Headlines

Ontario Threats Escalate: Third Serious Antisemitic Threat in Two Weeks; Synagogue Shooting Response Demanded
Texas Candidate's Antisemitic Rhetoric Sparks Bipartisan Backlash; French President Bardella Denies Teenager Allegations
California Law Creates Safety Zones for Houses of Worship; Ohio Surgeon Alleges Workplace Antisemitism in EEOC Lawsuit

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Transcript

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

In Ontario, Canada, authorities have arrested a 33-year-old man, Justin Arnold-Galvez of Kitchener, for allegedly making hate-motivated antisemitic threats via a livestream video, according to Waterloo Regional Police. This incident marks the third serious threat against Ontario's Jewish community in less than two weeks, reports indicate. This development follows a shooting during Yom Kippur services at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, where a police officer was critically wounded. Richard Robertson, research and advocacy director for B'nai Brith Canada, stated, "There are no more excuses for inaction," as quoted by the Toronto Sun, while Meir Weinstein of Israel Now commented, "Jewish people don't feel safe in Canada."

In Texas politics, Republican nominee for Railroad Commissioner Bo French is facing bipartisan condemnation for alleged antisemitic and racist rhetoric. According to JTA, French posted a social media poll asking if "Jews" or "Muslims" pose a "bigger threat to America." Additionally, CNN investigations revealed, based on since-deleted posts, that French had called for public executions of figures including former President Barack Obama and Jewish Senator Adam Schiff. GOP strategist Karl Rove cited growing antisemitism in the party as a reason for endorsing French's Democratic opponent, telling The Wall Street Journal, "There are 'just asking questions' Jew-haters..." Outgoing Texas Senator John Cornyn stated, "This is how great political parties self-destruct."

Meanwhile, in France, the investigative outlet Mediapart has accused Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally party, of sending antisemitic messages as a teenage activist. Mediapart claims these messages included statements such as "all the banks are owned by Jews," and that "the Jew must dominate other peoples, crush them and steal from them." Bardella has firmly denied these allegations, calling them "crude forgeries" and stating he has instructed his lawyer to take legal action against Mediapart, as reported by JTA and Al Jazeera English. Marine Le Pen, the party's presidential candidate, dismissed the report as a "dirty trick."

Turning to campus concerns, in Montgomery County, Maryland, Jewish families are reportedly withdrawing their children from public schools. They cite worries over antisemitism and a perceived lack of seriousness from the school administration in addressing hate-bias incidents, according to reporting by JNS. The district recorded a significant increase in hate-bias incidents, from 253 the previous year to 600 in the 2025-26 school year. The Anti-Defamation League places Maryland fifth nationally for antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools, with Montgomery County accounting for the majority of these within the state. Dozens of rabbis and cantors have signed a letter to Superintendent Thomas Taylor and the board of education demanding action, including training for teachers and administrators to identify Jew-hatred and the implementation of programs on Jewish identity and the Holocaust. Rabbi Adam Raskin described the district's response to educational initiatives as "underwhelming," telling JNS that schools appear to be "dodging the issue."

In policy news, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 2664 into law, establishing 100-foot protective zones around religious institutions. The legislation prohibits individuals from coming within eight feet of a congregant without consent for purposes of distributing leaflets, holding signs, or engaging in oral protests that "harass, obstruct, threaten or intimidate the person," according to the law's text. Governor Newsom stated, "Every Californian should be able to walk into a synagogue, church, mosque, or other house of worship without fear," in a statement released by his office. The signing followed a violent pro-Palestinian protest at Los Angeles's Wilshire Boulevard Temple last year. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has criticized the bill, arguing it infringes upon free speech protections.

In Ohio, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, has filed a lawsuit against a Youngstown hospital and physicians' group. The suit alleges that a surgeon faced religious discrimination and endured antisemitic remarks throughout his employment, culminating in his termination in November 2023. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas stated, "Antisemitism has no place in the American workplace." Reporting indicates the surgeon was subjected to comments blaming "the Jews" for the October 7th attack, excluded from meetings, and had his surgery time blocks reduced before his termination.

Security expert Ross McLean discussed the recent attack on the Sons of Jacob Orthodox synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, where gunfire injured a police officer during Yom Kippur services. McLean noted a pattern of years of antisemitic incidents, including shootings and arsons, and warned that antisemitic sentiment could spread to individuals not previously associated with extremist violence. He also argued that authorities should more explicitly identify antisemitism and Jewish targets when discussing hate crimes, rather than grouping them into broader statements about hate and violence.

Finally, nearly 90 years after the Kristallnacht pogroms, a new initiative is working to revive Germany's lost Jewish musical heritage. Cantor Assaf Levitin, co-author of the project "Hashivenu," is collaborating with music publisher Edition Peters to recover and republish cantorial works that vanished or were destroyed following the destruction of Germany's Jewish communities. This effort brings to light musical pieces that were central to Jewish life before Kristallnacht and are now being restored for contemporary use.

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:
- ullaw.ca: https://www.ullaw.ca/news/waterloo-antisemitic-threats-investigation
- torontosun.com: https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/waterloo-region-grappling-with-alleged-antisemitic-hate
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/rabbis-demand-action-as-families-pull-out-of-public-schools-in-heavily-jewish-maryland-county/article_d60f9f95-dc71-5b80-8966-8e360d52a73b.html
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/28/politics/why-is-karl-rove-supporting-a-progressive-jewish-candidate-in-texas
- jfeed.com: https://www.jfeed.com/antisemitism/tm2zzm
- aljazeera.com: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/28/french-far-right-leader-bardella-refutes-anti-semitism-allegations
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/28/politics/california-gov-gavin-newsom-signs-bill-to-create-safe-spaces-around-synagogues
- blogs.timesofisrael.com: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/from-evian-to-ihra-a-dominican-legacy/
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jta/california-gov-gavin-newsom-signs-bill-to-create-safe-spaces-around-synagogues/article_c608cde5-5f4f-55ca-bc96-4b874933871f.html
- osvnews.com: https://www.osvnews.com/federal-agency-sues-ohio-based-catholic-health-system-over-alleged-antisemitism/
- thecjn.ca: https://thecjn.ca/news/hiring-off-duty-cops-to-protect-shuls-non-merci-in-quebec/
- junonews.com: https://www.junonews.com/p/security-expert-warns-of-growing-anti-semitic-threat
- powerlineblog.com: https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/09/surgeon-fired-for-being-a-jew.php
- lemonde.fr: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2026/09/28/bardella-confirms-his-lawyer-has-filed-a-lawsuit-for-defamation_6758049_5.html
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-909958