WARNING: This story contains references to and images of antisemitic graffiti.

Two Halifax synagogues were vandalized with antisemitic graffiti over the weekend.

A nearby building associated with the Chabad-Lubavitch of the Maritimes Rohr Family Institute was also defaced with the words “Jews did 9/11.”

Rabbi Yakov Kerzner of Beth Israel synagogue on Oxford Street said the “disturbing” graffiti was discovered Sunday morning.

A swastika was discovered on the entrance to the Shaar Shalom synagogue a few blocks away on Sunday morning as well, according to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. 

The exterior of a synagogue with spray paint graffiti is shown.Beth Israel synagogue is located on Oxford Street. (Giuliana Grillo De Lambarri/CBC)

Kerzner said the vandalism at his synagogue is especially disturbing as it is believed to have happened while congregants were inside the building for a Saturday evening service. 

The damage represents a troubling development for the city, he said.

“We haven’t experienced this until now in Halifax,” he said. “But this is an escalation which does concern the Jewish community.”

Two side by side photos of defaced synagogues in Halifax.Graffiti is on the exterior of Shaar Shalon synagogue, left, and Beth Israel synagogue was discovered Sunday morning. (Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs)

The graffiti on Beth Israel also made reference to Jews and 9/11. 

“It’s antisemitism, it’s pure anti-Jew hatred,” he said. 

Rabbi Gary Karlin of Shaar Shalom says he is also deeply troubled, but not surprised, by the defacement.

“I’ve seen it … throughout Canada over the last two years…. I don’t know where this is going but I’m concerned about it,” he said.

Kerzner said he sees a connection between the vandalism and a rise in local tensions and protests. 

The incidents happened after days of peaceful protests in the city against Israeli participation in the Davis Cup tennis tournament.

He confirmed that the incident has been reported to the police and their hate crime unit. 

Cleanup of the building will start once the police complete their on-site investigation, he said.

By Sunday afternoon, Shaar Shalom synagogue had already cleaned up their exterior sign.

Despite the vandalism, Kerzner emphasized the community’s resilience.

“We are proud to be Jews … this is not going to stop us,” he said. “We’re not going to hide.”

Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said he wants incidents to be taken seriously given the frequency that they are happening, including a violent incident at an Ottawa grocery store in August.

“If we become complacent, it’s only going to get worse,” he said.

“Now is the time for our our political leaders to take an unequivocal stand yet again to push back against this and to put forward real solutions to help keep our communities safe.”

In a social media post, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said the targeting of synagogues with antisemitic graffiti is “absolutely despicable.”

On Monday, Halifax Regional Police chief Don MacLean released a statement to the media about the incidents.

He said a police hate crime investigator is responding to three incidents of antisemitic graffiti on the synagogues, and three more instances of similar graffiti on sidewalks nearby. 

Police are also doing extra patrols of synagogues and other religious buildings, he said. 

“I want to be clear that hatred will not be tolerated in Halifax Regional Municipality,” MacLean said in the statement.

“Our constitutional right to free speech does not mean we live in a society where we can spread hate.”