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Canada sees almost 150% rise in antisemitic incidents since pre-October 7

From Jerusalem Post · (4m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • B'nai Brith Canada reported a record 6,800 antisemitic incidents in 2025, a 145.6% increase since before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
  • The majority of incidents occurred online, with a surge in right-wing, neo-Nazi, and accelerationist movements contributing to Holocaust denial and AI-generated misinformation.
  • While some incidents are linked to the Middle East conflict, experts state antisemitism has become normalized and ubiquitous in Canadian society, posing a threat to democracy.

Canada is grappling with an unprecedented crisis of antisemitism, as documented in B'nai Brith Canada's latest Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents. The 2025 report reveals a staggering 6,800 incidents, marking the highest volume since the audit's inception in 1982. This represents an alarming 145.6% surge compared to pre-October 7, 2023, levels, translating to an average of nearly 19 incidents daily. While Quebec and Alberta saw a decrease, Ontario, the Prairies, Atlantic Canada, and British Columbia experienced significant rises.

Our review of the past year’s antisemitic incidents must be understood as a wake-up call.

— Simon WolleCEO of B'nai Brith Canada, emphasizing the severity of the findings.

The nature of these incidents is deeply concerning, with a marked increase in online hate speech, Holocaust denial, and the disturbing use of Artificial Intelligence to create false historical representations. Right-wing, neo-Nazi, and accelerationist movements are increasingly contributing to this toxic environment. Notable examples include the desecration of synagogues, vandalism with genocidal messages, and antisemitic rhetoric at public demonstrations. These are not isolated events but symptoms of a pervasive issue that threatens the fabric of Canadian society.

Hate and extremism are a threat to Canadian democracy and civil society, not only to the Jewish community.

— Simon WolleCEO of B'nai Brith Canada, highlighting the broader societal implications of rising antisemitism.

As B'nai Brith Canada's CEO Simon Wolle stated, this audit serves as a wake-up call. The normalization of antisemitism throughout Canadian society, as highlighted by Richard Robertson, lead author of the Audit, means that hate and extremism are no longer confined to radical fringes. This trend poses a significant threat not only to the Jewish community but to Canadian democracy and civil society as a whole. The pervasive nature of this hate, extending beyond direct links to the Middle East conflict, demands urgent attention and a comprehensive societal response.

Conspiracies about Jews and Jewish influence in Canada are no longer only something we see on the radical fringes.

— Richard RobertsonDirector of Research and Advocacy at B'nai Brith Canada and lead author of the Audit, discussing the normalization of antisemitism.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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