Gunshots fired at Jewish-owned Toronto restaurant: ‘Statements of concern are no longer sufficient’

Adam Minsky, the president and CEO of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto said the community was “horrified” to learn that an Old Avenue Restaurant had been struck by gunfire again, warning that “when hate is normalised, this is the kind of terror that results.”

He said all Canadians should be concerned, calling the attack “not solely a threat to the Jewish community” but to “every Canadian who wants to live their lives in peace and safety.”

Escalating intimidation and extremism targeting Jewish Canadians “will inevitably lead to much worse - and the consequences are potentially lethal,” said Minsky.

The crisis now “is not about the safety of one community – it is about our national security and the future of our Canadian way of life,” he continued, adding that he hopes police “are able to bring the perpetrator of this heinous crime to justice.”

Israeli consul general in Toronto Idit Shamir posted online after the incident: “This was not random. It is part of a growing and dangerous pattern of antisemitic violence.”

She added: “Repeated targeting of Jewish individuals, businesses, and institutions is creating a climate of intimidation. Statements of concern are no longer sufficient. What is required now is enforcement, deterrence, and a clear demonstration that antisemitic violence carries consequences.”

Israel’s ambassador to Canada called on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow to “immediately take all necessary measures to thwart this dangerously escalating and ticking bomb.”

The shooting marks the 12th time a Jewish business or synagogue has been targeted during the current wave of violent antisemitic incidents sweeping Canada.

Toronto Police posted a video on X on Friday showing an enhanced presence of armed personnel guarding synagogues across the city for the Passover holiday.

“This is what we are calling Task Force Guardian, a protective effort, a reassurance effort for the community,” deputy police chief Frank Barredo says in the video.

“It is understandable that some people might find this to be something they are not used to seeing; I would reassure members of the public with those feelings that this is not at all meant to alarm, this is not at all an indication of an imminent threat ... it is about protection. It is certainly not intended to frighten the public-frighten bad actors perhaps, we appreciate that they do exist. This is one measure that we are putting in place to be ready for what might happen,” Barredo stated.

Reacting to the measure, deputy leader of Canada’s Conservative Party and member of parliament Melissa Lantsman said that it was “welcomed, but a democracy that normalises protecting one community from targeted violence has already failed that community.”