Blog : Ragazou

TORONTO ? The Toronto Police Service is investigating two incidents of vandalism that targeted the city's largest kosher restaurant late last year.

King Solomon's Table was struck by vandals on two occasions ? the last, just before the holidays, saw the 310-seat venue daubed with two large swastikas on the restaurant's loading doors facing a back laneway. About four weeks earlier, a can of whitish paint was hurled at the front door, locks and sidewalk.

The incidents, particular the one involving Nazi imagery, distressed restaurant owner Joe Elmaleh.

?I was shocked,? said Elmaleh, who runs the family business. ?It's very clear from the name we are a Jewish institution. We've been around 16 years. The fact someone would do this is very upsetting.?

Police responded quickly on both occasions, but according to Elmaleh, the incidents took place at night when the restaurant was unoccupied. Police are examining surveillance videos belonging to a nearby tenant for clues. Police were unavailable for comment.

It took a full day to scrape off the paint from the first incident, and the swastikas remained on the back doors until police photographed them as potential trial evidence.

Elmaleh said the latter incident made him feel ?sick to my stomach. I felt violated,? he said.

By PAUL LUNGEN, Staff Reporter