Bagg Street Synagogue, 'a place of my own,' is attacked and defaced

For Noam Schimmel and countless others, Montreal’s Bagg Street Synagogue has served as a “welcoming and intimate space steeped in history,” the Senior Fellow shares in his latest opinion piece published by the Montreal Gazette.

In his post, Noam shares about his connections to the place, and explains that it was rather painful for him to learn about this sanctuary being recently vandalized with swastikas.

“I had experienced so much love, wisdom, care, celebration, and community there and so much joy walking through that entrance and those doors, now mauled with violent, racist hatred,” Noam writes.

Indeed, anti-Jewish hate crimes are on the rise in Canada, the U.S., and Europe. Despite this, Noam informs that the Bagg Street Synagogue continues to serve the Jewish community – mainly thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Michael Kaplan, its president.

“Each and everyone found and finds a welcome there,” Noam concludes his article.

• Read the opinion piece in full on this Montreal Gazette page.