Advocacy @ HBT: The week of February 4, 2026

Advocacy @ HBT: A Hands-On Project, Supported by a New App 

One of the things we have all seen over the last few years on the streets of Toronto is the rise in antisemitic graffiti. Whether it was the destruction or vandalization of hostage photos, swastikas and pro-Hamas imagery, red paint thrown across windows, stickers on traffic lights and stop signs, or phrases like “From the River to the Sea” scrawled on Jewish businesses – it’s been ubiquitous.  

Last year, TAFSIK released an app called “Graffiti Watch,” which you can download here. 

They write, “Use the app to identify and report graffiti in your local area by submitting a photo. Once approved, the graffiti will appear as an icon on the map for others to see. Take the next step by removing the graffiti and submitting a photo of the cleaned space. Together, we can restore the beauty of our cities, one wall at a time.”  

Often, we are asked about projects and programs that make a tangible difference. This is one such opportunity. Even if you can’t personally clean up offensive and antisemitic graffiti in Toronto, simply documenting and marking it helps us fight the sense that this is ‘normal.’   

The antisemitism we are experiencing in Toronto today is not normal. This surge in graphic hatred is not normal, and refusing to normalize these trends internally or within our community is an important action item in and of itself.  

Learn more about Advocacy here.