Headlines

Belleville Synagogue Shooting Injures Officer, Shooter on Yom Kippur
Antisemitic Graffiti Surfaces in Connecticut Towns
Macklemore Allegedly Fired Over Antisemitic Rant Amid Tour Controversy

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Transcript

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler.

We begin with a disturbing act of violence on Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day. In Belleville, Ontario, shots were fired outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue Sunday night as worshippers gathered for services. The Toronto Sun and Belleville Police report that one officer was injured, and the alleged shooter sustained critical injuries. Sources within the congregation described dozens of shots fired through a window, with congregants taking cover. MPP John Fraser called it a 'horrific act of antisemitic violence,' and Premier Doug Ford condemned the attack. Reporting also indicated that two individuals were wounded in a shooting incident near a Canadian synagogue on Judaism's holiest day, an event noted to have occurred eight years after the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history at the Tree of Life synagogue.

In Wethersfield and Rocky Hill, Connecticut, antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas and hateful messages, was spray-painted across multiple locations on vehicles, fences, and street signs. Wethersfield and Rocky Hill police are seeking public assistance and video footage to identify the vandals, who were active between Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Police stated that this hateful language does not reflect community values.

In Winnipeg, Canada, worshippers marking Yom Kippur found paid-duty police officers providing security outside synagogues. The Winnipeg Sun reports that while such security has been routine for years, the scale of the threat it guards against has significantly increased since October 7th, 2023. The report also highlights 'near-total silence from the governments' on this growing threat.

In the realm of music and media, rapper Macklemore is reportedly facing backlash for an alleged antisemitic rant. American Thinker reports that Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, demanded that Ed Sheeran remove Macklemore as his opening act for a tour, threatening to cancel a stadium show. Sheeran subsequently fired Macklemore. The publication characterizes the incident as entertainers embracing 'Jew-hatred' for cultural relevance, suggesting 'anti-Zionists' often prioritize career advancement.

Closer to home, a political campaign mailer has drawn scrutiny regarding antisemitism. According to reporting by Adam Pagnucco, Republican candidate Reardon “Sully” Sullivan distributed a mailer accusing Democrat Julie Yang of misrepresenting her stance on antisemitism and a media endorsement. Pagnucco clarifies that while the Washington Jewish Week published positive comments about Yang, the outlet had actually endorsed her opponent, Debbie Spielberg, in the District 1 Council race.

On the campus front, former Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana has commented on the aftermath of the December 2023 congressional testimony concerning campus antisemitism. Speaking at Cornell University, Khurana stated that the university presidents who testified, including then-Harvard President Claudine Gay, failed to articulate the fundamental mission of a university. He noted the controversy that followed then-President Gay's testimony, where her response to questions about calls for genocide against Jews with a 'depending on the context' answer was described by Khurana as 'legalistic' and a 'perceived double standard.'

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

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This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

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Sources:
- nhregister.com: https://www.nhregister.com/capitalregion/article/wethersfield-rocky-hill-graffiti-vandals-22441484.php
- stuff.co.nz: https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/361036372/two-wounded-gunfire-near-canadian-synagogue-judaisms-holiest-day
- nationalpost.com: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/police-officer-injured-in-yom-kippur-shooting-at-belleville-synagogue
- torontosun.com: https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/devastating-synagogue-shooting-rocks-belleville
- thecrimson.com: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/9/21/khurana-criticizes-gay-testimony/
- montgomeryperspective.com: https://montgomeryperspective.com/2026/09/21/is-this-negative-mailer-fair/
- americanthinker.com: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/09/red-s-bad-week/
- winnipegsun.com: https://www.winnipegsun.com/opinion/winnipegs-synagogues-need-police-protection-to-pray/article_377ab8fe-bdcf-47aa-a26a-1dba85c8ffb1.html