Davos, Switzerland – Widespread outrage and an official investigation are underway after a mountain restaurant and ski rental facility in Davos, Switzerland, refused to lend sports equipment to Jewish tourists. The establishment conspicuously posted a notice in Hebrew, explicitly stating a ban on equipment rentals to Jews, citing previous “annoying incidents,” including alleged theft.
The notice’s decision to employ Hebrew rather than German has raised suspicions of an attempt to obscure the discriminatory nature of the message, according to Yehuda Spielman, a Zurich local councilor who exposed the notice on social media. Spielman’s revelation has reignited discussions around the strained relationship between local Davos residents and Jewish visitors, despite efforts in recent years, including the establishment of a forum aimed at fostering dialogue and understanding between the two communities.
The incident has been met with vehement criticism, particularly for its use of the term “Jewish brothers,” which has been labeled as a veneer of friendly anti-Semitism. The Swiss Federation of Israeli Communities (SIG) has denounced the act as blatantly anti-Semitic and is pursuing legal measures.
In response to the backlash, the shop’s tenant issued an apology, admitting that the message was “worded incorrectly” and attributing the controversial policy to a series of problematic encounters with Jewish guests. However, the apology has done little to quell the outrage, prompting Swiss police to initiate an investigation into potential discrimination or incitement to hatred.
Amidst the controversy, the original notice has been replaced with a new statement in German, specifying that equipment rentals will be contingent upon customers wearing appropriate winter attire. This incident at the Pischa mountain station has cast a shadow over Davos’s image as a welcoming destination for all winter sports enthusiasts, challenging the community’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity and tolerance.