The Toronto Police Service announced on Monday that it was seeking public aid in identifying a suspect in the vandalism of a Jewish community centre's menorah.
A man in his thirties allegedly knocked over the menorah in front of the Yorkville Jewish Centre as he was walking by on April 10, according to the centre and TPS.
"When we chose to leave our menorah standing outside, even after Chanukah, it wasn’t just decoration. It was a statement. A statement that we are proud, proud to be Jewish," centre Rabbi Meir Dubrawsky said on Instagram on April 13.
"I knew, deep down, that there was a chance something like this could happen," Dubrawsky continued. "I hoped it wouldn’t. But in the world we’re living in today, we can’t ignore that reality."
Dubrawsky said that the center would build a bigger Menorah and would not be intimidated.
Dubrawsky: Light gets final word
The rabbi also noted on April 17 that a woman walking by attempted to raise the menorah and succeeded, with the help of another passerby.
"This moment says everything," wrote Dubrawsky. "The darkness doesn’t get the final word. The light does."