The Agudas Israel Synagogue was vandalized on the long weekend while members were gathered inside for their service.

Robert Englebert, co-president on the Board of Agudas Israel says eggs were thrown at the buildings and at cars in the parking lot – an act viewed by four of the children also at the service.

“It’s not about the eggs; we can handle cleaning eggs off our building. It’s about a hateful antisemitic act and the fear it’s meant to foster and about what’s next right? Is it going to be rocks next or is it going to be something worse. Some people don’t remember but many years ago we actually had a Molotov cocktail thrown into our building and that was one of our darkest chapters here in Saskatoon.”

Englebert says public denunciation of this act is what pushes back against Antisemitism.

“We need our friends and allies in Saskatoon and abroad to denounce this act of Antisemitism. I just saw that Mayor Cynthia Block had posted a resolute and complete denunciation of the antisemitic act. We’ve had Multi Faith Saskatoon come and meet with us at the Antisemitism to show their support for us.”

Englebert says they are reviewing their own security measures and do plan to increase security. As well, they are working with police.

“We need them to assist us in doing that investigation and trying to bring somebody to justice for this.”