“We all need to acknowledge that the world changed on October 7. Not only in Israel, but for Jews everywhere in the world” 

T

he near-fatal assault on a 50-year-old religious Jewish man last Motzaei Shabbos in Zurich, Switzerland, showed that hatred toward Jews knows no bounds. The victim, Meir Zvi Jung, received lifesaving care on the scene from Hatzalah, and was rushed to a local hospital, where surgery stabilized his condition.

The attack prompted authorities to bolster security at Jewish institutions. Although anti-Semitism has not reached the levels of the pro-Palestinian marches seen in England or France, Switzerland has witnessed a 68% surge in hate incidents against the Jewish community since 2023, according to the Center for Intercommunal Coordination against Anti-Semitism and Defamation.

“The situation in Switzerland is not like that of Germany or France, but it’s evident that here too, as in the rest of Europe, anti-Semitic demonstrations have increased since October 7,” Zurich city councilman Yehuda Spielman, a chareidi Jew, tells Mishpacha.

Spielman is a close friend of Meir Zvi Jung, who is recovering after being stabbed by a 15-year-old Muslim youth reportedly shouting anti-Semitic and pro-Islamic slogans before the attack.

Zurich is home to around 6,000 Jews and hosts a small chareidi kehillah of 600 families, so the attack on one member has deeply affected the entire community.

“Right now, everyone is still in shock,” Yehuda Spielman explains. “I know the victim well. We daven at the same shul and live very close to each other. It’s important to understand that this is a tight-knit community. We all know each other, and we’re going through a very tough time, because this incident hit very close to home. But I’m confident we’ll soon return to normalcy.”

In the European reality dominated by massive anti-Jewish demonstrations in London, Paris, or Berlin, Switzerland largely flies under the radar. Perhaps the most telling evidence is that last Friday in Paris, a day before the Zurich assault, a Jew was attacked while leaving a synagogue, and the news went largely unnoticed. (Thankfully, that man is out of danger, but authorities have yet to apprehend the assailant.)

However, to ignore or downplay the rising anti-Semitic trend in the Alpine nation would be a mistake. Since October 7, there have been weekly pro-Palestinian marches (“Just ten minutes away from my house,” says Spielman) in this country, which hosts 400,000 Muslims.

In an unconnected episode just weeks ago, the ski resort town of Davos made headlines when a local business posted a sign announcing, “After a series of annoying incidents, including the theft of a sled, we are no longer renting out sporting equipment to our Jewish brothers.”

It’s undeniable that in certain segments of society, there’s a growing negative sentiment toward the Jewish community, and the events of October 7 have exacerbated tensions. The mayor of Davos, Philipp Wilhelm, told Swiss media after the ski shop sign incident, “Any and all forms of antisemitism, racism, and discrimination must be condemned. This does not belong in Davos.”

Following the Zurich stabbing attack, the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG) warned, “All members of the Jewish community are called upon to exercise caution until further notice.” The kehillos have received the full support of local law enforcement.

“I’m part of the Security Committee on the city council,, and we have a very strong and cordial relationship with the police,” said Yehuda Spielman. “I’m in direct contact with the police chiefs. They reached out to us immediately, and we’re in constant communication. Security forces have made themselves fully available to the community and ensured there was police presence everywhere.”

Spielman stressed that while the attack was tragic, it was isolated. “Jews in Zurich can walk, dress, and live as Jews without problems. This was a case of a madman with a knife, and while it’s concerning, it’s not part of a coordinated attack plan against Jewish targets.”

Nevertheless, the Jewish politician clarified that the community cannot simply act as though nothing has happened: “We all need to acknowledge that the world changed on October 7. Not only in Israel, but for Jews everywhere in the world.”

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1002)