Security Update
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March 3, 2026
Dear Members of Our Congregation and Community,
We are writing to you with very difficult news.
Last night, just before 11:00 p.m., someone drove up to our synagogue and fired more than a dozen shots at the main glass doors. Baruch Hashem, our Purim celebration had already ended and no one was physically hurt.
Our synagogue is well prepared and has established security protocols to address such incidents. Police were on site throughout the night and into the early morning hours collecting evidence and beginning their investigation. We are also working closely with the Jewish Security Network (JSN), who are fully engaged and coordinating with authorities. Law enforcement and JSN are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness, and we are grateful for their work and following their guidance closely. The investigation is ongoing.
While this news is deeply unsettling, please know this clearly: the safety and security of our congregation is our highest priority. We are already working with law enforcement and security professionals to review and strengthen our security measures. Out of an abundance of caution, you will notice an increased security presence at the building in the coming days.
It is chilling that this happened just after our Purim evening celebration - a night filled with joy, laughter, and community. To have that joy followed so quickly by violence and intimidation is deeply unsettling. Still, we will not allow this act to define us or drive us apart.
Even as we absorb what happened here, our hearts are with our brothers and sisters in Israel, for whom Purim this year is being marked in shelters and under the shadow of war. Their courage and resilience place our own fear in painful perspective and remind us what it means to hold fast to life, faith, and hope even in dark times.
We will share additional information as it becomes available and when appropriate. In the meantime, if you see anything suspicious or have information that may be helpful, please contact the police immediately and inform synagogue leadership.
We know many of you may feel frightened, angry, or heartbroken by this news. Please know that you are not alone. If you or your children are struggling, we are here to talk. Please don’t hesitate to contact Rabbi Landsberg at: rabbi@templeemanuel.ca
Our synagogue has always been more than a building — it is a home, a family, and a place of light. We will respond to this darkness the way Jews always have: with unity, with faith, and with יותר אור ולא פחות — more light, not less.
With care and resolve,
Rabbi Debra Landsberg, Irena Kochba, and Jacqueline Richman
If you need more immediate assistance, please reach out to a member of our staff. Our staff directory is HERE.
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