Views from the Jewish community in Victoria are divided as VicPD increases their presence
Photo by Sabina Mendoza-Brown.
The Victoria Police Department (VicPD) has increased patrols around Jewish community spaces in the city following recent synagogue shootings in Toronto, Ontario, a move intended to both reassure local residents and address safety concerns.
In a social media post on March 8, the department maintained that there is “no known threat” to the community at this time. VicPD inspector Jan Malinowski said the increased presence came after members of the local Jewish community expressed concern following the attacks.
“There was a decision made on behalf of our department to do that, because there [were] members of the Jewish community that did call us that were concerned about their safety, specifically at synagogues,” Malinowski said. “We decided to do some proactive work in the two synagogues that are in our area.”
Malinowski said that these patrols will occur on regular shifts, and that there will be no overtime involved. “We only did it when time permitted. So that’s what we would call a proactive patrol.”
“We get requests like this all the time,” she said, explaining that the department often increases visibility around communities when events elsewhere raise safety concerns.
Malinowski said that VicPD also did proactive patrols recently during Ramadan in response to requests from community members.
Ed Fitch, chair of the Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island’s community security committee, and a retired Canadian Armed Forces major-general, said the stronger police presence reflects longstanding collaboration between local Jewish institutions and law enforcement.
“That’s huge,” Fitch said about the increased police presence, “It’s really the fruit of our labours in building relationships with the police.”
Fitch said that local Jewish communities have also focused on strengthening their own preparedness in recent years, particularly following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel and the global rise in antisemitic incidents that followed.
“People were concerned,” he said, describing reactions within the community after Oct. 7. However, Fitch also said fear itself should not dominate the response to hateful attacks.
“I don’t feel afraid,” he said. “If we feel afraid, then the terrorists win…. Somebody who drives by even an empty synagogue building at night and fire shots into the building. They’re pretty sure they’re not going to hurt anybody, but what’s their intention? It’s to terrorize. I’m not falling for that.”
Instead, he encourages community members to focus on vigilance and cooperation with authorities. “Take the fear or concern and turn it around and do something positive,” he said, urging people to both stay aware of their surroundings and report suspicious behaviour.
Local synagogues and organizations have also developed their own volunteer safety initiatives. According to Fitch, trained volunteers help monitor events and facilities, serving as additional “eyes and ears” for potential safety concerns, while maintaining communication with police.
Rabbi Lynn Greenhough of Kolot Mayim Reform Temple said security measures have increasingly become a reality for Jewish congregations, and shared the frustration that she feels from having to abide by these measures.
“What other religious institutions? What churches? What mosques even require 24-hour security, locked doors?” she asked.
Greenhough said the increased security measures can feel at odds with the traditional openness of religious spaces. “It kind of defeats the purpose of who you are to lock your door against the world, but that’s where we’re at,” she said.
While police presence is intended to signal support for Jewish safety, perspectives within Victoria’s Jewish community on the necessity of increased security are not uniform.
ilan Handelsman, co-chair of the Congregation Emanu-El synagogue safety committee, said reactions to increased patrols vary among community members. “There are some members of our community who would feel safer [with increased police presence], and there are some members of our community who would rather not,” Handelsman said.
He said that in recent years, Victoria has seen antisemitism become more visible. “We have seen an increase in antisemitic and blatantly antisemitic graffiti on our building,” he said, noting that community members have also reported hateful comments online.
At the same time, he emphasized that he is not aware of incidents in B.C. where Jewish residents’ physical safety has been directly threatened.
Not all members of Victoria’s Jewish community, however, agree that increased policing is the best response.
Cory Greenlees, a member of the Victoria chapter of Independent Jewish Voices Canada — a grassroots organization that advocates for “justice and peace for all in Palestine-Israel — told the Martlet that “increased police presence around synagogues or other Jewish centers concerns [him].” He questioned if the local Muslim community is also receiving increased protection against Islamophobia and the threat of anti-Palestinian attacks.
Despite some concerns, many community leaders say Victoria remains a supportive place for Jewish residents. “Victoria is a wonderful place for Jews to live,” Fitch said.
For now, VicPD says the additional patrols will continue as a part of its regular policing efforts while the department monitors the situation closely.
