Jewish residents in the Thornhill area of Toronto are expressing concerns over three recent attacks on Jewish-owned businesses, which they suspect were motivated by antisemitism. The incidents, which occurred on the second-to-last day of Passover, targeted a Judaica shop, a kosher pizzeria, and a pharmacy located within the Spring Farm Marketplace, also known locally as Sobeys Plaza. The plaza, which is situated at Clark and Hilda Avenues, is home to several businesses in a predominantly Jewish community.
The businesses targeted include Shainee’s Gift Selections, My Zaidy’s Pizza, and a Shoppers Drug Mart, all of which were vandalized when their front doors were smashed. Although Shoppers Drug Mart does not have a Jewish name, it prominently displays a mezuzah, a religious symbol, on its door. David Fleischer, a local resident, voiced his suspicions on social media, stating that he anticipated the Jewish-owned stores would be targeted. “When stuff like this happens, I don’t feel like giving the benefit of the doubt,” Fleischer remarked. “There’s a concern that it’s not just some break-in, but possibly antisemitism at play.”
Arnie Gotfryd, a Thornhill resident who runs Maxi Mind Learning, a local educational service, expressed his shock at the attacks. “I hope that our antisemitism problem is finally addressed, but this is horrible,” Gotfryd said, adding that he believed the vandalism was an expression of hate. “Why target a pizza shop? There’s no tangible gain, only hatred,” he added, condemning the attacks as hate crimes.
As the Canadian federal elections approach, Gotfryd and other community members are urging the Conservative Party to prioritize security and safety in local neighborhoods. “Things are getting worse,” he stated, emphasizing the growing concerns over rising hate crimes.
The three targeted businesses—Shainee’s Gift Selections, My Zaidy’s Pizza, and the Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy—had boarded up their damaged doors by Monday. Staff at the Judaica store reported that the cash register was the primary target, while employees at the pharmacy noted that shampoo bottles were stolen. No comment was provided by staff at the pizza shop.
Notably, other businesses in the plaza, including Golden Chopstix (a kosher restaurant) and Sobeys (which has a large kosher section), were not affected by the vandalism.
Melissa Lantsman, a Jewish member of the Canadian Parliament representing Thornhill, condemned the attacks, calling them a “blatant attempt to intimidate and target our community.” Reflecting on her grandfather’s immigrant experience, Lantsman lamented the growing levels of antisemitism in Canada, citing alarming statistics that show hate crimes have increased by 251% since 2015, with antisemitic incidents rising by 405%. Lantsman attributed the surge in hate to the policies of the Liberal government over the past decade.
The York Regional Police, investigating the attacks, confirmed that cash registers were targeted in all three incidents. However, they stated that there was “no evidence to suggest that this is hate-motivated” and appealed for anyone with relevant information or video footage to come forward.
Vaughan’s mayor, Steven Del Duca, also condemned the attacks, calling them an “attempt to intimidate our Jewish residents.” He emphasized that such behavior has been tolerated for too long and called for decisive action from all levels of government to prevent further escalation.
Amir Epstein, co-founder and director of the Jewish civil rights group Tafsik, expressed his concern over the rising tide of antisemitism in the region. Epstein, who has lived in the area for years, described My Zaidy’s Pizza as a cherished local institution, highlighting the broader context of increased hate and violence in the community. “The level of antisemitism and intimidation we are experiencing has never been this severe,” Epstein said. He linked the rise in attacks to an influx of extremists and criticized the current government for failing to adequately address the issue.
Despite the challenges, Epstein expressed confidence in the resilience of the Jewish community. “Our community is among the most resilient in the world,” he stated. “We will continue to stand strong and unite in the face of adversity.”
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