UPDATE: VicPD has provided a photo of a suspect investigators are seeking to identify in relation to this incident. See below.
—original:
Over the weekend, the Congregation Emanu-El synagogue, located on the corner of Blanshard Street and Pandora Avenue, was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti.
VicPD say that on August 2nd, at around 8 p.m., officers attended the synagogue after receiving a report there had been graffiti.
Police say that the graffiti was documented and evidence was collected before City of Victoria employees were called in to clean up and remove the graffiti.
Police have released an image of a suspect, and asking for the public’s help to identify them.
The image was captured between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. on August 2nd.
VicPD says the file remains under investigation, but there are no other details to share at this time.
On Wednesday, August 6th, Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto released a statement regarding the incident.
“I am saddened and disappointed to hear of the racist and antisemitic graffiti that was left on the Congregation Emanu-El building this weekend,” said Mayor Alto.
“As the oldest synagogue in Western Canada, Congregation Emanu-El and the Jewish community have been, and remain, a key part of the Victoria community, and this disturbing vandalism is deeply harmful.”
She added that she has spoken with leaders of the synagogue and conveyed her sorrow for this incident, and urges those with information to speak with VicPD.
“Hate has no place in our community,” said Mayor Alto.
“Victorians are kind and welcoming, and this incident does not represent the values that I know Victorians share.”
Alto concluded by saying that together, Victoria must all stand up against hate, and that she will continue to work to make the city a safe and welcoming place for all.
Furthermore, the Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island made a joint statement with the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver in regards to the graffiti.
“We are outraged and deeply disturbed by the hateful graffiti vandalizing a synagogue in Victoria,” reads the statement.
“Acts of antisemitism like this are not just attacks on Jewish institutions—they are attacks on the safety, dignity, and values of our entire community.”
The two Jewish Federations added that no one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship and that this is a painful reminder that the fight against antisemitism is far from over.
The graffiti that was left on the synagogue referenced the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Palestinian people are being subjected to conditions many organizations and countries consider to be genocidal.
This conflict was prompted by a Hamas-led attack in several communities along the Gazan border, and at an Israeli music festival on October 7th, 2023. Approximately 1,200 civilians, foreign nationals and security forces were killed in the attack, and another 251 were taken prisoner.
Since that time, over 62,700 Palestinians have been killed by Israel, and most recently, Israel has been blocking those in Gaza from accessing food and medical aid.
