Saturday's attack in Zurich's Selnau district, in which a Muslim youth stabbed an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man while shouting "death to Jews," severely wounding him, shocked the Jewish community in Switzerland.
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The attack prompted local police to bolster security at Jewish sites throughout the city, yet the community's sense of safety has been shaken.
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Increased security around Jewish institutions in Switzerland
(Photo: ARND WIEGMANN / AFP)
"It happened in a corner that is familiar to all of us," Rabbi Chaim Drukman, a Chabad emissary at the Jewish community in Lucerne, told Ynet in an interview.
"On Saturday at 10:10 PM, a Jewish man left his family home in the city center, in the heart of the Jewish community in Zurich, exactly what we call - in the middle of the 'cholent' (traditional Jewish stew) time, and was simply stabbed."
Rabbi Drukman said that it was unclear in the first few hours after the attack whether it was motivated by antisemitic sentiment. "The moment they caught him, he threatened to attack those holding him. I personally know the victim's family and some of the witnesses who were there and saw it. It was truly shocking," he said.
"I cannot say that there is no rise in antisemitism at all, but the situation in Switzerland is much better than all our European neighbors – whether it's France, Germany, Italy, England and a bit further away.
"In Switzerland, the situation is a bit different, the country is different, the mentality is different. In general, this is an isolated incident. There is no panic here, far from it – we feel the warm support of the police."
Is anyone saying that perhaps it is time to move to Israel?
"There are all sorts of voices. People have been saying it since 1948. I have been in Switzerland for 22 years and Jews have always yearned to move to Israel. I do not see any serious movement of people or any organization wishing to immigrate to Israel because of antisemitism. There is a desire and longing to make Aliyah because the Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, and every Jew. Even if we feel very at home in Switzerland, there is another home, which is the Land of Israel.
"Security around community institutions will be hightened, and since October 7, there has been a very significant increase in security at Jewish institutions. Since Saturday's incident, there is a bit more alertness, but no one stays at home," he added.
Any good news you can share?
"Before the main good news, there is a positive update: just this morning, a very sharp condemnation was issued along with solidarity with the Jewish community on behalf of Muslim community institutions in Switzerland, a condemnation and solidarity without any reservation or doubt. It is very encouraging, it warms the heart.
"The official good news is that, medically speaking, the injured man's life is not in danger anymore. His condition is still severe but stable, and we continue to pray. We were under a lot of pressure. We know the family well, and the daughter of the victim attends my daughter's school. As always on such days, we have a gathering of the community from all streams of Judaism – the ultra-Orthodox, the modern, the reformists, the conservatives – and it warms the heart, but I hope we will know better days."