Belleville shooting a wake-up call for Canadians, survivor says in new statement - National Post

Sharlene Weitzman, right, and Jennifer Aronson, were among the roughly two dozen congregants inside the Sons of Jacob synagogue during a shooting incident outside the Belleville place of worship on Sunday evening. Photo by Peter J. Thompson/National PostArticle contentSharlene Weitzman was among the small group of Jews who’d gathered Sunday evening at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ont., to worship on the faith’s holiest day, Yom Kippur, when a gunman arrived and opened fire. 

She was there with her partner, Jennifer Aronson and her son, Finn Luke Weitzman. 

The 59-year-old forensic social worker told her courageous story to National Post this week not to be a “spokesperson” for the tragedy that left the suspected shooter dead, a Belleville Police Service officer in hospital, and Canada’s Jewish population again questioning their safety.

She spoke candidly because she refused “to miss the opportunity to bear witness” to the crisis of Jew hatred in Canada and around the world. 

Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings.

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“Stop telling us Jews that we’re overreacting. Stop telling us it’s not antisemitism, ‘It’s not all about you. Oh, where there’s smoke, there must be fire. If people hate you, there’s a reason,’” she said.

“But I’m not Benjamin Netanyahu. I’m not the leader of the government. I’m not Mark Carney. I’m just a Jewish mom trying to raise my family in the community that we’ve been in for 25, 30 years.”

Thank you to Hashem and to both officers of the Belleville Police Service who saved my family’s lives this past Sunday, Yom Kippur 5787.

The BPS have been remarkable. Having experienced this traumatic event together, I believe they have a new understanding of the life-and-death challenges not only the police but Jews face daily. By Shekina’s hand and the officers’ heroics, there was only one casualty: the shooter. We pray for his family. They have suffered great loss.

We encourage you to support the GoFundMe for Constable Smith and his family as he faces the road to recovery. We pray for his full recovery.

I am speaking today to bear witness to Jew Hatred around the world. The Sons of Jacob shooting was not an isolated incident.