Full Breakdown
Mezuzah Vandalism at Wilfrid Laurier University
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
During the Jewish New Year holiday of Rosh Hashanah, two mezuzahs—prayer scrolls traditionally affixed to the doorways of Jewish homes—were smashed and torn from residence doors at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. The university’s Special Constable Service is leading the investigation, while Waterloo Regional Police are reviewing information supplied by the campus service.
Context and Trends
The act occurs amid a broader rise in antisemitic incidents on Canadian campuses. A national report released in August indicated that 95.7 percent of Jewish students had experienced or witnessed at least one antisemitic incident. In the Waterloo region, the annual Snapshot of Hate Report recorded 172 hate-incident reports in 2025, up from 79 the previous year, for a total of 289 documented incidents. Hillel Ontario noted that similar violations have been reported on other campuses since October 7.
Institutional and Community Reactions
Wilfrid Laurier University issued a statement condemning the vandalism, emphasizing a “zero-tolerance” stance toward hate speech, racism, threats and harassment. Rabbi Moshe Goldman, director of Waterloo’s Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life, described the incident as “intimidation” and expressed concern for student safety. Hillel Ontario and StandWithUs Canada released a joint statement labeling the act “antisemitic hatred” and urging universities to enforce policies that protect Jewish students.
Support and Aftermath
Dean of Students Adam Lawrence and Rabbi Goldman organized a repair ceremony the following day, re-attaching the mezuzahs before a gathering of about 25 students and members of the Jewish fraternity AEPi. More than 50 students subsequently requested new mezuzahs. An anonymous family donated $3,600 to cover replacement costs of $88 each, prompting Rabbi Goldman to note a “silver lining” in the community’s response.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's just an annoying distraction from the positive work we're trying to do,” — Rabbi Moshe Goldman, director of Waterloo’s Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life
- “It was great. A lot of hugs, a lot of smiles and a fair amount of relief,” — Rabbi Moshe Goldman, director of Waterloo’s Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life
- “I don't know what the intent was. The effect, I know what it was,” — Rabbi Moshe Goldman, director of Waterloo’s Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life
- “There's no justifying it, there's no whitewashing it, there's no excuse for it,” — Rabbi Moshe Goldman, director of Waterloo’s Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life
- “It's almost like the silver lining is greater than the cloud,” — Rabbi Moshe Goldman, director of Waterloo’s Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life