The initiative, part of the Swiss Jewish community’s Likrat Public dialogue and education project, is supported by Swiss Ambassador to Israel Simon Geissbühler and the Israeli Embassy in Bern. The program places representatives in Davos and Saas Valley during the three weeks between Tisha B’Av and the Hebrew month of Elul, offering assistance to Orthodox visitors unfamiliar with local rules.
In Davos — one of Switzerland’s best-known resort towns — and in the Saas Valley, where the ski village of Saas-Fee is located, 10 representatives are stationed to help tourists navigate everything from recreational facilities to train timetables. The goal is to create a bridge between Orthodox Jewish visitors and locals and businesses.
Restaurant owners say interactions with Jewish guests are positive, though few dine in their establishments due to kosher restrictions. One representative, Tamar, accompanies families at a popular ropes course, explaining safety rules and equipment use. A local manager even created a poster in Hebrew and learned a few words of the language to better assist visitors.
The project adapts to religious needs as well — for example, ensuring climbing equipment is safe for boys wearing tzitzit, preventing fringes from getting caught.
At Davos train station, representatives recently helped a young Orthodox family with a stroller who struggled with the digital schedule for trains to St. Moritz. “Many Orthodox Jews don’t have smartphones, so they can’t use the SBB app,” Tamar explained. “After a mix of Yiddish, English and Hebrew, everything worked out.”
The Likrat Public desk, located near the tourist information office, also welcomes non-Jewish visitors curious about Jewish traditions, religious dress codes and the popularity of Davos among Orthodox families.
Local attitudes are described as calm and welcoming. While some Jewish visitors occasionally hear comments on the street, one British family noted: “It’s no different from back home, so we don’t let it bother us.”
Yehuda Spielman, an Orthodox Jew from Israel and a Zurich city council member, stressed that the organization operates year-round — not only during vacation season. Its representatives visit schools, universities and public spaces across Switzerland to explain Jewish life and fight antisemitism.
Founded to foster understanding and tolerance, the program has significantly reduced incidents of friction between locals and Jewish tourists. “The atmosphere has improved in recent years,” Spielman said. “Both Israelis and locals have learned to respect one another.”
