By: Ariella Haviv

Israel National News reported on Tuesday that hate crimes targeting Canadian Jews remained at disturbing levels throughout 2024, with newly released figures from Statistics Canada confirming that Jewish Canadians were the most frequently targeted religious group in the country. According to the national data, there were 920 police-reported antisemitic hate crimes last year—slightly down from the record 959 in 2023, yet alarmingly high compared to 527 in 2022.

As the Israel National News report emphasized, this sustained level of antisemitic activity reflects a deepening crisis for Canadian Jews, who, according to the report, were 25 times more likely than other Canadians to be victims of hate-motivated crimes.

The gravity of the numbers was underscored by Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), who described the data as “shocking.” In a statement shared by Israel National News, Shack remarked, “In 2024, a Jewish Canadian was 25 times more likely to experience a hate crime than any other Canadian.”

While the 2024 figure reflects a marginal decrease from the previous year’s peak, Shack cautioned against interpreting the data as a sign of improvement. “Numbers don’t paint the full picture,” he said. “They reflect only a fraction of what Jewish Canadians experience every day.” According to Shack, beyond the statistical count is a pervasive atmosphere of fear and insecurity: “The daily reality is families wondering if it’s safe to walk to synagogue, school buses being checked for explosives, and students being bullied and harassed for being Jewish.”

This troubling trend comes amid broader concerns about the rise in global antisemitism, particularly in the wake of increased tensions in the Middle East and a sharp uptick in anti-Israel rhetoric in academic and activist circles in North America. The Canadian Jewish community has repeatedly expressed concerns that protests, social media campaigns, and political statements veiled in anti-Zionist language are often accompanied by explicit or coded antisemitic content.

In response to the latest findings, CIJA is urging Canadian leaders to take immediate and concrete steps to protect Jewish communities. As Israel National News reported, Shack outlined a multi-point action plan, calling for: enhanced funding for the security of Jewish institutions; legal measures to criminalize the glorification of terrorism; robust enforcement of existing hate crime legislation by police; and policy tools to prevent extremist elements from inciting or promoting violence on Canadian soil.

“This is not just about Jewish Canadians,” Shack said. “When any community is targeted because of who they are, it erodes the values all Canadians count on.”

Israel National News further highlighted that Jewish community centers, synagogues, schools, and other institutions have had to significantly increase their own security protocols. In several major cities, Jewish organizations have coordinated with law enforcement to increase patrols and surveillance during high-risk periods such as holidays or after major geopolitical developments involving Israel.

The data also points to a broader systemic issue: underreporting. Experts and advocates agree that the actual number of hate-motivated incidents is likely much higher, as many victims either do not report them to police or do not feel confident that their concerns will be taken seriously. According to the information provided in the Israel National News report, leaders within the Jewish community are concerned that persistent underreporting allows perpetrators to evade justice and perpetuates a cycle of fear and isolation.

Canada’s government has previously pledged to combat antisemitism through the National Action Plan on Combatting Hate, and some funding has been directed to increase security infrastructure at faith-based institutions. However, many Jewish leaders believe these measures have fallen short of addressing the scale and urgency of the threat.

The release of the 2024 hate crime statistics is likely to intensify calls on Ottawa to act more decisively. With antisemitism reaching levels unseen in recent Canadian history, and with Jewish citizens expressing heightened vulnerability in daily life, the path forward demands more than symbolic gestures.

As Shack told Israel National News, “We need our leaders to step up. The time for action is now.”