Switzerland

The first Jews in Switzerland showed up in medieval times. They worked as money lenders and peddlers. At one point they were accused by the gentiles of being the cause of the Black Death. Like most European countries, the Jews of Switzerland were expelled at some point.

The Helvetic Confederation was established towards the end of the eighteenth century by which time three small groups existed.Their movements were not restricted and full liberation was given in 1866. The initial World Zionist Conference was held in Basel, led by Theodor Herzl in 1897.

A majority of the immigrant Jewish residents moved after the war. Though Switzerland denied entry to a large number of Nazi refugees, they did let in a few Jews.  The present community’s central organization consists of a variety of factions ranging from ultra-Orthodox to Reform. Synagogues can be found within major towns. Koshermeat is brought into the country and a number of hotels offer kosher facilities. The German-speaking location holds more than half the Jewish community, followed by the French-speaking area, while the Italian-speaking area to the south has the smallest group.

Ruth Dreifuss, Switzerland’s first Jewish and female president, was elected in1998. Proof of Jewish presence in the country, dating back to 200CE was discovered in 2001 in the form of a ring with the images a menorah as well as the horn of a ram.

I was 17 on my first trip to Switzerland, where I worked at the Chabad summer camp in Geneva. With the camp we went on many excursions around the country. It is a beautiful place, though a bit expensive for a backpacker. It was fine while I was working at the camp because I had food and a place to stay though even buying a snack on the street cost a fair bit.

If you are planning a trip to Switzerland make sure to bring a lot of money.

There are many Jewish communities around the country and plenty of kosher food.

AROSA

HOTELS

 

Levin’s Hotel Metropol 7050

Telephone: (81) 378 8181, Fax: (81) 378 8161

Email: hotel@levinarosa.com
Website: www.kosherhotels.net
Supervision: Biale Rebbe Rav Rabinovitz. Mikva on premises, own kosher bakery

 

BADEN

CEMETERIES
Liebenfels

Telephone: (56) 222 4921, Mobile Phone: 079 4155426
Open Sundays 10am to 4pm
KOSH ER FOODS

Atrium Hotel Blume
Kurplatz 4 5400

Telephone: (56) 200 0200, Fax: (56) 200 0250

Website: www.blume-baden.ch
Prepacked kosher meals on request.

 

SYNAGOGUES

Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Baden

Parkstrasse 17 5400

Telephone: (56) 222 9446, Fax: (56) 222 9447

Website: www.ikgb.ch

Friday nights: Winter 6.30pm, Summer 7.30pm. Shabbat and Festivals: mornings 9.30am

 

BASLE

The Basle Jewish community has been in existence since the start of the 12th century and lived there for about two hundred years until they were forced to leave in order to escape persecution. The 16^th century saw them return, turning Basle into a centre for Irish printing. Basle is most renowned for holding the first Zionist Conference of 1897 and has a plaque on the wall of the Concert Hall in remembrance.

 

BAKERIES
Bakery Schmutz
Austrasse 53

Telephone: (61) 272 4765

 

BOOKSELLERS

Victor Goldschmidt
Mostackerstrasse 17 4051
Telephone: (61) 2616191, Fax: (61) 2616123

Email: vgb@econophone.ch, Website: www.victorgoldschmidt.ch

 

BUTCHERS

Juedische Genossenschafts Metzgerei
Friedrichstrasse 26 4055

Telephone: (61) 301 3493, Fax: (61) 301 6882

Supervision: Both Basel Rabbinates

Also sells groceries and wine. Open 7.30am to 12noon, 3pm to 6pm. Closed Monday morning and Friday  afternoon.

 

GROCERIES

Koscher Laden
leimenstrasse 44 4051

Telephone: (61) 228 7155, Fax: (61) 228 7165

Ernail: k.l.trading@swissonline.ch

Hours: Monday to Thursday 1 Oam to 12.30pm and 2pm to 8pm, Friday 9am to 3pm, Sunday 2pm to 6pm.

 

MIKVAOT

Basle Mikvaot
Eulerstr. 104051

Telephone: (61) 272 9548 Thannerstrasse 60, Telephone: (61) 3012220, Mobile Phone: 07920 82365

 

MUSEUMS

Jewish Museum of Switzerland
Kornhausgasse 8 4051

Telephone: (61) 261 9514

Website: www.juedisches-museum.ch

Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 2pm to 5pm: Sunday, 11 am to 5pm. Free entrance.

 

RESTAURANTS

Holbein Hof Cafe-Restaurant
Leimenstrasse 67 CH-4051
Telephone: (61) 2706810, Fax: (61) 270 6800

Ernail: info@holbeinhof.ch
Website: www.holbeinhof.ch
Supervision: Basle Rabbinate 1GB
Serves both meat and dairy

Meat

Restaurant Topas
Leimenstrasse 24 4051
Telephone: (61) 206 9500, Fax: (61) 206 9501

Website: www.restaurant-topas.ch
Supervision: Local rabbinical authority

Hours: 11.30am to 2pm Sunday to Friday, 6.30pm to 9pm Sunday to Thursday, Friday night, Shabbat lunch and holidays by reservation before 2pm of the day before.

 

SYNAGOGUES

Israelitische Religionsgesellschaft

Ahornstrasse 14

Telephone: (61) 301 4898, Rabbi, tel: (61) 3021434

 

Orthodox

Israelitische Gemeinde Basel
Leimenstrasse 24 4003
Telephone: (61) 279 9850, Fax: (61) 279 9851

Email: nisenholz@igb.ch

 

BEL/BIENNE

 

Bel/Bienne Synagogue
Ruschlistrasse 3

Telephone: (32) 377 3619, Fax: (32) 377 3619

 

BERN

 

EMBASSY

Embassy of Israel

Alpenstrasse 32 3006

Telephone: (31) 356 3500, Fax: (31) 356 3556

 

SYNAGOGUES

Conservative Traditional
Synagogue & Community Centre
Kapellenstrasse 2

Telephone: (31) 3814992, Fax: (31) 382 3861

Website: www.jgb.ch

Rabbi Dr Michael Leipziger, tel: (31) 381 7303

 

BREM GARTENI AARGAU

 

CONTACT INFORMATION
Israelitische Cultusgemeinde

Werner Meyer Moses, Ringstrasse, 37 5620

Telephone: (56) 633 6626, Fax: (56) 633 6626

 

ENDINGEN

J. Bloch

Buckstr.2 5304

Telephone: (56) 242 1546

Visits to the old synagogue and cemetery can be arranged

 

FRIBOURG

 

SYNAGOGUES

Fribourg Synagogue

9 Avenue de Rome
Telephone: (26) 322 1670

 

GENEVA

The Jews who arrived in Geneva in 1182 came from France and were only allowed to settle in the surrounding districts and were thrown out in 1490. At the end of the 18^th century, following the annexation of Geneva by France, the Jews were allowed to return although they were denied civic rights until 1841.

 

BAKERIES

Mon Petit Boulanger Chen’
Rue des Eaux Vives 72
Telephone: (22) 736 7078, Fax: (22) 736 1730

Ask for kosher bread

 

BUTCHERS
Boucherie Kosher

Biton 21, rue de Montchoisi
Telephone: (22) 736 3168

 

EMBASSY

Permanet Mission of Israel to the United Nations

9 Chemin Bonvent, Cointrin 1216

 

MIKVAOT

Geneva Chabad

12, Avenue Theodore Weber 1208
Telephone: (22) 860 8613
Website: www.habadgeneve.ch

New Chabad Mikva now. by appointment only: +41-76-386-86-12

 

RESTAURANTS

Meat

Le Jardin Rose

21 Avenue Dumas

Telephone: (22) 317 8910, Fax: (22) 317 8990

Only open for lunch but arrangements can be made so that lunches and dinners can be delivered to any hotel  downtown

 

SYNAGOGUES
Orthodox
Beth Habad
12 rue du Lac

Telephone: (22) 736 3682

The Geneva Synagogue (Ashkenazi) place de la Synagogue

 

Sephardi

Hekhal Haness

54 ter route de Malagnou
Telephone: (22) 736 9632

 

TOURIST SITES
Cathedrale St Pierre
Cour Saint-Pierre 1204
Telephone: (22) 311 7575, Fax: (22) 311 7573

The home of an interesting stained glass window depicting Moses in the Chapelle des Macchabees

 

LA CHAUX DE FONDS

 

SYNAGOGUES

La Chaux De Fonds Synagogue
rue de Parc 63 2300

Telephone: (39) 231 794

The synagogue was built in 1896 although Jews arrived here from Alsace in 1777.

 

LAUSANNE

 

BUTCHERS
Kosher

Kolbo Shalom

7 avenue Juste Olivier
Telephone: (21) 312 1265

 

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
Communaute Israelite de Lausanne
3 avenue Geogette 1001

Telephone: (21) 3417240, Fax: (21) 3417241

Website: www.cisrl.ch

 

MIKVAOT

Lausanne Mikvaot

1 avenue Juste Olivier
Telephone: (21) 6175818

 

RESTAURANTS
Community Centre

3 avenue Geogette 1003
Telephone: (21) 341 7242

Serves lunches only, from 12pm to 2pm

 

SYNAGOGUES
Orthodox

Lausanne Orthodox Synagogue
1 avenue Juste Olivier

Telephone: (21) 320 9911

 

LENGNAU

 

CONTACT INFORMATION
Tourist Information
Telephone: (56) 241 1203

Ring to arrange visits to the old synagogue and cemetery

 

LUCERNE

 

BUTCHERS

Judische Metzgerei
Bruchstrasse 26
Telephone: (41) 240 2560

 

MIKVAOT

Lucerne Mikvaot
Bruchstrasse 51
Telephone: (41) 3204750

SYNAGOGUES

Lucerne Synagogue
Bruchstrasse 51
Telephone: (41) 240 6400

 

LUGANO

 

GROCERIES

Koschere Lebensmittel erhaltlich bei

Frutor SA via Bagutti 4

Telephone: (91) 922 8522, 922 8540, Fax: (91) 923 9824

 

HOTELS

Hotel Dan

Via Fontana 1 6902

Telephone: (91) 985 7030, Fax: (91) 985 7031

Website: www.pibt.deilidan.htm

Supervision: Rabbinate lugano’s Jewish Community

 

MIKVAOT

Lugano Mikvaot

Vlo Maderno 11

Telephone: (91) 923 8952

 

SYNAGOGUES

Lugano Synagogue

Via Maderno 11

Telephone: (91) 923 5698

 

NEUKIRCH EGNACH

 

CENTRAL ORGANISATIONS

Vegetarian Society

Schweizerische Vereinigung fur Vegetarismus (SVV)

Bahnhofstr 529315

Telephone: (71) 477 3377, Fax: (71) 477 3378

Website: www.vegetarimus.ch

Can supply information on those who wish to eat vegetarian in Switzerland.

 

SCUOL

 

Hotel Scuol Palace 7550

Telephone: (081) 8611200, Fax: (081) 861 1300

Email: info@scuolpalace.ch
Website: www.scuolpalace.com
Supervision: Agudat Ahim Zurich

Scuol is renowned across Europe for its magnificent baths and medicinal springs.

 

ST GALLEN

 

SYNAGOGUES

St Gallen Synagogue
Frongartenstrasse 18
Telephone: (71) 223 5923

 

STMORITZ

HOTELS

Bermann’s Hotel Edelweiss 7500

Telephone: (81) 836 5555, Fax: (81) 833 5556

Supervision: Rabbi Rabbinowitz. lugano

 

WINTERTHUR

 

SYNAGOGUES
Winterthur Synagogue
Rosenstrasse 5
Telephone: (52) 232 8136

 

YVERDON

 

CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr Maurice Ellkan

1400 Cheseaux noreaz
Telephone: (24) 425 1851

 

ZUG

 

RESTAURANTS

Restaurant Glashof
Baarerstrasse 41 6301
Telephone: (42) 221 248
Prepared kosher meals are available

 

ZURICH

1273 saw the arrival of the first Jews in Zurich. The next two centuries saw the Jews thrown out and allowed to return over and over. The Fraumunster Church situated at Munsterhof Square has  five stained glass Chagall windows, and four of the windows are based on themes from the Hebrew Bible.

 

BAKERIES

Backerei Bolag

Waffenplazstrasse 5, (near Bahnhof Enge) 8002

Telephone: (44) 202 3045, Fax: (44) 291 4684

 

BUTCHERS

KolTuv

8 Aemtlerstrasse

Telephone: (44) 454 1000

 

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
Reform

Jiidische Liberale Gemeinde JLG Or Chadasch
Hallwylstrasse 78/ im hof 8004

Telephone: 043 322 01 14, Fax: 043 322 03 16

Email: info@jlg.ch, Website: www.jlg.ch

 

GROCERIES

Jelmoli Department Store
Seidengasse 1 8001

Telephone: (44) 2204747

Has a large kosher section

 

Pick and Pay

Seestrasse 27 8002

Telephone: (44) 202 0805
Kosher section

 

The Co-op
Birmensdorfferstrasse 200 8055
Has a kosher section

 

HOTELS

Hotel Ascot
Tessinerplatz 9 8002
Telephone: (44) 2081414, Fax: (44) 208 1420
Website: www.ascot.ch
Serves a kosher breakfast

 

Hotel Neufeld
Goldbrunnenplatz 8055
Telephone: (43) 960 7373, Fax: (43) 960 7374

Website: www.hotel-neufeld.ch
Serves a kosher breakfast

 

JUDAICA

Books & Bagels
Waffenplatzstrasse 11 CH-8002

Telephone: (44) 201 1120, Fax: (44) 201 3120

Email: info@booksnbagels.com, Website: www.booksnbagels.com

A one-stop-shop for all things Jewish such as  Jewish literature, Seforim, Judaica items, Jewish educational toys, CDs, DVDs, silver items and much more. While visiting, our customers can enjoy our coffee and bagels corner which includes a selection of soups, salads and pastries. Open Monday to Thursday: open 8am to 7pm; Friday: till 7pm

 

MEDIA

Newspaper

Juedische Zeitung

Brandschenkestrasse 148002

Telephone: (44) 201 4617

Weekly religious newspaper

 

Periodicals

Jewish City Guide of Switzerland
Spectrum Press International, 1m Tannegg 1,
Friesenbergstrasse 221 8055

Telephone: (44) 4626411/6412, Fax: (44) 462 6462

Email: spectrumpress@bluewin.ch

A guide to Jewish communities throughout Switzerland that is published quarterly in both English and German.

 

Tachles, Revue Juive, Aufbau

JM Judische MedienAG 8027

Telephone: 044 206 4222, Fax: 044 206 4220

Email: redaktion@tachles.ch, Website: www.tachles.ch

The jewish magazines for Switzerland and Europe

 

MIKVAOT

Israelitische Religionsgesellschaft
Freigutstrasse 37 8002

Telephone: 044 201 4998

Appointment by phone between 9.00 am and 11.00 am.

 

RESTAURANTS
Restaurant Schalom

G. van Dijk, Lavaterstrasse 33 8002
Telephone: 044 283 2233, Fax: 044 283 2234

Supervision: Rabbi Rothschild

Club Savyon is part of the restaurant

 

Dairy

Fein & Schein

Schontalstrasse 14, corner/Ecke Hallwylstrasse

Telephone: (44) 241 3040, Fax: (44) 241 2112

Supervision: Rabbi Schou I Breisch

 

Pizzeria

Milk n’Honey
Zelgstrasse 1 8003
Telephone: 043 817 2525

 

SYNAGOGUES
Orthodox

Israel Religionsgesellschaft
Freigutstrasse 37 8002
Telephone: 044 201 6746

 

Israelitische Cultusgemeinde Zurich
Lavaterstrasse 33 8002

Telephone: 44 283 2200

Email: info@icz.org, Website: www.icz.org

 

Judische Gemeinde Agudas Achim
Erikastrasse 8 8003

Telephone: (44) 463 8033, Fax: (44) 463 8045

 

Minjan Machsikei Hadass
Anwandstrasse 60 8004
Telephone: (44) 241 3759, Fax: (44) 241 2668

Rabbi Mosche Chaim Schmerler

 

Minjan Wollishofen
Etzelstrasse 6 8038
Website: www.minjan.ch

 

Zurich Synagogue
Freigutstrasse 37
Telephone: (44) 201 4998