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A swastika was found on the bus stop in front of Chabad Kingston.
Stand with Us Canada, an educational organization that works to combat antisemitism in Canada, posted on Instagram a photo of a swastika painted in white on a bus stop.
This action follows several antisemitic incidents on campus during the 2023-24 school year, including the vandalism of multiple Mezuzahs in Leggett Hall Residence. A Mezuzah, a small box affixed to the right doorpost of Jewish homes, contains a scroll with Torah verses and holds deep spiritual and cultural significance, symbolizing protection for those inside.
READ MORE: Antisemitic incidents occur on and off Queen’s campus
“This is a clear attempt to intimidate the Jewish students at Queen’s University and is a shameful act that cannot be normalized or be allowed to continue unabated,” Stand with Us Canada said in their Sept. 20 post.
Chabad Kingston is a resource centre for Jewish young adults, offering students a way to connect with their Jewish roots in a warm, welcoming, and stimulating environment. The centre offers Shabbat dinners, community service programs, guest lectures, and Jewish study classes, among other programs.
“Though there has been an increase in such incidents over the past year, as a whole, it is anomalous,” Rabbi Sruly Simon said in a statement to The Journal. “We have been in Kingston for over 14 years, serving the Jewish student body and Jewish community, and our neighbours have always been ive in speech and deed.”
Given everything happening in the Middle East, we cannot afford to let hate like this be normalized, Jenny Soer, ArtSci ’25, said in a statement to The Journal.
“This is absolutely disgusting. […] This was a direct attempt to intimidate and spread hate towards our community and we need to make it clear that such acts of bigotry have no place in the City of Kingston or at Queen’s University,” Soer said.
Although there have been multiple similar antisemitic instances downtown, according to Rabbi Simon, nothing like this has happened near Chabad, a place of refuge for so many Jewish people in Kingston.
“We can correct this by overwhelming it with light, through acts of goodness and kindness, and for Jews that means Mitzvahs, especially those that are visible like Mezuzah and Tefillin that demonstrate confidence and pride,” Rabbi Simon said.
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