Toronto (July 29, 2021) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is deeply disturbed to learn of yet another antisemitic assault that took place in Toronto.

In a video shared on Facebook, Sam Brody said he was walking his dog yesterday morning in the area of Yonge and Eglinton while wearing his kippah when a passerby "bodychecked" him into a wooden fence - causing Brody to fall to the ground - and subsequently yelled, "F*ck you, you Jew - you will never take Israel. Free Palestine."

FSWC has been in contact with UJA and the Toronto Police Service Hate Crime Unit and is asking police to conduct a neighborhood canvass for witnesses and security footage.

"Ever since the recent conflict between Israel and the Hamas terror group, we have witnessed a severe spike in antisemitic attacks in Toronto and across the country, including violent incidents like this," said Michael Levitt, FSWC president and CEO. "Toronto hate crime statistics have confirmed year after year that antisemitism in the city is on the rise. Sadly, it is today’s reality that antisemitism is often weaponized under the thin guise of anti-Zionism."

This incident occurred just over two weeks after another Jewish man was physically assaulted in Toronto by a man who was previously seen walking with a swastika on his chest and harassing Jewish women. The man was charged in connection with two assaults that are being investigated as hate-motivated crimes.