A Swiss hotel has caused outrage with a guest notice. A photograph of a notice posted in the hotel Aparthaus Paradies in the Swiss town of Arosa spread rapidly on social media after a Jewish family staying in the hotel noticed it. The notice singles out Jewish guests asking them to shower before swimming.

SWITZERLAND: Manager of popular Paradise Arosa hotel apologizes for posting signs telling “Jewish guests” to shower before entering pool. pic.twitter.com/m0icKRcEky

— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) August 14, 2017

According to an article on the Jerusalem Post, the same family reported another notice at the hotel which stated: “To our Jewish guests: You are allowed to approach the fridge between the hours: 10.00-11.00 in the morning and 16.30-17.30 in the evening. I hope you understand that our team does not like to be disturbed every time.”

Tzipi Hotovely, Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on Twitter that she had discussed the anti-Semitic signs with Jacob Keidar the Israeli ambassador in Switzerland.

According to 20 Minutes, the hotel’s manager confirmed the sign had been removed and said the choice of words was wrong, adding that it was typically Jewish guests who swam without washing, which is why the notice was directed at this group.

Various newspapers described the hotel as popular with ultra-Orthodox Jewish visitors because of its reputation for accommodating Jewish dietary restrictions. The author of the notice reportedly said the signs were put up because two Jewish girls had gone into the swimming pool without taking a shower. In addition, she said families had been allowed to use a staff refrigerator but that time limits were posted to stop guests constantly coming into the staff room.

20 Minutes reported that Hotovely condemned the notice describing it as “an act of anti-semitism of the worst kind” and demanded legal action against the author and an official apology.

According to The Times of Israel, Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Tilman Renz wrote to AFP in an email that the ministry had been in contact with Jacob Keidar and had “outlined to him that Switzerland condemns racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination in any form.”

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20 Minutes article (in French) - Take a 5 minute French test now

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