Another school attacked

Just as the school year was about to begin, another Jewish school in Montreal became the target of what appears to be an anti-Semitic attack. The Skver-Toldos Orthodox Jewish Boys school in the neighborhood of Outremont was hit with a Molotov cocktail in the early hours of Sept. 2.

The school had been vacated by a dozen students only minutes before the attack, which was captured on a surveillance camera. Montreal police are still looking for a suspect believed to be in his mid-20s who threw the explosive device into the school's main entranceway. School authorities say it will cost $150,000 to repair the damage caused.

An anonymous donor has already offered a $5,000 reward for information that helps police catch the culprit.

The attack was immediately condemned by both B'nai Brith and Canadian Jewish Congress.

"It is a sad day for all Quebecers when we witness, in a province so well known for its commitment to tolerance and vigilance in the fight against all forms of racism, the violent targeting of a religious building," said CJC, Quebec region, president Jeffrey K. Boro.

"This dangerous and despicable act of violence against a Jewish institution occurs at a time when anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise," said B'nai Brith Canada's executive vice-president Frank Dimant.

"A mere few months ago, at the outset of the most recent Middle East crisis, B'nai Brith had issued a security alert to Jewish community institutions, synagogues, schools and individuals urging for greater vigilance," said Dimant. "In a short period of time, we have experienced bomb threats against synagogues, the stoning of visibly Orthodox Jews leaving their evening prayer services, a physical assault of a rabbi, swastikas on Jewish institutions and many other hate-filled acts. [The] attack on a Jewish school ... underscores once again the need for increased vigilance and close co-ordination between law enforcement and community stakeholders."

Jewish community leaders are meeting this week to discuss heightened security for all schools and community buildings in Montreal.

More than $2 million has already been spent on security upgrades at Montreal-area schools and day cares after the April 2004 firebombing of a United Talmud Torah elementary school.

Nineteen-year-old Sleiman El-Merhebi was convicted of that attack, which he said was in revenge for Israel's killing of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
El-Merhebi was released from prison in May after serving two-thirds of a 40-month sentence for arson.

His mother, Rouba El-Merhebi Faud, is facing charges of being an accessory after the fact and will return to court Sept. 25, when she is expected to have a trial date set.

El-Merhebi Faud pleaded not guilty in late 2004 and has been free on $10,000 bail.