Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Montreal's Beth Israel Beit Aaron Congregation spoke out after a violent attack on a Jewish man in the Outremont neighborhood, a center for the Hasidic community. The assault, which occurred while the victim was with his children, is believed to be motivated by antisemitism, reflecting what Rabbi Poupko describes as an unprecedented surge in hate incidents since last October.

He highlighted a troubling pattern of attacks against the Jewish community, including recent firebombings of synagogues and shootings at schools. Rabbi Poupko expressed concern over the lack of accountability for perpetrators, noting that those arrested for previous attacks have often faced minimal consequences.

In response to rising antisemitism, Rabbi Poupko has encouraged members of his congregation to consider immigration to Israel and continues to advocate for greater protection from government and political leaders. He emphasized the resilience and compassion of the local Jewish community, which has rallied to support the affected family during this difficult time.