Students at Jewish school targeted in shooting return to class

Published Oct 14, 2024  •  Last updated 4 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School on Chesswood Dr., in North York, was shot up for the second time in five months on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Photo by Supplied /Documenting Reality (@realitydocu on X)

Just days after a North York Jewish school became the latest suspected target of the city’s skyrocketing anti-Semitism, students returned to class on Monday.

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School principal Rabbi Yaacov Vidal told The Toronto Sun Monday’s classes went about as good as could be expected, under the circumstances.

“There’s a feeling of fear, and parents are worried, children are worried, and we’re trying our best to alleviate their fears and continue as usual,” he said.

“We definitely don’t want to give into terror and close the school. Children should feel safe going to school.”

For the second time in five months, shots were fired at Bais Chaya Mushka, a Jewish girl’s school near Finch Ave. and Dufferin St., just after 4 a.m early Saturday morning.

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Shots were also fired at the school on May 26.

Nobody was injured in either attack.

This weekend’s attacks took place during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.

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Investigators located 10 shell casings after Saturday’s shooting, and at least three bullets struck the school.

Toronto Police say that a person or gunmen opened fire from a vehicle, although they have not yet identified suspects. While police have said investigators do not yet have evidence to determine this was a hate crime, detectives with the Hate Crimes Unit are among the officers working on the case.

“It’s definitely an uneasy feeling to have been targeted twice,” Vidal said, adding that a child psychologist is helping administration and faculty deal with the trauma of the situation, and further assistance will be available to those who need it.

“If we all as individuals and humans focus on acts of goodness and kindness, the world will be a much better place.”

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Toronto has seen an explosion in anti-Jewish hate crimes since the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel, fuelled by local anti-Israel activists who lead regular rallies and marches throughout the city.

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Hate crimes against Jews more than doubled in 2023, according to data released earlier this year by Toronto Police.

The data found that of all hate crimes directed at a particular faith, 80% targeted Jews.

Earlier this month, two men — Ahmad Sheikhani, of Oakville, and Hamad Khalid Menshed, of Mississauga — both 34 years old — were charged with hate crimes after allegedly waving flags belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist group at an anti-Israel rally in downtown Toronto.

Anybody with information on the shootings should call police or Crime Stoppers.

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