Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 15, 2022. Photo by D. Benjamin Miller via Wikimedia Commons.
“Enough is enough. This must stop,” the Federation CJA and Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said.
(Oct. 30, 2026 / JNS)
Police are investigating after several windows at a Montreal synagogue were damaged late on Thursday night in what Jewish groups described as possible pellet gun fire, the second violent incident at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in less than six months.
The Reform synagogue, founded in 1882, was the target of a firebombing in June. No injuries were reported.
“Enough is enough. This must stop,” the Federation CJA and Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said jointly on Friday. “The Montreal Jewish community is tired of fearing for its safety and the safety of its children.”
CIJA is the advocacy arm of the Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA.
Montreal police and Federation CJA’s Community Security Network responded after being alerted to the incident.
“Based on the information we currently have, there is no active threat to the community at this time,” the Jewish groups stated. “Nevertheless, in a climate of rising antisemitism, we take this kind of incident extremely seriously.”
They urged community members to report suspicious activity.
Two Crows Took a Classic Psychology Test. Their Decision-Making Skills Left Ours in The Dust.
Crows have cognitive abilities that sometimes rival our own.(sandra standbridge/Moment RF/Getty Images)
Two male crows have performed better than humans and monkeys in a classic psychology task designed to test how the brain makes decisions based on what it sees.
In prior experiments, corvids (a family of birds that includes crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, and jays) have shown a range of remarkable mental abilities once thought unique to primates.
Now, two neurobiologists from the University of Tübingen in Germany have tested the decision-making prowess of carrion crows (Corvus corone), and the results kind of leave our primate brains in the dust.
The researchers Philipp Schmidbauer and Andreas Nieder are not only interested in demonstrating crows' intelligence. They want to understand how the birds manage such intellectual feats with such fundamentally different brains from ours.
"Such behavioral flexibility might seem unexpected because a layered cerebral cortex, the highest integration center in the mammalian brain, is not existant in birds," Nieder wrote in a paper almost a decade ago.
Instead of layers, he explained, bird brains rely on circuits that originate from a different part of the pallium. Their brains are smaller than ours, but so are their neurons, which means less distance for information to travel, and more processing power per square inch.
"With this independently evolved endbrain design, the corvid brain affords twice as many neurons as a primate brain of equal mass, adding up to enormous processing powers in a small and densely packed 'birdbrain'," he added.
The new experiments demonstrate just how powerful those 'birdbrains' can be.
Two male adult crows were put to the test. That's a very small sample size, which makes it impossible to know if the results can tell us much about crows in general. But it's a start.
Each crow was placed in front of a touch-sensitive screen. In each session, the screen displays lots of dots, and then some of those dots move in one direction, left or right. The crow indicates which direction the dots are moving by pecking at a target on the corresponding side of the touch screen.
A correct response is rewarded with a tasty mealworm.
The task is self-paced: the crows were given a wide window of time to choose their response, because the idea is that the animals express their decision once they are confident in their choice, not just for the sake of speed.
Both crows were trained in this test across more than 100 sessions each before the real data were collected, to make sure they had it down.
Humans and monkeys have previously demonstrated their perceptual decision-making via this random-dot motion discrimination task, but this is the first time crows have been tested.
The birds made deliberate decisions "with unprecedented speed, reporting choices in approximately 235 milliseconds on average, which is roughly twice as fast as has been observed in monkeys or humans," Schmidbauer and Nieder report.
And that speed came at no cost to accuracy.
Next, the researchers implanted electrodes into the crows' brains. They were specifically placed to monitor the nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL), which contains neurons involved in perceiving motion direction (like the dots on the screen).
On waking from surgery, the crows once again performed the random-dot task, this time with the activity of 248 individual neurons on record.
These neurons fired signals related to the crow's imminent decision just 70 milliseconds after the dots started moving, and about 170 milliseconds before making the decisive peck.
These results suggest the crow brain has "primate-like computational dynamics within a distinct neural architecture, with markedly higher temporal efficiency," Schmidbauer and Nieder write, adding that crows' decision-making speed may be the result of specific pressures birds have faced in evolution.
"Birds rely on their vision to carry out precise, rapid maneuvers during flight and to guide their beaks toward objects when foraging," Nieder says.
'Birdbrains' is starting to sound more like a compliment after all.
Israeli soldiers walk near an Israeli Irone Dome defence system (L), a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the MIM-104 Patriot (C), and an anti-ballistic missile the Arrow 3 (R) during Juniper Cobra's joint exercise press briefing at Hatzor Israeli Air Force Basel, on February 25, 2026.(photo credit: GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)
The US is moving a Patriot missile defense system from Texas to the Middle East as Washington and Israel prepare for possible renewed strikes on Iran.
The US military is moving a Patriot air and missile defense system from Texas to the Middle East as Washington and Israel prepare for a possible new round of heavy combat operations against Iran following the November 3 midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
The Patriot system, which includes radar equipment, an engagement control station, missile launchers, and interceptor missiles, is being deployed to strengthen American defenses amid preparations for a potential escalation.
The US has also relocated troops from bases where they were considered vulnerable to Iranian attacks, officials familiar with the movements told the WSJ.
Washington has reportedly warned several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a short, intense military campaign against Iran following the midterm elections, according to people briefed on the conversations.
Additionally, US forces have been replenishing their munitions stockpiles, while officials said bomber aircraft and fighter jets are being prepared for possible strikes.
US Navy sailors work on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington as it transits the Arabian Sea to support US military operations in the war with Iran August 20, 2026. (credit: US NAVY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
US military buildup ahead of possible Iran escalation
An additional aircraft carrier strike group and Marine Expeditionary Unit are also expected to join approximately 20 US warships operating in the Middle East in November, although some vessels could rotate out of the region.
The reported preparations follow an earlier US decision to deploy a third aircraft carrier and additional Marines to the Middle East. A US official said on October 1 that the USS Theodore Roosevelt and additional Marine personnel were being sent to the region, expanding Washington's military options.
The latest buildup comes as US President Donald Trump weighs further military action against Iran. According to the WSJ, Trump has not made a final decision on launching another campaign, although he is reportedly leaning toward strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure and nuclear facilities. A negotiated agreement remains a possibility.
Iran has threatened to expand its retaliation if the US and Israel resume their attacks, including by targeting energy infrastructure, airports, and other civilian facilities across the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, US intelligence warnings about Iranian plots against American officials and citizens have added to regional security concerns. A US official confirmed on Friday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had received an intelligence memorandum warning that Iranian efforts to target Americans had intensified.
Iran has also reportedly instructed Hezbollah to prepare for a possible renewed conflict. Two diplomatic sources said on October 15 that Tehran had warned the Lebanese terrorist group to increase its readiness in anticipation of further American military action.
The timing, scope, and final decision on any renewed military campaign remain uncertain.
French political turmoil may lead to restrictions on transferring money out of the country
According to Sankar-Langa, France's economic crisis is a significant factor behind growing interest in aliyah, no less than antisemitism.
Israel's Aliyah and Integration Ministry is preparing for the possibility that political and economic turmoil in France could lead to restrictions on transferring money out of the country, potentially complicating plans by French Jews to immigrate to Israel, ministry director-general Dganit Sankar-Langa told Walla on Monday.
The concern centers on the possibility that, following elections in France, the government could impose restrictions on capital transfers that would make it more difficult for Jews seeking to move their lives to Israel to bring their savings with them.
"We are preparing for the possibility that, following the elections, a government decision will be made that will make it more difficult to transfer money out of France," she said.
According to Sankar-Langa, France's economic crisis is a significant factor behind growing interest in aliyah, no less than antisemitism.
"France's debt-to-GDP ratio is among the highest in OECD countries, and we are seeing the economic protests. That is why we are also examining this aspect and preparing to assist immigrants with tax advice, pension advice, and financial guidance."
FRENCH OLIM arrive in July. (credit: FLASH90)
Sharp increase in immigration from France
The ministry stressed that the concern relates to a possible scenario, not a decision that has already been made in France.
The remarks come amid a sharp increase in immigration from France. According to Aliyah and Integration Ministry figures, approximately 3,400 Jews immigrated to Israel from France in 2025, while more than 4,000 have already arrived since the beginning of 2026, an increase of nearly 50% compared with the corresponding period last year.
By comparison, North America, home to nearly eight million Jews, is expected to send only about 4,000 immigrants to Israel this year, according to the most optimistic forecasts. France has a Jewish population of approximately 440,000.
This month, the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and Ofek Israeli held three aliyah fairs in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
More than 600 households, representing approximately 2,000 people, attended the Paris Fair. According to ministry figures, about 90% of those expressing interest at the fair said they wanted to immigrate to Israel immediately or during 2027.
Sankar-Langa, who has worked at the ministry for approximately 12 years and also served as director-general during the Russia-Ukraine war, said she had never encountered such determination among prospective immigrants.
"We held large fairs a year and two years ago as well, but this time people are arriving with clear decisions. They say they are immigrating in the summer of 2027, approach the Education Ministry booth, and ask where their children will study. This is a level of certainty I have never experienced before. These are not questions of 'maybe' or 'let's see,' but questions about the here and now. There is a real sense of urgency."
Roni, a 75-year-old French-Israeli who has lived in Paris since 1975 and spent his career in senior management positions working with numerous public-sector clients, is well acquainted with the change.
For decades, he saw no contradiction between his Israeli identity and his life in France. Now, he says, everything has changed.
"We used to be proud to say we were Israelis, that we had served in the IDF. People were impressed. Now it has become something negative," he told Walla.
Antisemitism affecting day-to-day life of French Jews
"In the past, we wouldn't even think twice before speaking Hebrew in the street or telling people in a business setting where our roots were. Now it's better to keep quiet. Now we're careful. My wife no longer speaks Hebrew as freely in a taxi as she once did. When we're asked at the airport where we've arrived from, we're no longer quick to say Israel. There are restaurants where we prefer that people not know we're Israeli or Jewish. There are restaurants we simply don't go to anymore."
The change is evident even at the entrance to their home.
"We have a mezuzah, but we moved it from the outside doorpost to the inside several years ago."
According to Roni, many Jews now avoid wearing a kippah in public, even on their way to synagogue and even on Yom Kippur.
"The atmosphere is very worrying. People tell you, you're Jewish, so you must be a Zionist, so you defend the killing of Palestinians. We used to speak enthusiastically about Israel, about its technology and the IDF. Now people look at you differently. You can speak, but they don't want to listen or understand."
He said concern about the future is especially pronounced among younger French Jews in their 30s and 40s, many of whom have children.
"Their parents, who came to France from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia and managed to build good lives here, weren't necessarily thinking about leaving. But their children have started asking themselves where their future lies. This phenomenon began several years ago, long before the war, but now the questions have become much harder."
Even Jews with successful careers in France's high-tech industry are reconsidering their futures, he said.
"They ask what will happen in one, two, or three years, and whether their future is still in France."
"Jews are caught between a rock and a hard place, between the far Right and the far Left. Even well-established Jews, business owners, and people who have already built entire lives here are beginning to ask themselves where their future and their children's future lie."
Roni and his wife have already purchased an apartment in Herzliya and visit Israel three or four times a year, sometimes staying for a month or longer.
On this occasion, he came specifically to vote in Tuesday's elections.
"I'm trying to convince my wife to move permanently. She's still worried about the security situation in Israel. I actually feel safe here. Even with all the chaos in the country, I prefer to be here."
His dream is to reverse the living arrangement he has become accustomed to over the past five decades: to live in Israel and visit France, rather than live in Paris and visit Israel.
Immigrants from France arrive in Israel with high hopes. Many are deeply committed to Zionism, speak Hebrew, and are religious or at least traditional.
Even those who do not wear a kippah regularly tend to send their children to state religious schools.
Many operated small businesses in France and intend to open similar businesses in Israel. They arrive with relative financial independence, a willingness to integrate into Israeli society, and an interest in volunteering for community activities.
Another prominent characteristic is their preference for living in close-knit communities near other families who have immigrated from France.
While French immigrants previously concentrated primarily in Netanya, Tel Aviv, and Ashdod, new communities have emerged in recent years in Nahariya, Afula, Hadera, and Haifa's Neve Sha'anan neighborhood.
In Or Akiva, for example, approximately 200 immigrants from France have settled in recent years.
These communities provide immigrants with supportive social networks, help them cope with the challenges of integration, and allow them to preserve the language and culture they brought with them.
Yet moving is not straightforward, even for those who have already decided to immigrate.
Israel's cost of living, housing prices, and the need to find employment are significant obstacles.
According to Sankar-Langa, many French Jews live in high-quality subsidized housing, sometimes in spacious apartments in desirable areas, and moving to Israel means making financial sacrifices.
Leading company reps. join Paris Fair
To address one of the main obstacles, representatives of leading Israeli companies and organizations joined the Paris Fair for the first time this year.
They included Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, Mekorot, Bank Mizrahi-Tefahot, and the National Artificial Intelligence Headquarters.
The goal was to begin recruiting employees even before they immigrated to Israel.
During the fair, company representatives met with approximately 200 prospective immigrants, more than 50 of whom were found to be potentially suitable for available positions.
"People didn't come just to find out what the options were and what the salaries were. They came to look for work," Sankar-Langa said.
"By the very next day, advanced interviews were being held with candidates who had been found suitable."
At the same time, approximately 200 families received guidance and information from ministry and Jewish Agency representatives, led by delegation head Erez Cohen.
Defense Ministry representatives who joined the delegation also met with parents of lone soldiers serving in Israel.
Following the developments, the prime minister instructed officials to formulate a dedicated government plan to encourage immigration from France and integrate the new arrivals.
Ministry officials are careful not to describe the preparations as an "emergency plan," a term that evokes previous events, particularly the wave of immigration following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
"Back then, people landed here carrying bags, sometimes without medication," Sankar-Langa recalled.
This time, she said, the goal is to prepare in advance for large-scale immigration, remove economic and bureaucratic obstacles, and ensure that immigrants not only reach Israel but also integrate successfully and remain in the country.
"Immigration from France is at its highest level in years, and we are preparing to absorb thousands more,” Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer said.
“This year, for the first time, we brought the major companies in the Israeli economy to France, based on the understanding that quality employment is one of the central keys to successful immigration and optimal integration."
Sankar-Langa also sees immigration as an opportunity for the Israeli economy, which faces shortages of engineers, doctors, teachers, and artificial intelligence professionals.
"We increasingly understand that the Aliyah and Integration Ministry is, in effect, the human resources department of the State of Israel," she said.
