← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Jean West
Thread ID: 11191 | Posts: 4 | Started: 2003-11-21
2003-11-21 23:37 | User Profile
[url]http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/religion/judaism.html[/url]
[IMG]http://switzerland.isyours.com/images/img.156.3.jpg[/IMG] The Geneva Synagogue Located at the heart of the financial district, the newly renovated Geneva Synagogue is where the funeral service for banker Edmond Safra was held.
Judaism in Switzerland
The prosperous Swiss Jewish community lives in harmony with the rest of the population. In 1999, Switzerland was one of the first countries in the world to be governed by a Jewish president, Ms Ruth Dreifuss.
A few celebrities... Many Jews settled in Switzerland, such as businessman Nessim Gaon, owner of the magnificent Noga Hilton in Geneva, Edmond Safra, who for a long time ran his banking empire from Switzerland, or the Maus and Nordmann families, owners of the Manor group, one of the three major store chains in Switzerland, or raider Asher Edelman, who had his museum of modern art built on the shores of Lake Geneva.
But businessmen are not the only famous Jews to have lived in Switzerland. Albert Cohen, Corfu-born writer, who was raised in Marseilles and came to Geneva to study without ever leaving the city where he wrote his award-winning novel Belle du Seigneur, or Elias Canetti, 1981 Nobel Literature prize winner, who spent 5 years in Zurich. We could also cite philosopher Jeanne Hersch, literary critic Jean Starobinski, or Paul Guggenheim, the most eminent international law expert, violinist Yehudi Menuhin, or composer Ernest Bloch. But the most famous of all is without a doubt Albert Einstein, who spent his entire youth in Switzerland, obtained his Doctorate in Physics from the renowned Federal Polytechnic Academy in Zurich and was employed as examiner at the Swiss patent office.
The beginnings Before the founding of the Swiss Confederation (1291), there were already Jews in the present-day Swiss territory. In fact, the presence of Jews is attested as early as 1213 in Basle. Coming from Germany and France, they traveled along the rivers to Bern, Zurich, Geneva, St Gallen, Lucerne, Vevey, Neuchâtel, Fribourg and many other cities.
Banished during the fifteenth century, they obtained protection and the right to reside in two villages in the Aargau canton, Lengnau and Oberendingen.
Western Yiddish The Jews of the Surb Valley spoke a particular Western Yiddish dialect, traces of which can be still found today in the region, a mix of High German dialects, blended with Hebrew and Armenian words, and inklings of Romance languages. Contrary to Eastern Yiddish, which is spoken by Polish and American Jews, Western Yiddish has almost disappeared. Today there are but a scarce few, mostly elderly, who know the dialect of the Surb Valley Jews. That is why the University of Zurich Sound Archives have begun recording what is left of this language on the road to extinction, just as they have done for other Swiss dialects.
Equal rights Legal freedom was granted to all religious communities by the 1874 Constitution, of which article 49 recognizes that the freedom of conscience and belief is inviolable. The Jews of the Surb Valley immigrated to the big Swiss cities. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, many Jews from Alsace, Germany and Eastern Europe added to this core group. In 1920, the Jewish population had reached its peak at 21,000 people, a figure that has remained almost constant ever since.
A few demographics According to the 1990 census, Switzerland counts approximately 20,000 Jews, or 0.3% of the total population. Although the number of Jews has remained fairly stable since the thirties, their relative share has decreased proportionally. This plateau is due to immigration, without which Swiss Jews could not have prevented a demographic setback, linked to an aging population and the many mixed marriages.
In terms of the cantons, only Zurich, Basle-City, Geneva and Vaud have a Jewish community exceeding 1,000 people. One third of Swiss Jews reside in the canton of Zurich (6,252 people).
Ashkenazim Following the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956, and the crushing of Prague Spring in 1968, immigrants poured into Switzerland. There were many Jews among the refugees to whom Switzerland generously opened its doors.
Sephardim The Jews of Egypt and North Africa, forced to leave their homeland in the wake of decolonization and because of conflict in the Near East, settled mainly in French-speaking Switzerland, where they found a new homeland. Their contribution to the community does not stop at statistics; they brought new blood, a human touch, as well as another Jewish tradition. Contrary to the many apprehensions, there was no cultural conflicts between the already established Ashkenazim Jews and the newly arrived Sephardim Jews, who quickly filled important roles within the various communities.
Orthodox Jews A community of Orthodox Jews settled in Zurich, creating a lively quarter much like in Antwerp or New York. Unlike in other European cities, where certain Jewish quarters do not have a single kosher restaurant, the Swiss capital is home to an extremely dynamic Orthodox community with thriving traditions.
An organized and united community Swiss Jews are well-matched with their country: they are not strong in number, but well organized. The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (FSCI), the umbrella organization for Jews, is comprised of 23 autonomous communities. Its statutes do justice to the religious diversity and heterogeneousness of the different collectivities: "the communities affiliated with the FSCI enjoy absolute independence as regards religion and all other domains".
The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities is a unique body that is representative of the extreme diversity of Judaism within one country. In most of the countries of the Diaspora, the Jews have long since separated into different organizations, anywhere from right-wing Orthodox to left-wing progressive liberal. Despite an increasing polarization within the Swiss Jewish community as well, we have to date always been able to find a "Swiss compromise". As such, the most dissimilar communities find themselves under the same roof.
The Orthodoxy, turned towards home life, are seeking to preserve strict beliefs, perpetuate tradition and further their knowledge of Judaism; the Unitarian communities provide a spiritual base all the while offering cultural and social activities for everyone, whether traditional Jew or not. Although the synagogue still represents the center of religious life, a wide range of activities take place there to meet the most varied needs: conferences and adult education courses are organized, the elderly are taken care of, there are social provision associations, as well as discotheques for the young people, daycare centers and a Jewish day school in certain communities.
Business and finance The Jews play a fairly important role in the textile and clock-making industries, as well as manufacturers or wholesalers. Switzerland’s largest, most decisive industry (machinery, chemicals) does not as such count any Jewish representatives, nor do they occupy a forefront position with the big banks. They do, however, own several private banks such as the Republic National Bank of New York and the Discount Bank & Trust Company. Jews figure in the professions as doctors, dentists, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers and artists, although they count few in the public service and press. But the most well-known Jewish figure in Switzerland is undoubtedly Ruth Dreifuss, who entered the federal government in 1993 and became Switzerland’s first woman president.
Jewish press: Revue juive, Israelitisches Wochenblatt (weekly) Jüdische Rundschau (weekly)
Internet: List of kosher products Schedule of Jewish activities in Switzerland Israelitische Gemeinde Basel (IGB) Lausanne Jewish School Jüdische Gemeinde Bern (JGB) Jüdisches Informationszentrum Zürich (JüFO) Die Jüdische Weltes of interest: Swiss Jewish community: contacts
2003-12-04 02:28 | User Profile
Scary
No wonder their Nationalist party won the most votes in their last election. The parasite must not be allowed to nest there! I'm sure the Swiss people are already being sucked dry.
2003-12-18 21:20 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Jean West] ....Jews figure in the professions as doctors, dentists, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers and artists, although they count few in the public service and press. But the most well-known Jewish figure in Switzerland is undoubtedly Ruth Dreifuss, who entered the federal government in 1993 and became Switzerlandââ¬â¢s first woman president. ..... [/QUOTE]
Here is a description of how Mrs Dreifuss first became to be known in Switzerland and her rapid rise to power...
From a talk given by Bernhard Schaub in December 2001:
[QUOTE]In 1991, some ten years ago today, Switzerland celebrated its 700th anniversary. It's now 700 years since the Oath of Allegiance on the Ruetli Meadow and William Tell in 1291. Well, ten years ago Migros, the largest shopping chain in Switzerland, brought out its Annual Review as it always does. In this book Migros published an interview with a trade union secretary who was completely unknown at the time. Shortly afterwards this trade union secretary acquired dubious fame which continues to this day. We are talking about the person, well-known to all of you, the lady with three feet, Mrs Ruth Dreifuss (Dreifuss in German means ââ¬Ëthree feet'). Do you know how one recognises the devil according to old legends? ââ¬Â¦from the goat's foot. I must assume that the third foot of Mrs Dreifuss must be the goat's foot. Someone should check it out one day. Anyway, as Mrs Dreifuss was interviewed ten years ago she was asked what were her views regarding support for Switzerland, sovereignty etc. etc. At the time I wondered about this ââ¬â I mean the woman was completely unknown. What I was concerned with though was this: Why is this completely unknown person ââ¬â really no one had any idea who she was ââ¬â why was she giving an interview which is several pages long. I mean, a trade union secretary ââ¬â who is interested in her? You know, in retrospect one is wiser and it is clear she was being groomed then to one day land in the Federal Council. Anyway, in response to the question of her allegiance to Switzerland Mrs Dreifuss actually said, and please listen carefully, she said, "Whether Switzerland survives as a sovereign nation is not personally important to me". Just imagine it? And in the same vein she went on to talk about the blessings that immigration and multicultural society would bring saying: "Yes, it would be wonderful if Switzerland turned into a rainbow-coloured country". Meaning of course that as many coloured people as possible, as many different races as possible should come and settle here. She then went on to say, "...and there will be many mixed marriages and that will be good for us". Ouch! Well then, who will that be good for when she says, "That will be good for us"? Well, she certainly can't mean us Swiss because we, the Swiss will simply disappear...the same as the Germans will disappear if the present rate of immigration continues. But perhaps he meant that quite differently because, you know, Mrs Dreifuss - I have nothing against her - but strictly speaking she is not a Swiss person. In earlier days she was in the Zionist Youth Movement ââ¬â and you are not usually a member of that if you are a normal Swiss person. Therefore, maybe when she said, "That will be good for us" what she really meant is that it would be good for that group of people to whom she belongs. Yes, it will be good for them when we mix with other races. It certainly will be good for them when we turn into mongrels ââ¬â then we loose our individual identity, our biological identity, our mental identity, our national-spiritual identity. We simply loose everything. We will turn into these coffee-coloured MacDonalds customers, to these American-English speaking Coco-Cola customers that have been predestined for the "New World Order'. That's what they want - a mixed race virtually incapable of thinking anymore but like worker ants to be used and misused and who run around and do as they are told ââ¬â while the rulers, who don't mix, will be bossing us around from the top floor where they already sit at the moment. Am I right? ...sitting in their offices in the Wall Street. Yes indeed. Actually, it's a pity that that plane didn't fly into Wall Street instead of the World Trade Center.
Well, this story about Mrs Dreifuss is not finished yet. This splendid lady, by putting the subject of Switzerland's sovereignty up for discussion, by promoting the over-population of Switzerland with coloured immigrants who are best described as the civilian members of an occupying force, and by wanting to destroy the Swiss national character by promoting mixed marriages, demonstrated in no uncertain terms that she is a potential traitor. A short time later this lady is elected into the Swiss Federal Council (7 person executive). And pay good attention to what I am telling you now ââ¬â Mrs Dreifuss was elected into the Federal Council not by the left-wingers but by non-socialist party members. That the socialists would vote for this good lady is clear, isn't it? I mean, I have just read it in the papers that the Social Democratic Party has now stated, "Switzerland is an immigration country" as if we were Papua New Guinea or Australia with a massive dessert where no one lives. Yes, quite clearly the Left would vote for Mrs Dreifuss. That's why to some degree I have more respect for the Left. At least they are honest ââ¬â honest idiots, aren't they? But, as I started to say earlier, Mrs Dreifuss wasn't voted into the Federal Council by the Left but by the non-socialist, centre-right majority of the house. As you know, in both the National Council and the upper chamber the majority still overwhelmingly consists of the members of the centre-right category of "Bürgerliche", i.e. non-socialist parties. The Left do not have a majority in our parliament. Ok, at least not theoretically. But in practice this woman ââ¬â a traitor and abolisher of the Swiss national character - was elected into the Federal Council by votes from the Liberal Party, from the Christian-Democrats and all the others. Just imagine it, if this issue had been put before the people ââ¬â just suppose for a moment that members of the Federal Council were elected by popular vote. Beforehand we could explain to the electorate: "Look here dear Mr and Mrs Switzerland ââ¬â this woman has said these things ââ¬â She puts Switzerland's sovereignty at the disposal of foreigners and she promotes unrestrained immigration. Do you want this woman in the government? I guarantee that about 80 percent of the voters would have rejected her. But our parliament elected her! [/QUOTE]
2003-12-18 21:27 | User Profile
Dreifuss derived from devil's foot?
Not unlike some zhid leader in Russia named Satanovsky.
Or a zhid apparatchik in the US named Chertoff (Chert = Devil in Russian).