History of the Jews in Bern

Bern played a central role in passing on rumours of well-poisoning from francophone to German-speaking Switzerland.

In 1648, the city sent out a directive to its Aargau officials, demanding the expulsion of the Jews and threatening those who tolerated them with a fine of 100 gulden.

[5] In the early 19th century, individual Jews were able to settle in Bern, but freedom of settlement was not established in the region until 1846.

From 1856, the terraced house "Hinter den Speichern" on Anatomiegasse, (today's Genfergasse) served as the synagogue.

[2] In 1871, the modern cemetery was established on Papiermühlestrasse, and in 1906, the community inaugurated its Moorish-Oriental synagogue on the corner of Kapellenstrasse and Sulgeneckstrasse.

The plaintiffs won the ensuing court case, the so-called Bern Trial, and the presiding judge declared the Protocols a forgery.

[6][7] In Bern, it was not until 1995 that the canton recognized the Jewish religious community under public law, thus giving it the same status as the national churches.

According to its mission statement, the Jüdische Gemeinde Bern is "open and tolerant towards all Jewish religious orientations".