Jewish community hopes to put $1M fundraiser for hero Belleville cop over the top - National Post
A sign thanking Belleville police officers who stopped a gunman who attacked the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Sept. 20. Photo by Luke Hendry /The Belleville IntelligencerArticle contentThe Jewish community has come close to meeting a $1 million fundraising goal for the injured Belleville hero cop who put his life on the line to prevent a massacre at a synagogue in Belleville, Ont.
The man behind the campaign is now asking donors to take it over the line.
“We are now $45,744 away from our $1 million goal,” GoFundMe page organizer Derek Kreindler wrote on the page on Tuesday. “Thousands of people from across Canada and beyond have chosen to honour (police officer Jeff Smith) who suffered catastrophic injuries while protecting approximately 25 Jewish worshippers on Kol Nidre. That response has been extraordinary.”
Kreindler adds that a million dollars is neither a milestone, nor a measure of the Jewish community’s gratitude. Having already demonstrated that Canadians laud responders who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the rest of us, he says the $1-million goal “would provide the Smith family with further support as they face a recovery whose length and full consequences remain uncertain.”
Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
“Public attention has understandably moved elsewhere (but) Constable Smith’s recovery has not,” writes Kriendler. “More than $954,000 has brought us within sight of the finish line. Please help us carry the campaign through the final $45,744. We remember. We give thanks. And we stand by those who stood for us.”
On, September 20, members of Belleville’s Jewish community had gathered at Sons of Jacob Synagogue for Yom Kippur services, with Smith providing protection outside. A gunman, former Canadian Armed Forces soldier Sean Ward, attacked the shul, firing at Smith.
Ward was caught on video shouting, “You are going to die for the Jews,” at Smith and another Belleville constable, Michael McCurdy.
Smith remains in hospital in critical but stable condition. Ward was killed in the firefight. McCurdy was unhurt.
