We shouldn't need police at a religious celebration - but Canadian Jews do

PICTON - Members of what is presently the best-known congregation on Earth gathered here last night, to celebrate the annual Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. And, for once, they got some good news.

Belleville Police Const. Jeff Smith - one of two officers who had risked his own life to save 25 Jewish congregants during a terror attack at Sons of Jacob synagogue on Sept. 20 - was up and about in his hospital room, we were told. He was recovering from his gunshot wounds, and moving around, and in good spirits. Much applause.

Also good news: in just over a week, Sons of Jacob's Go Fund Me for Const. Smith and his family had raised nearly $900,000. Getting over a million was very likely to happen, we were told.

Meanwhile, organizer Derek Kreindler reminded everyone, another Belleville officer - Const. Mike McCurdy - was also a hero. He, too, had participated in the gun battle that took out the madman - an anti-vax, antisemitic monster who had come to slaughter the innocent on the holiest day in the Jewish religion calendar, Yom Kippur.

A fundraiser had started for McCurdy, as well, Kreindler announced. It had already raised $8,000 of an $11,000 goal.

Then, synagogue president Norm Weddum announced, nearly $100,000 had been raised to rebuild and secure Sons of Jacob. And, Weddum declared, Shabbat would be observed this Friday, for the first time since the terror attack. “No one will stop us from practicing our faith!” Weddum said, to much applause.

Sukkot is supposed happen outside, in a sukkah - a temporary building with open walls - to commemorate the decades-long desert exile of the Israelites from Egypt. This year, the terror attack at Sons of Jacob meant that Sukkot would need to be celebrated indoors, at a large and beautifully-appointed Picton building called the Cape.

Nearly a dozen OPP officers and private security were therefore in attendance. The assembled Jews and allies stood and gave the police a long and loud standing ovation, and thanked them for their service. It was an emotional moment, but a good one.

Just ten days ago, things were not as good.

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