Sunday’s 50,000-strong Walk with Israel in Toronto was described by one news outlet as “tension-filled.” While the large numbers were surely comfort to both Israelis and Canadian Jews, the massive police presence, the counter demonstrators — some of them explicitly praising Hamas — were alarming to see in Toronto.

That a pro-Israel march would require such a police deployment is lamentably indicative. But there are police officers deployed at Toronto Jewish schools, so much so that the children presume being guarded is normal. It has become normal in France, where police have been guarding synagogues, schools and community centres for years. Will that become normal in Toronto?