The holiest day on the Jewish calendar was shattered by gunfire.
As Jewish worshippers gathered at an Ontario synagogue for Yom Kippur, a barrage of bullets erupted just outside the doors.
By the time the gunfire stopped, a veteran police officer had been seriously wounded, and a synagogue gathering had become the center of a sprawling investigation.
According to The Associated Press, preliminary evidence from Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit indicates the man came in a truck outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville on Sunday evening and opened fire on an officer stationed there.
The officer fired back. Another responding officer also discharged his weapon.
Then came the staggering number: Investigators estimate that between 20 and 30 shots were fired.
The Times of Israel reported that the wounded officer was hospitalized in critical but stable condition, while the 29-year-old gunman remained in life-threatening condition. The officer is a nearly 13-year veteran of the Belleville Police Service.
All of this unfolded as Jews were gathering for Yom Kippur.
Also known as the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur is not just another date on the Jewish calendar. Rooted in the biblical commands of Leviticus 16 and 23, it is a solemn day historically associated with atonement, repentance and humbling oneself before God.
To order Kirt Schneider’s book, Decoding the Torah, visit Amazon.com.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the violence, emphasizing that Jewish Canadians should be able to worship safely and live openly as Jews. Ontario Premier Doug Ford similarly denounced the shooting and affirmed the Jewish community’s right to gather for worship without fear.
There is still much investigators don’t know.
But there is something Christians can do right now: pray.
Pray for the wounded officer. Pray for the Jewish families who entered their synagogue expecting to observe one of the most sacred nights of the year and instead found themselves taking cover.
And pray that the truth about what happened outside this synagogue comes fully into the light.
Yom Kippur is a day of solemnity, repentance and turning toward God. This year, for one Jewish congregation in Ontario, that sacred observance was pierced by the sound of bullets.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
