Washago, Ont. family targeted with hate-motivated vandalism, threatening letter
Warning: Some of the content in this article may be upsetting to readers.
A Washago, Ont. couple says they are victims of a hate crime after vandals spray-painted anti-Semitic words on their home and left them a threatening letter.
Ryan Merovitz and his wife have called the town north of Orillia home for eight years and are in shock over the apparent act of hate.
"I go to bed now thinking worse possible scenarios and what would we do like if someone were to set a fire. How do I get everyone out?" said Merovitz.
- Download the CTV News app free to get local news alerts
- Don't miss breaking news - Sign up for the CTV Newsletter
Merovitz said they noticed two unknown men on their property in early October, who returned a few weeks later.
"One of the men had his hands on the window trying to look inside while the one behind him was actually taking pictures of our mezuzah on our door," he said.
A mezuzah is a small piece of parchment inscribed with religious text placed on a Jewish house as a sign of faith.
Merovitz said the two men fled the property when they realized someone was home.
This past Saturday, Merovitz said the family returned home to find graffiti spray-painted on their garage door, home and property.
And another incident of anti-Semitic messages was reported to the police on Tuesday.
Vandals spray-painted anti-Semitic words on a home in Washago, Ont. (CTV News/Rob Cooper)
A letter written in black marker and taped to the Merovitz's garbage bin reads, "You and your Jewish family are going to die!"
"Never once did I ever imagine something like that happening here. The fact that it happened in small-town Ontario, that tells me it will happen anywhere," Merovitz said.
"I'm disgusted, absolutely disgusted," said community member Dianne McCarthy of the graffiti on the house.
Last month, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued a release assuring Ontarians of its focus on safety amid global online threats of violence in the wake of the deadly Israel-Hamas conflict.
"The OPP takes hate-motivated crimes very seriously as they undermine public safety, negatively impact our communities and can escalate toward criminal extremism," the service stated in a Wednesday release about the Washago vandalism.
Police investigators were at the Washago house on Wednesday searching for clues. They said the Hate Crime Extremism Unit is now involved.
"Hate-motivated crimes are illegal and unacceptable. We will not tolerate these incidents in our communities. We encourage anyone with information to come forward. All tips will be thoroughly investigated," stated Insp. Coyer Yateman, detachment commander.
"My biggest problem is when people can't separate a conflict that is happening 6,000 miles away from a family in a small town that has nothing to do with it. I have nothing against anybody. If you're a good person, then you're my friend," Merovitz said.
The Merovitz's said they refuse to succumb to fear or intimidation, resolving to keep their mezuzah on their front door. They plan to host a community barbecue on Saturday for those who have shown support since the incident.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6939697.1719286227!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Top Cats: Panthers win their 1st Stanley Cup, top Oilers 2-1 in Game 7
The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Oilers' McDavid wins Conn Smythe Trophy after Game 7 loss
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has been awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the NHL playoffs after an incredible post-season that finished just short of a Stanley Cup.
Votes in Toronto byelection counting very slowly, Liberals narrowly ahead of Tories
Conservative candidate Don Stewart remained hopeful late Monday despite trailing his Liberal opponent in the Toronto-St. Paul's byelection where results were extremely slow to come in.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty in deal with U.S. that will allow him to walk free
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty to a felony charge in a deal with the U.S. Justice Department that will allow him to walk free and resolve a long-running legal saga that spanned multiple continents and centred on the publication of a trove of classified documents.
Canada's population forecast to reach 63 million, as people over 85 set to triple
New projections by Statistics Canada suggest the nation's population could reach 63 million by 2073.
opinion Princess Anne's enduring popularity: her equestrian excellence, Canadian connections and an escaped kidnapping attempt
In light of the news that Princess Anne's trip this week to Canada was cancelled because of an injury, royal commentator Afua Hagan looks at the princess's contributions as a royal figure that extend far beyond traditional ceremonials.
14-year-old boy facing 2 counts of first-degree murder in connection with Rexdale shooting investigation
A 14-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a “mass shooting” outside a school in Etobicoke earlier this month that took the lives of two men and wounded three others, police say.
Sask. speaker officially resigns from Sask. Party caucus
Speaker Randy Weekes officially tendered his resignation from the Saskatchewan Party Government Caucus – following an extended saga that saw Weekes accuse government MLAs of harassment.
Teen girl pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of Toronto homeless man
A fourth teen accused in the fatal stabbing of a Toronto homeless man has pleaded guilty.