Montreal Rabbi Frustrated by Lack of Hate-Crime Charges After Synagogue Firebombing

[UPDATE (June 18): The accused appeared in court Wednesday and was remanded back into custody. No bail was granted. The case returns to court June 26.] Twelve days after an alleged firebomb attack her Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom synagogue in Montreal, Rabbi Lisa Grushcow reflects on resilience, antisemitism, Jewish life in Canada, and why she says she'll "eat her kippah" if authorities fail to realize that targeting a synagogue with firebombs must be considered as a hate crime. Grushcow joins The Canadian Jewish News' "North Star" podcast on the day the suspect is set to appear in a Montreal court for a bail hearing. She tells host Ellin Bessner about the emotional impact on her congregation. She also reveals that Canada's Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree quietly attended synagogue services after the attack, and she discusses concerns raised by media reports that the accused allegedly carried a walkie-talkie. Most importantly, she explains why her congregation refused to stay home despite fear and uncertainty. Watch the full interview or listen to the The CJN's "North Star" podcast: https://thecjn.ca/news/montreal-rabbi... Follow The CJN on YouTube for more interviews, investigations and stories from Jewish Canada. Credits: Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Izzie Helenchilde (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director). Music: Bret Higgins Subscribe to The CJN newsletter https://thecjn.ca/newsletter/ Subscribe to North Star https://thecjn.ca/north-star/ #Montreal #Antisemitism #Judaism #Canada #RabbiLisaGrushcow #TempleEmanuElBethSholom #JewishNews #NorthStarPodcast