In his farewell speech to the Zurich Cantonal Council, outgoing ICZ President Jacques Lande recalled that Jewish life has been an inseparable part of Zurich for many centuries. He emphasized the deep historical roots of the Jewish community and their gratitude to the canton for its support, security and the feeling of having found a home here. Generations of Jewish Zurich residents have helped to make the canton the prosperous and open place it is today. <\/p>\n\n
At the same time, Lande made it clear that this self-evident fact is once again under threat today. For the past two years, the Jewish community has been experiencing an unprecedented wave of anti-Semitic incidents. Lande recalled that a member of the community was seriously injured in an anti-Semitic attack last year. This event has shaken the entire community and shows how serious the situation has become. Many Jews no longer dare to wear visible religious symbols such as the kippah or the Star of David. <\/p>\n\n
Lande appealed to politicians and society to ensure that Jewish life in Zurich can continue to exist in the future, not only safely but also confidently. The Jewish community wants to continue to be visible, take responsibility and contribute to the well-being of the canton. For this to remain possible, it needs the support of the authorities and the population. <\/p>\n\n
You can watch the full speech here:<\/p>\n\n