Violent cases of antisemitism are elevated in 2026, with incidents already surpassing most previous years.
July 15, 2026
MONTREAL – After a spate of brazen hate incidents in Quebec this month, B’nai Brith is releasing findings indicating that violent cases of antisemitism have continued to increase at an alarming rate in Canada.
B’nai Brith has recorded 27 violent antisemitic incidents in Canada since Jan. 1. This is more than double the total reached during the whole of 2025, when 10 such incidents were documented in the Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents in Canada.
Only a few months ago, in early May, B’nai Brith took the unusual step of releasing its early figures for its 2026 Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents. We chose to do so because, as of the spring, violence targeting Jews, including potentially terror-linked gunfire impacting multiple Jewish institutions, had resulted in 11 distinct violent incidents. Our methodology for establishing what constitutes violence is explained here.
“It is appalling that, since our last special report, the number of violent antisemitic incidents has more than doubled within a two-month span,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy.
He said preliminary data for 2026 is second in volume only to 2023, when B’nai Brith’s Audit documented 77 violent incidents of antisemitism in Canada.
As of July 15, the volume of violent incidents for the year 2026 has already surpassed the totals for 2022, 2024, and 2025.
Robertson said the latest violent incidents occurred during a series of what appear to have been coordinated hate-motivated assaults in the Outremont district of Montreal July 3. According to video evidence, victim testimony, and police statements, multiple Jewish men walking home from Shabbat services in the area were assaulted, robbed, and harassed.
Perpetrators can be seen on video striking the victims and stealing their Streimels – distinctive fur-lined caps associated with many Hasidic branches of Judaism. In one instance, a man appears to have thrown a water bottle at a victim, while during another, an individual is alleged to have uttered antisemitic slurs.
“These hate-driven attacks are becoming more targeted, more brazen, and more heinous,” Robertson said. “It is unacceptable that this is occurring in our country during 2026.
“We hope that, by releasing our shocking statistics at this time, we can prompt our leaders to take action to confront this worsening, national crisis of antisemitism.”
Our data correlates with other metrics demonstrating that Jewish people are facing significant levels of hostility in Canada. Police-reported hate crimes have for years shown that Jewish people are victims at a greater rate than members of any other minority community. Numerous studies, meanwhile, including a recent survey conducted for the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies, reveal that Jewish Canadians are feeling increasingly unsafe and unwelcome in this country.
In view of this national crisis of antisemitism, B’nai Brith is, among other things, urging the Federal Government to establish a National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. Our full set of recommendations can be accessed on our website.
“In June, Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned antisemitism and recognized that Canada’s social compact is failing members of the Jewish community,” said Simon Wolle, B’nai Brith Canada’s Chief Executive Officer. “Words are important. Solidarity is essential. But it is not sufficient. It is an outrage that, during the year 2026, Jewish people are being attacked while walking home from Shul in Canada.
“Our leaders must confront antisemitism and all forms of hatred head-on. They must name the problem, including anti-Zionist manifestations of antisemitism.
“We need a whole-of-government approach to combat this crisis, including stronger enforcement of our anti-hate laws and better coordination among law enforcement agencies.”