News condemning acts of antisemitism and reaffirming their commitment to student safety, denouncing hate speech, racism, threats, and harassment.
Following the incident, two affected students contacted Rabbi Goldman through social media. Upon discovering the vandalism on Sunday, Rabbi Goldman took immediate action and organized a gathering to reattach the mezuzahs to the doors with the assistance of Laurier’s dean of students and other students, including members of the Jewish fraternity AEPi.
Addressing concerns about antisemitism on university campuses, Rabbi Goldman highlighted the impact on Jewish students, expressing the feelings of intimidation, fear, and uncertainty that such actions can evoke.
Recent reports have shown an increase in hate incidents in the region, with a significant number of antisemitic incidents documented. Despite the challenges, Rabbi Goldman emphasized the community’s resilience and the outpouring of support they have received since the incident.
In response to the act of vandalism, over 50 students have requested mezuzahs for their rooms, and an anonymous donation of $3,600 was made towards replacing the damaged scrolls, symbolizing a silver lining amidst the adversity faced by the Jewish community.
Overall, Rabbi Goldman remains optimistic about the community’s strength and unity in the face of such challenges.