TORONTO, ON-When Statistics Canada recently released the results of the first national pilot survey on people groups most victimized by hate crimes, Jews topped the list. The federal agency reported that Jewish people and institutions were targeted in 25 per cent of 928 hate crimes reported by 12 major Canadian police forces in 2001 and 2002.

Hate crimes are defined as offences "motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or any other similar factor."

The survey, which categorized Jewish victims under the heading of "religion," revealed the next most likely target of hate crimes were racial victims. Blacks were targeted in 17 percent of incidents, followed by Muslims at 11 per cent and South Asians at 10 per cent. Gays and lesbians clocked in at nine percent.

The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics conducted the survey in collaboration with police services in Calgary, Edmonton, Halton Regional, Montreal, Ottawa, RCMP (excluding detachments from British Columbia), Regina, Sudbury, Toronto, Waterloo, Windsor and Winnipeg.

The results of the survey came as no surprise to Jewish or Messianic Jewish groups.

Ruth Klein, the national director of B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights, says there has been a breakdown in society as to what’s considered acceptable. "We weren’t surprised because it really confirmed the findings that we’ve been recording for some years now," says Klein.

"Anti-Semitic incidents are on the increase in this country. There’s no doubt about it. But it’s good to have confirmation from all sorts of sources."

This spring, B’Nai Brith released the results of its annual study of anti-Semitic incidents across Canada. The audit cited an increase in anti-Semitic incidents of 27.2 per cent countrywide in 2003, compared to the previous year. Over the previous two years(from 2001 to 2003), B’nai Brith audits pointed to a disturbing increase in reported incidents of anti-Semitism of 104 per cent.

On the heels of the B’nai Brith audit and in the midst of a spate of anti-Semitic incidents in the Greater Toronto Area this spring, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada issued a statement condemning expressions of hatred against Jews.

Citing the belief that "people are created in the image of God and are objects of His love," the written statement affirmed the dignity of all persons and said, "The EFC condemns the promotion of hatred or acts of violence towards any person or group of persons, and also condemns speech that incites people to violent acts."

That kind of support is exactly what the Jewish community needs, says Klein. "What we would ask from friends of our community is that they speak up against this [increase in anti-Semitism]…because when people make strong statements against this type of activity, it’s powerful."

Larry Rich, the Canadian director of Chosen People Ministries, says Jewish people have been persecuted for centuries, and often in the name of Jesus. "It’s morally wrong. It’s an act against God’s purposes, God’s will and against God’s chosen people-the Jewish people," says Rich. "It’s the wrong thing to do. It’s very evil."

Chosen People Ministries is a ministry seeking to help Jewish people discover Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Rich says he has never personally been subjected to an anti-Semitic attack and knows of no one within his organization who has.

Klein is not surprised. "Some crimes might just go against somebody with a Jewish sounding name. However, the majority of the victims of physical assaults are Jews who wear the symbols of their religion.

"If you walk on the streets of Canada and you look like everybody else, you’re unlikely to find that kind of discrimination. If, however, you are wearing Jewish symbols; the headgear, et cetera, then you stand out like any vulnerable minority."

Klein suggests the philosophy of Messianic groups may also spare them from being a target. "Some of the people doing the targeting don’t think of them as Jews either. They understand that their mission is rather different than that of the mainstream Jewish community."

Rabbi Jack Farber, of the Torah-observant Messianic congregation Melech Yisrael in Toronto, says the whole purpose of anti-Semitism is to destroy the Jewish people. "The Jews have been the target of anti-Semitism since the beginning of history," he says.

"Satan has been trying to destroy the Jewish people from the get go. He tried to [prevent] Yeshua, Jesus, from going to the cross…instead of Him having to go to the cross to fulfill the redemptive process. That of course failed, but he has never stopped trying to kill the Jews, because salvation is of the Jew."

Farber says he views the overall rise in anti-Jewish incidents as evidence that supports his faith. "I can’t speak for all Jewish believers [in Christ], but I can speak for myself and our congregation," he says.

"We know God’s plan is in process. Satan is trying to destroy the Jewish people…so that Messiah will not come back. That strengthens our belief in the return of the Messiah. If Satan is so anxious to destroy the people to whom the Messiah said He’s coming back, then it [supports] the fact that He’s coming back."