Some U.S. officials are condemning the apparent arson that destroyed a popular kosher restaurant in Montreal early Sunday morning, with some characterizing the incident as part of a broader pattern of antisemitic attacks.
Illinois Congressman Paul Schneider, co-chair of the Congressional Jewish Congress, said he and his colleagues “are disgusted and outraged” by what he described as “yet another heinous attack on Jewish-owned business.”
“As antisemitism is increasingly normalized, violence and other attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions continue to escalate around the world,” he wrote on X. “This is a moment of crisis that requires all people of good conscience to speak up and condemn hate.”
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who on Saturday said “the matter must be investigated as a hate crime ,” thanked Schneider and his colleagues for reaching out to “express solidarity with the restaurant and building owners” and the community at large.
Thank you Brad @RepSchneider and thank you to all my friends in the Congressional Jewish Caucus who have called and reached out to me to express solidarity with the restaurant & building owners and our whole Montreal community. It is deeply appreciated. https://t.co/wviHqCDjlF
— Anthony Housefather (@AHousefather) August 2, 2026
First responders were called to Nöam Restaurant in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood around 3:15 a.m., where they found the building ablaze, per the Montreal Gazette . The two-storey building suffered extensive damage despite the efforts of some 80 firefighters.
Nobody was injured.
A police spokesperson said the investigation was handed over to the arson squad because a person was seen leaving the building shortly before the fire broke out.
The owner of the garage and car wash that sit on either side of the restaurant told the Gazette his security camera captured a lone person, likely a young man in his early 20s.
Police have yet to establish any motive.
“While the investigation proceeds, Canada’s leaders should actively work to protect and bolster the Jewish community,” U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra posted on X.
Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism at the U.S. Department of State, said this incident, on the heels of Jewish-owned bakeries in Toronto hit by gunfire last weekend, that “the time for action is now.”
“As I told officials during my visit to Ottawa last week, Canada’s government must do far more to combat antisemitism, protect Jewish citizens, and hold the perpetrators of attacks fully accountable,” he shared on X.
Nöam, an incredibly popular kosher restaurant that serves Italian and Mediterranean food in Montreal, was burned down last night at 3 am.
It looks like arson, and police are investigating a possible suspect seen walking away from the scene.
We can’t say for sure the motive was… pic.twitter.com/AnBJPnCjBH— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) August 1, 2026
Iddo Moed, Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, called out the attack and reports that an Israeli-born MLS player was met with chants of “Death to Israel” during a match against host CF Montreal at Stade Saputo.
According to The Times of Israel , fans in one section continually taunted New England Revolution striker Dor Turgeman, who responded by putting his team up 2-0 in the first half. (It ended in a 2-2 draw.)
“The hate must be stopped before it transforms into something lethal,” Moed posted on X.
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