Val-David, Quebec, Canada – Mayor Speaks Out On Rash Of Fires.

Val-David, Quebec, Canada – In the last few weeks, we reported about the rash of arson fires against Jewish homes in the Montreal community, with another house tragically burned down yesterday.

Members of the community say that while they have no evidence to prove the attacks were anti-Semitic in nature, the fires have left them deeply shaken.
“The community is shocked that this has happened again,” Mayer Feig, a community spokesman, said yesterday. “We are very, very concerned.” In addition to the fire, several nearby homes yesterday were broken into. “We were afraid before for our property and now we’re starting to be concerned for the safety of our families and our own kids,” Mr. Feig said.

Pierre Lapointe, Mayor of Val-David, said that there are sporadic complaints about the Hasidic enclave, mostly over lapses in the tidiness of their properties, but most tensions grow out of unfamiliarity, since the religious community generally keeps to itself. “Our message is, ‘Your community has been part of the furniture here since before a majority of people in Val-David were here. We’ll support
you and we’re with you, and you don’t have to worry about being driven
away,’ ” the mayor said in an interview yesterday.

He noted that two other properties in Val-David were also the target of an arsonist in recent weeks. Both are mainly commercial and are not Jewish-owned; one suffered minor damage.

Meanwhile, provincial police have increased patrols in the Hasidic
area, and the Jewish community is adding lighting and private security. [globeandmail]