Brazen Mezuzah Thefts Terrorize Jewish Seniors In Toronto

Toronto’s Jewish community was shocked over the weekend after roughly 20 mezuzahs were taken from the doorposts of a seniors’ housing building. Toronto Police confirmed the thefts and said the hate crimes unit is now handling the case, according to a Monday report by the CBC.

Police reported receiving multiple calls Sunday about mezuzahs removed from units in a Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation residence near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue W. A follow-up notice Monday stated that approximately 20 mezuzahs had been stolen.

Councillor James Pasternak, who posted video of the stripped doorways, stressed the importance of the building for elderly Russian Jewish tenants, noting that it even serves as an informal shul.

“Everybody’s really shocked,” he said. “This is a City of Toronto-run building. We want our residents to feel safe, to be safe.”

Mayor Olivia Chow denounced the thefts as “an outrageous and vile act of antisemitism,” writing that seniors “deserve to live in peace without fear of being targeted for being Jewish.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) underscored the deep religious significance of a mezuzah. “It isn’t just an object — for us, it’s a reminder of our faith, heritage, and identity,” the organization said, adding, “The time for words is over. Our political leaders — at all levels — must take action to protect the community.”

Toronto Police urged anyone with information to contact investigators or to submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.

The city continues to confront a steep rise in antisemitic incidents since the Hamas terrorists’ October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel and the ensuing Gaza war.

Data released by Toronto Police in May showed that 2024 saw a record number of reported hate crimes, with the Jewish community once again being the most frequently targeted.

Just last week, a Toronto model reported being forced out of an Uber after the Muslim driver discovered she was Jewish.

Earlier in November, a suspect shattered windows at Kehillat Shaarei Torah (KST), marking the tenth attack on the shul in 18 months.

The following day, anti-Israel rioters stormed an event featuring IDF veterans, organized off campus by the Students Supporting Israel chapter at Toronto Metropolitan University. Five suspects were arrested.