The Jewish community in Toronto highlights the need to combat anti-Semitism amid the rising hatred against Jews, which some have described as "stunning."

Since the sudden terrorist attack that took place on October 7, in which Hamas killed 1,400 Israelis and held about 240 hostages, and the subsequent response by Israel, which left around 10,000 Palestinian dead according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza, hate incidents targeting Jews have increased.

In Toronto, the incidents included intimidating Jews in their homes, schools, and businesses, tearing sacred items from their doorposts, drawing a blood-stained Star of David on Jewish homes and at least one public school, and protests outside the Jewish community center.

For his part, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said on Monday: "I think the most worrying trend is the stunning rise in hate incidents, hate crimes, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia we are witnessing in the city."

In Mississauga, a Jewish doctor received a hate-motivated death threat; in a community near Aurelia, vandals roamed his home and left a message saying, "You and your Jewish family will die."

Jewish buildings were also shot at, firebombed, and targeted in Montreal.

Dara Solomon, executive director of the Toronto Holocaust Museum, said: "I think the way the community is feeling is completely unprecedented." She added, especially for community members born after the Holocaust, many believed we had "moved past this kind of problem" in modern society.

When Hamas, a terrorist organization on the list, called for a global "day of rage" following the terrorist attack it launched on October 7 against Israel, the debate extended to Jewish social media chats about whether children should stay home from school or not. Whether it would be safe to be outside. The GTA police services intensified their presence across the city in response. Fortunately, there were no serious local incidents, but there were efforts to intimidate Jews in schools and businesses.

Jews were also targeted on university campuses, said Professor Anna Sternchies, director of the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto, adding: "What I noticed on campus is how stunningly fast things moved for Jewish students and faculty."

Although there was some sympathy following October 7 — the worst massacre the Jewish people have suffered since the Holocaust — public opinion quickly shifted focus to the situation in Gaza in the following days.

Many Palestinian activists distinguish between having a problem with Zionists, not with Jews. However, their definition of Zionism — often seen through the lens of settler colonial theory — is disagreed with by many Jews, who say they see Zionism simply as the right to have a homeland in the land of their ancestors.

Community advocates say a large number of Jews consider themselves Zionists according to this understanding, thus it is almost impossible to use this encompassing language.