Montreal Kosher Restaurant Fire Investigated as Arson, $18,500 Raised for Rebuild

Blackened walls, scorched counters and charred kitchen equipment greeted those who looked inside Nöam after an early Saturday morning fire tore through the kosher restaurant, leaving a Montreal Jewish community shaken and the owners vowing to return.

The blaze broke out around 3 a.m. and caused extensive damage. Roughly 80 firefighters responded, and no injuries were reported.

Police Probe Suspected Arson

Montreal police are investigating the fire as suspected arson. Authorities have not established a motive, including any hate-crime motive.

Security or camera footage appears to show a man setting the fire. In reporting from CTV News, footage provided to the outlet appears to show a man lighting the fire before fleeing.

The restaurant is located in a Montreal neighbourhood with a large Jewish population, a detail that has deepened concern among many in the community even as police have not identified a motive.

“The Jewish community is in shock,” Tzipi Zeigerman, an Israeli who moved to the neighbourhood two years ago, told Jewish Insider. She described Nöam as “one of the most beloved restaurants in the community.”

Owners Say They Will Rebuild

For the restaurant’s owners, the damage was both personal and professional.

One of the owners, Azerad, told CTV News he did not learn the full extent of the damage until after sundown because the fire happened during Shabbat.

“People [were] coming to our home and knocking on the door and telling us the crazy news,” he said.

He told the outlet the restaurant felt like home. Despite the devastation, he was clear about what comes next.

“Nöam is not going anywhere,” he said.

Community supporters have also said they intend to help reopen the restaurant. An online fundraiser described the loss as the product of years of dedication and sacrifice.

“Overnight, the owners lost not only their restaurant, but the result of years of unwavering dedication, hard work, sacrifice, and significant recent renovations,” the fundraiser organizers wrote, according to source reporting. “Thankfully, no one was injured, but the emotional and financial impact has been nothing short of devastating.”

Neighbours Describe The Damage

The fire also rattled people connected to nearby businesses.

Howard Szalavetz, who owns the building complex, told CTV News he was upset by what happened.

“It’s got a lot of history for me, and it was very sad to see what unfolded on Saturday morning,” he said.

Lori Zeidel, whose husband owns a neighbouring car wash, described the scene in stark terms.

“To see what we saw was devastating,” she said.

Another nearby business owner, Jack Bayramian, told CTV News he wants accountability.

“There’s no place for this stupidity,” he said.

Condemnation And Calls For Action

Politicians and Jewish organizations condemned the fire and called for stronger action to protect Jewish communities amid concerns about antisemitism.

B’nai Brith Canada said in a social media statement that words are no longer enough.

“Jewish Canadians have heard enough condemnation and promises,” the group said. “Now we need action.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs also urged a full investigation, writing that “targeting a restaurant in this way, regardless of the reason, is an unacceptable attack on our shared values.”

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said he was “Extremely concerned at what appears to be an arson attack on Nöam,” describing it as a local kosher restaurant that serves as a hub for Montreal’s Jewish community. “Antisemitism has no place in our societies and we will keep working to root it out wherever it occurs,” he wrote.

For now, the police investigation continues without an established motive. What is already clear is the damage left behind, the fear it has stirred, and the determination among Nöam’s owners and supporters to bring the restaurant back.

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