Thousands of chareidi families are currently and will be visiting throughout Europe during bein hazmanim, mainly in region of the Alps in Switzerland or France, as well as Austria and Italy. Unfortunately, some are leaving a bad taste with their local hosts.
One of the most prestigious resorts in the country is Davos, Switzerland, where admorim, rabbonim and public figures visit, along with ‘amcha’ – regular Israelis. According to vacationers staying in the area, the streets of Davos during bein hazmanim appear similar to Meah Shearim and Bnei Brak due to the large presence of chareidim.
In contrast to the current summer months; in the winter, Davos functions as a luxury ski resort for the world’s wealthy. In fact, chareidim from all over the world come during bein hazmanim, and this provides employment and a livelihood for the region’s residents, so everyone seems to be satisfied.
However, according to a Kikar Shabbos News report, things may not be as cordial as they appear. The report states that last week, the head of the local Tourism Ministry, whose job is parallel to the mayor and considered the strongest man in the region, sent a letter to the head of the Jewish community, warning that the Jews are leaving dirt and harming the town’s reputation.
The letter was passed on to all the hotels and resort centers in the area and was even hung in shuls where the chareidim are mispallel during their stay.
Radu Branski claims, among other things, in his letter that the Jews are accused of improper use and theft of train and cable car cards. “Dear Mr. Mosbacher (head of the community). For many years we welcome you and your community as a faithful guest during the summer, and we are pleased to maintain a good relationship with you, and we would like to thank you on this occasion.
“Unfortunately, we have received more and more negative feedback from other guests recently, some of whom even want to avoid a visit to Davos in the summer in the future, which is related both to the general behavior of the village and to our guest program, Davos Klosters Active.”
The senior resident of the resort town, Radu Branski, continues his letter to the head of the local Jewish community: “Unfortunately, the complaints were received on a number of issues:
- Guest cards, which allows the free use of cable cars and offers other benefits, are reported lost more often than the average;
- Complaints were received that diapers and other waste are simply left behind in the woods;
- The playgrounds were taken by large groups, while small families do not find a place;
- Guests use the most popular tour with the bus, only to visit the cemetery. It is not fair that resorts are losing guests who want to complete the entire tour;
- Group orders are made for a number of families, but some participants do not appear or participate under names other than those registered. This is not fair to other interested guests, and leads to additional and complex work for attractions providers;
- Carts are taken for guided tours, while it is clearly stated that the activity is not suitable for them;
- The participation of unaccompanied children is possible only when choosing the “children only” option. If the reservation is for the whole family, at least one adult is required to accompany each group of children;
- During the tour of milk and cheese on Alfa Novay in 2017 and 2018, Jewish guests closed their noses. This bothered some of the other guests who participated. “
Branski concludes his letter with the hope of “finding solutions in a joint meeting and dialogue,” while announcing: “We are considering a full price for losing the ticket card or canceling Davos Klosters Active and Davos Inclusive programs during the summer months.”
The Kikar report also reveals that among the vacationers, opinions are divided. Some of course are claiming anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews. “To say chareidim holidaymakers leave dirty diapers is an obscene and a false claim,” they insist. On the other hand, there are those who view some of the claims as justified, explaining “large families arrive in Davos and cause a major Chilul Hashem as they try cutting corners. They make a great deal of noise and bother area residents who are accustomed to peace and quiet”.
The report concludes quoting, “the time has come for Yidden to act as Yirei Shomayim and to make a Kiddush Hashem, and they won’t come to us with gripes”, explain some of the frum vacationers to Kikar Shabbos News.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
The problem is not that Jews act any different than non-Jews. It’s just that Jews are easily identified and so the typical gentile regards them as an associated collective group. I’m sure the Davos residents see non-Jewish tourists do much worse things, but they just don’t subconsciously associate these separate incidents with each other, since the non-Jewish tourists come in all flavors and colors. We Jews need to realize that people view us as a collective, and if you can’t behave like a perfect mentch then you should shave your payos and beard and get rid of the monkey suit. Ein mitzvah baah beydei aveirah. The chumrah (not even a mitzvah) of dressing like cookie-cutter frum Jews can’t come at the expense of the serious aveira of chillul shem shamayim.
Listen Mr. Edomi Bachi with your list of polite grievences, we’ve heard this before. “There is a certain people, scattered and dispersed among all the provinces of your realm, whose laws are different from those of any other people and who do not obey the king’s laws; and it is not in Your Majesty’s interested to tolerate them” (Esther 3:8) If you don’t want the business inzer Yiddelech have plenty of other places to go…
People coming from mainly orthodox/chassidic population centers like Stamford Hill, Borough Park etc have little understanding of the swiss way of live and their expectations in cleanliness, courtesy and other rules of behavior in public.
Holiday makers quickly get the feeling of total freedom with no consideration for others.
Antisemitism is certainly a problem in those places but our responsibility is not to give them any excuse.
@Curiosity – sometimes, that is what happens. Sometimes, cultural norms are very different.
It’s important that we, as a community, remember that we still live in galus. We need to adhere to cultural norms whenever they do not contradict hallacha, especially when visiting another area. In the same way that we would expect secular tourists visiting certain places in Israel to dress appropriately, we must act in accordance with local cultural norms when visiting other areas. This is particularly true when larger numbers of people visit another area – such as the Catskills or Europe.
Be friendly, be polite, be open and be inviting.
This behaviour doesn’t just antagonise the Swiss goyim, it bothers “normal” frum Jews as well. I try to avoid bein hazmanim in Devos because it’s overrun by Israelis behaving obnoxiously.
Unfortunately, everything written here I’ve seen myself, or can well believe as it’s fully in character with what I have seen. It’s not anti-semitism when the locals object to arrogant, obnoxious tourists.
I’m not condoning any inappropriate behavior or chilul Hashem. A Yid has a responsibility wherever he is to behave like a mensch. What I’m saying is that a letter like this is obnoxious. Imagine a letter addressed to “Black guests who vacation in Davos”. Their community would be up in arms and rightfully so. Additionally, much of what is written in this letter sounds very exagirated and I doubt theses things are any more common with Jewish tourists then with any other group. They should state clearly their rules, set up surveillance cameras, and charge people for damage they cause or for cleanup costs. But a letter like this? It’s unacceptable.
@chatzkal, I regret to inform you that based on what I’ve seen myself, the letter it not exaggerated at all. And it’s a much bigger problem with Yidden (well, a large number of badly behaved ones) than goyim. The goyishe tourists generally know how to behave and respect the locals, whereas many Hiemeshes clearly don’t.
Given that a large number of conspicuously identifiable chareidim are literally ruining the holiday resort for everyone else, I’m not sure what would have been better than to address them directly. This wasn’t a public letter, it was sent to the person who manages the local minyan/mikveh.
I have been going to Switzerland in the summer for many years. I’ve been collecting kosher nosh packets on every trip. No, its not a hobby – I’m just trying to minimise the Chillul Hashem that our dear sisters and brothers cause each time they discard their empty wrappers on the ground.
Please, they don’t weigh much, take them with you or place them in the many bins provided.