The peace of Shabbat in Toronto was shattered this past weekend as bullets tore through a window at the Bais Chaya Mushka Jewish girls’ elementary school. It was a brazen act of antisemitic terror intended to spread fear and intimidate the city’s Jewish community.

Rather than cowering, Jewish leaders and allies rallied in defiance on Monday to proudly denounce antisemitism. As a diverse crowd gathered in the rain, the Jewish Federation’s Daniel Held pulled no punches in calling out the “deliberate attempt to isolate and terrorize Jews through violence.”

“But as you can see here today, the attackers completely failed,” Held said. “We are more united and more determined than ever to fight antisemitism wherever it happens.”

The perpetrators reportedly fired on the Jewish school from a dark vehicle just before 5 a.m. on Saturday before fleeing the scene. Shaken staff discovered evidence of the shooting around 9 a.m. and immediately alerted authorities. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident.

Toronto police say both the hate crime unit and the guns and gangs task force are investigating the incident. Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area and near schools and synagogues.

Mayor Olivia Chow rightly labeled it “a despicable, antisemitic act” designed to “intimidate the community” through fear.

“It was a disgusting attempt to intimidate the community, to fill people with fear,” she said. “We will find you, and you will be held responsible.”

Toronto’s Jewish citizens have boldly served notice that they will not be intimidated by cowardly acts of hatred and terror. Their courage should inspire all who are fighting the ancient plague of antisemitism that continues festering in the world.