The President of the Sons of Jacob Congregation says there was a clear and very important message delivered during Thursday’s update on the investigation into last Sunday’s attack.
Several members of the synagogue were present for the update at Belleville Police Headquarters on Thursday.
Congregation President Norm Weddum says there was a clear message delivered by Police Chief Murray Rodd.
“This was a hate crime that was directed to the Jewish Community, no other communities around, it was directed to us. That’s what it boils down to, and it’s good that he called it out and said that this was an antisemitic hate crime. Everyone needs to know that. It was extremely important. That was probably the most important thing that came out of this news conference, was that statement.”
Weddum says the congregation is doing better. He says several members of the congregation are still “traumatized”, but they are healing and he expects services to resume “very soon”.
A GoFundMe has been established to help rebuild and secure the Sons of Jacob Synagogue, which suffered damage to a number of areas including an exterior stained-glass window in the attack on Sunday night.
Donations will help fund essential security work, including repairing and reinforcing the windows damaged by gunfire, strengthening the building’s security, and putting critical measures in place.
You can find a link to the campaign here.
