Four Jewish teenage boys were victims of an alleged hate crime in the Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue area this weekend.
At around 8 p.m. on Sunday, four 17-year-old boys were walking dressed in attire of their religious faith, police said.
As they were walking, they were approached by a group of nine teenagers who were not known to them. Investigators said derogatory comments against the boys’ religion were made as the two groups crossed paths.
“They were being made fun of based on what they were wearing,” Toronto police spokesperson Katrina Arrogante told CP24 on Monday afternoon.
“They were wearing their yarmulkes on their heads – aside from that I’m not quite sure what their basic outfit was, but that was the comment that was being made to them and that’s when the assault occurred.”
The larger group then allegedly assaulted two of the teenage boys by kicking and punching them.
One of the boys had his sunglasses stolen during the incident.
The two boys, who said they were assaulted in the incident, told CP24 the suspects were yelling anti-Semitic slurs at them before things got violent.
“As soon as they spotted us – you know it’s hard to miss us with the way we are dressed – they started chanting things and screaming things and harassing us,” one of the two boys said.
“As a Jew and as a religious Jew, as an observant Jew in Canada, which officially accepts all religions, all races, everybody, to be attacked physically just because I’m a minority is a thing that should have been part of history, it happened once, it shouldn’t have happened again.”
“I’m very offended but I’m still a proud Jew and nothing is going to knock me down because we sometimes have to go through it and it makes us stronger,” the second boy said.
Police say the perpetrators fled the scene before officers arrived, but authorities were able to locate and arrest one suspect. The outstanding suspects have only been described by officials as being in their “early teens.”
The victims were treated at the scene for their minor injuries.
In response to the alleged incident, Mayor John Tory said “no one should be attacked for their religion” in a tweet. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also commented on the incident on Twitter saying “there is no place in Ontario for anti-Semitism and our government will not tolerate hatred of any kind.”
Vice-president of The Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs in the Greater Toronto Area Noah Shack called the matter “deeply disturbing” and “vile.”
“Jewish Canadians should never fear wearing their kippah in public,” he said. “Our security team is in constant communications with our law enforcement partners who remain on the scene and are conducting an active investigation.”
Anyone with further information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
No one should ever be attacked for their religion. Please help @TorontoPolice solve this hate crime/robbery investigation that occurred Sunday night. pic.twitter.com/cfxaW12iyy
— John Tory (@TorontosMayor) November 12, 2018
Krav Maga classes need to start being offered for men and women in our communities. Bzh we never need to utilize such skills, but we should be prepared. These stories are becoming all too common.
And in places like canada were they dont have rights carry a knife its messier but it does the trick!
Must know krav maga freinds and I do .
Toronto used to be a pretty safe city. And that area is very Jewish. How long can this golus be?!?!
To all saying fight back. Your all right but then again it was a 10-4 ratio like the boys didn’t really stand a chance
People are hesitant to fight back because they will be arrested for doing so (in our crown heights anyway). But it is far better to be arrested than to hand over your life and welfare to a thug. When the world sees we mean business and will not tolerate anymore of this bullying, they will leave us alone.
Would you say the same thing to the Maccabees? Would you say the same thing to the IDF? If what you say is true witch it’s not then there wouldn’t be any more Jews or Judaism because we wouldn’t defend ourselves & we would be wiped out
No offense but that is the most foolesh way of thinking. So your saying that when someone is attacking a Jew the Jew should just lay down & get beat up? Oh g-d forbid you defend yourself chas vishalom you defend ourselves. Absolutely foolish & completely ignorant. So your saying Jews should just be victims like always I’m saying the exact opposite enough is enough we’ve been victims throughout history it’s time to stop this nonsense & fight back! End of story
you are very right. I loove what the second boy said. It’s very inspirational.
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In most societies including unfortunatly israel getting a legal gun is very difficult. What is useful is a good attack dog. You need one on every block almost like a Shmira group. Dogs can run quicker than people and catch criminals. One dog will chase away a whole gang. And it’s legal. You need a special K9 Shmira or shomrim unit.
They stood up to people who hurt them. Very proud of him
I said it once before you have to get 4 or 5 people who know karate martial arts that are extremely good in defending themselves just like Shmira there should be hanging around the hood late and have people come up to them Looking for problems and give them a beating once and for all they will learn the lessons.PS I would do it but I’m too old and too fat
You are SO VERY WRONG! Our son was one of those bochurim. Jews MUST NEVER be afraid of anyone. The ultimate Kiddush HASHEM. We are so proud that they did fight back and stand up to horrible people who think we should not exist. NEVER BE AFRAID of the goyim!
https://www.facebook.com/selfdefensestudioch/?ref=bookmarks
Really? Is the media still pretending that it’s always a coincidence that jews are constantly being victimized? News gets around that jews are the perfect target because we don’t defend ourselves and are too ‘polite’ to make riots and protest that what’s happening is a 1000% not ok! We need to start walking around with weapons and the physical skills to stick up for ourselves and all jews worldwide.
AND PUT THEM IN JAIL!!!
Some of the boys knew crav maga- a skill they probably assumed they’d never have to actually use to defend themselves with- but I’m sure this helped th to feel less vulnerable- especially considering that they did use it
Comment number 6, you ask why Jews don’t fight back, if Jews did then it wouldn’t be sanctifying G-d which is for the purpose we are put on this earth. Let me explain. If people Jews would fight back it will only make things worse , cause more assualtts and to the world make Jews look bad
Please don’t make false assumptions and play Monday morning quarterback without knowing the facts. FYI, it was because two of the talmidim have some training in krav maga (my son) and mixed martial arts (another of the students) that the outcome was not far, far worse than it was. It is nothing short of a miracle that this far outnumbered group of yeshiva boys was really “only” roughed up. And the thug kid who remains in police custody, the leader of the pack, so-to-speak, WAS given a serious (but not life-threatening) blow, eventually, after the talmid had practiced self-protective moves… Read more »
The reason one was caught was because one of the bochurim was able to defend himself and cause harm to the attacker. All jews need to be able yo defend themselves!
I love that one says “pashut”
Punch, Kick, Poke Eyeballs, Slap, Scratch, Push, Pull. Doesn’t matter as long as you do something to fight back don’t just sit there & take a beating. We need to fight back self defense is a g-d givin right. Please my brothers & sister’s for g-d sake fight back. Everyone should learn how to defend themselves but Even if you don’t know how to fight I promise you that you have it in you. You need to fight back
…btw they did fight back quite impressively they just didn’t tell anyone that on television, obviously
Every bochur should be armed and trained for Gog vMagog
We have our OWN monetary resources to add more protection to our neighborhoods. Government grants and Aid is great to apply and see what happens. In the meanwhile have to take ownership and responsibility and NOT rely depend or even expect that ALL security matters are solely from the police grants etc. The same way if your child needs to see a Dr urgent and there’s a problem with her insurance at the time. No one should rely completely on that to help her but would pay put of pocket until the matter was resolved and whatever the insurance doesn’t… Read more »
Heard that ‘poshut yidden’ comment snuck in there.
Shkoiachhhh
Go Solom Ber Moshiach
Best Bochur in Toronto
Dear Jews why don’t you all learn how to defend yourselves. Why don’t you ever learn your lessons. Jews are constantly getting attacked why don’t they ever fight back it’s enough it’s time to start fighting back stop being victims start fighting back learn self-defense. Krav maga was created for this very reason to protect Jews from being victims. A man named Imi lichtenfeld created Krav Maga so that Jews can stand up for themselves & defend themselves time to start learning self defense time to start fighting back please fight back
it would show much more pride if these vermin were beaten down.
they caught one suspect and they cannot get all the info they need from him? what a shame!!!
The boys made very respectful, intelligent comments. So proud of them for the kiddush Hashem.
Watch. Nothing is going to come out of the “investigation” long term. The might “find”, or even “arrest” a few more of the villains involved, however, it will be done as a “dog and pony show” on behalf of the mounties, to make the Jews of Canada feel as if the government is actually paying attention to them. Whenever you hear; “Our security team is in constant communications with our law enforcement partners”, it’s double-talk for; “we are pathetically emasculated to the point at which we are now COMPLETELY dependant on un-interested, government law enforcement personnel for protection of our… Read more »
Crazy, to many incidents happening lately, I hope this is a sign of moshiach!!!