Rabbi Lisa Grushcow of Montreal speaks out after her synagogue is targeted with swastika graffiti on Shabbat

It was noticed by a congregant who had been attending a rehearsal for Purim festivities.
Rabbi Lisa Grushcow in her video posted Feb. 16, 2025.
Rabbi Lisa Grushcow in her video posted Feb. 16, 2025.

“It was not a matter of if. It was a matter of when.”

Temple Emanu-El Beth Sholom, a Reform synagogue in Westmount next to downtown Montreal, was targeted by antisemitic graffiti this past Shabbat: a two-foot-wide swastika was spray-painted on the side of the building.

Rabbi Lisa Grushcow says it was noticed by a temple member leaving the building on Saturday afternoon, following the weekly rehearsal for a Purim shpiel—a comical performance traditionally incorporated into celebrations of the miraculous Jewish victory chronicled in the Book of Esther.

Persian Rhapsody, inspired by the music of the rock band Queen, is scheduled for the festivities on March 13.

Still, given recent events, she feels it was only a matter of time before this style of vandalism struck her congregation.

The maintenance team was immediately alerted, as were Westmount public security and Montreal police (SPVM), and in less than 24 hours it was removed by Corey Fleischer—a Montrealer whose graffiti-removal initiative is called Erasing Hate.

Rabbi Grushcow calls him “a superstar, although it’s really depressing that he has this whole expertise in removing hateful things from buildings, particularly Jewish buildings.”

It’s the first time something like this has happened in her 13 years helming the temple. But she’s not surprised considering “the state of the city and the world,” and the explosion in antisemitism in the city.

“It’s certainly not the first in Montreal, but what is concerning is the trend.”

SPVM are investigating area surveillance footage, but no suspects have yet been identified. The attention raised by Rabbi Grushcow spurred reaction from the mayor of Montreal.

“Such attacks are unacceptable in our metropolis and I can assure the rabbi, Lisa Grushcow, that the SPVM is investigating. We must all unite and denounce all forms of antisemitism,” read the statement from Valérie Plante.

Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney—the front-runner to replace Justin Trudeau as prime minister next month—also expressed support for the Jewish community in response to reports on the swastika graffiti:

Following her first reflex of feeling protective for the building and the community, Rabbi Grushcow also decided “we don’t want to amplify hate, and we don’t want to feel powerless, so we want to respond in a positive way. Whoever this person that did this is, I’m not going to reach them. It was a hateful stupid, cowardly act, and I don’t know what my chances are in reaching them, but I think the average citizen and member of the wider community should do something. And I hope government and police will as well.”

After the hateful graffiti was discovered, Rabbi Grushcow took to social media to ask Montrealers to step up and speak up and check in on their friends and neighbours. “Reach out to your Jewish friends. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s not… Hate works to isolate people, and you can help act against that isolation. Educate yourself. Go to a local Holocaust Museum and learn about how long and how deep the history of antisemitism is, and why hateful words and symbols matter so much. We don’t love this history either but ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.”

“If you hear something antisemitic, a joke, a comment, don’t wait for the Jewish person in the room to say something. And if there is no Jewish person in the room, it’s even more important to say something. We know how to do this.” And finally, says Rabbi Grushcow, “Show up. See if you’d be welcome at your neighborhood synagogue. Ask a friend if they want you to go with them. Pay attention to our security precautions, but more important, pay attention to what we love, what we cherish about Jewish life, why we’re proud to be who we are.”

She says Jewish history, human nature and Jewish teachings demonstrate “that we have no choice about what happens to us, but we do in how we respond. I believe as a spiritual leader, activist and human being, the choice we are making is not to amplify hate because there’s a much better way, to try and give opportunities to people sitting there who are not okay with this, but are not sure what to do, so they do nothing.”

She also hopes this will prompt action “particularly at the political level in our city. We talk to the police, and they point to the city. We talk to the city, and they point to the police. We talk to the universities, and they point to both. The fact is, it’s not our job as citizens to be experts at how to deal with this and make the city secure for Jews. But there are people, professionals who must take this seriously and not expect us to bear the burden of this and tell us ‘We will make you safe by escorting you out of a building that’s being mobbed.’

“No. They need to make sure that our city is secure and that we can stand on the street downtown with our Magen David, and be visible and proud, and we can go to school and feel safe. That’s why I’m saying enough is enough. We expect people in charge to be taking this seriously and stop passing the buck.”

Meanwhile, the temple will continue its long tradition of interfaith outreach and exchange, noting various Christian organizations in Montreal who’ve reached out.

Rabbi Grushcow was also grateful for a statement from the Canadian Muslim Forum, which immediately denounced the incident and urged police to act.

But what she really hopes for is that it will manifest on an interpersonal level “for people in their daily and professional lives as well as on the municipal level in terms of policing and politics. We’ve been interfaith work since we were founded back in 1882 and we’re going to continue” she said.

“It’s not acceptable to just close ranks on ourselves. I know people are feeling very disheartened and disillusioned, but ultimately, we live in and are invested in our broader community.

“I’m not ready to give up on that.”

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