Canadian-Israeli Community Shaken Following Belleville Synagogue Shooting
The Yom Kippur synagogue shooting in Belleville, Ontario, has reignited deep fears among Canadian Jews regarding rising antisemitism and security, prompting community reflection.
The shooting outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, during Yom Kippur has reignited deep anxieties among Jewish and Israeli expatriates in Canada. For Elinor Chen, a 41-year-old systems analyst at Health Canada who has lived in Kingston for a decade, the incident near a house of worship her family visits annually for Purim brought a chilling realization closer to home. "We hear about events in Toronto and Montreal, and it is disturbing," Chen said. "But when it suddenly reaches a synagogue you go to, it feels like it's about to come to your house.
On Sunday evening, during Yom Kippur services, 29-year-old Sean Ward—a former Canadian infantry soldier from Quinte West—arrived at the B'nai Israel synagogue in Belleville armed with a shotgun. Following suspicious vehicle reports days prior, police officer Jeff Smith was stationed outside in an unmarked car. Ward opened fire on Smith, sparking a gunfight. According to Chen, who spoke with an eyewitness, 21 shots were fired at the synagogue. Smith was seriously wounded, but miraculously, the 24 congregants inside escaped injury. Ward died the following day from his wounds, and police are still investigating whether the Jewish community was the explicit target.
A Community Shaken by Rising Antisemitism
For many Canadian Jews, the fear of antisemitism intensified dramatically in the wake of the October 7, 2023 massacres. Community members initially gathered at local Chabad houses under police protection. "We wanted to be together. Part of the community didn't come because they were afraid," Chen recalled. While the immediate panic subsided as communities banded together, the Belleville shooting has revived those haunting fears, mirroring a troubling trend across the country.
According to B'nai Brith Canada, over 6,800 antisemitic incidents were recorded in the country in 2025—a 9.4% increase from 2024 and roughly 146% higher than in 2022. While the majority of these incidents occurred online, they are increasingly punctuated by real-world violence, including multiple drive-by shootings at Jewish schools in Montreal and Toronto over the past two years, as well as vandalism and harassment targeting Jewish individuals in public spaces.
"This didn't stop us from speaking Hebrew, it won't stop us from putting a mezuzah on the door, and it won't stop us from going to synagogue. But I do want us to have security," Chen emphasized.
Navigating Identity and Local Solidarity
Beyond antisemitism, Chen points to a broader deterioration in personal safety across Canada, which she attributes to post-pandemic economic distress and rising crime rates. Despite this, she notes that her family has not personally encountered direct hostility in Kingston. Their children play soccer and attend public schools openly as Israelis and Jews, without experiencing prejudice.
However, criticism is increasingly directed at the federal government and media framing regarding Israel. While Ottawa announced up to 10 million Canadian dollars in March to enhance security at Jewish institutions, community members argue that much of the financial burden for armed protection still falls on local congregations. Despite these mounting challenges, Chen and her family remain in Canada for now, though they have drawn a firm personal boundary.
"The moment we start being afraid to say we are Jewish, we pack up and leave," she concluded. "Right now, that is not the situation. I want to tell everyone to walk with their heads held high, not to be afraid, and to be proud of who we are."
