NotSki Nazis in Davos? https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/identi...d-swiss-locals-in-davos-an-explainer/72536117 Tensions between Jewish guests and Swiss locals in Davos: an explainer Sparks have been flying between locals in the mountain resort town of Davos and Orthodox Jewish holidaymakers over the last few years. What’s behind the tensions? This week the hotel-restaurant at the Pischa mountain station in Davos made international headlines after it posted a poorly worded sign in Hebrew indicating that it would no longer rent out sledges and skis to Jewish guests. The restaurant owner apologised for the wording, telling the Blick paper and other Swiss media that the decision had nothing to do with faith or personal inclinations but rather about safety concerns and the hassle when guests rent equipment in sneakers and then abandon sledges on the slopes. “We no longer want to bear the risk that a guest will cause a serious accident at some point and hold us accountable for it,” Ruedi Pfiffner, owner of the Pischa mountain station restaurant, told Blick. The sign was eventually removed and replaced by one in German, that didn’t call out Jewish guests but rather specified that suitable winter clothing and shoes are required to rent sports equipment. But the damage was done. The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities called the sign discriminatory and said they are considering taking legal action. The police in canton Graubünden have also opened an investigation. The Pischa incident isn’t an isolated case, nor are confrontations like this new. Tensions between locals in Davos and Orthodox Jewish guests have been simmering for years. Last year, the Davos Klosters Tourism CEO went as far as to say Davos was reaching a boiling point. What’s going on? Boiling point? While more Orthodox Jews enjoy their holidays in Davos, tensions with locals have flared. Reports have circulated of locals complaining about Jewish guests littering or picnicking in areas reserved for restaurant guests. Some reactions have gone even farther. In 2017, a hotel in Arosa, a three-hour train ride from Davos, caused an uproar after it put up a sign addressed to Jewish guests asking them to take a shower before swimming – sparking an official complaint from the Israeli foreign ministry. In 2019, some locals complained about a procession of 2,000 Orthodox Jews, who participated in a Torah dedication ceremony, in the streets of Davos. Last year, the CEO of Davos Klosters Tourism, Reto Branschi, added fuel to the fire after he complained about the behavior of Jewish guests in an interview, stating that some people don’t behave in a respectful manner.
