No evidence motorist intentionally knocked over Toronto menorah

"TORONTO MENORAH VANDALIZED," a December 20, 2024 LinkedIn post claims. "Another day, and more hate in Canada. Menorah in Toronto (Patricia and Bathurst ) was knocked down by antisemites," it says while sharing a video of a broken menorah lying on the side of the road.

The same clip circulated on X in posts comparing Canada to 1930s Germany and decrying the lack of action by local authorities "to protect the Jewish community."

Similar claims spread elsewhere on X, including in French, as well as on Facebook, Instagram and on Bluesky in German.

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Screenshot of a LinkedIn post taken December 26, 2024

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Screenshot of a post on X taken December 26, 2024

Menorahs, or the eight branched hanukkiah candelabras, are symbols used in the celebration of Hanukkah, which began on December 25.

The incident with the hanukkiah took place overnight on December 19, the same night that Bais Chaya Mushka elementary school for girls in Toronto's North York neighborhood was hit by gunfire for the third time this year.

Police said no one was injured in the shooting and it remains under investigation by the Hate Crime Unit. The incident was denounced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mayor Olivia Chow, but members of the Jewish community told reporters they were on edge. 

The Jewish human rights organization B'nai Brith Canada reported 5,791 incidents of anti-Semitism nationwide in 2023, the largest number on record (archived here).

Toronto residents have pressed the city council for action as local media have also documented stark increases in open hatred toward Jews across Canada (archived here), but there is no evidence the Toronto menorah was intentionally targeted. 

Impaired driver

The collision was "due to an impaired driver of a van who lost control while making a left turn and struck the menorah," Cindy Chung, Toronto media relations officer, said in a December 26 email. "The driver was arrested and taken to hospital with minor injuries."

The day after the crash, Toronto Police also responded directly to several posts on X sharing the video of the menorah to say officers had responded to a three-car collision at Bathurst Street and Cedarcroft Boulevard (archived here).

The menorah belonged to the Jewish North York congregation which posted a picture of it being reinstalled on December 21.

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Screenshot of a Facebook post from Jewish North York

In a video posted to Facebook on December 23, the congregation invited the community to join it for candle lighting on the first night of Hanukkah saying the damage was an "unfortunte accident" and not an act of anti-Semitism.

The UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, also confirmed in a December 26 email to AFP that the menorah was damaged in the car accident.

In the wake of the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, AFP has debunked other claims of anti-Semitic acts in Canada.