The city council of the city of Geneva adopted on May 3, 2021 the Motion M-1250, entitled “So that Geneva honors the memory of one of the oldest ghettos in Europe”.
This motion asked the Administrative Council to make known to the public the history of the Geneva Cancel or “Jewish”, a district where the Jewish community was forced to reside between 1428 and 1490, in order to preserve its memory.
Convinced of the importance of this question, the Administrative Council wished to erect a Commemorative totem at the Grand-Rue, at the corner of the Place du Grand-Mézel.
“She works of memory for events that have discriminatoryly affected the Jewish population, and recalls the firm opposition of the City of Geneva to any discrimination that Jewish people would undergo, and any individual because of his origin, his nationality, his culture or his beliefs”, specifies Alfonso Gomez, administrative advisor in charge of diversity.
“The cicad salutes this development of local Jewish history. The cancel illustrates both the Ancient presence of a Geneva Jewish population and the path traveled by this same population, locked up then expelled, to achieve full and whole citizenship which she has been enjoying for over 150 years. Bloved citizenship can only be conceived from prejudice and discrimination, “said Laurent Selvi, president of the cicad.
During the approach, the city consulted the main Jewish associations and the fight against Geneva anti -Semitism: inter -community coordination against anti -Semitism and defamation (CICAD), the Israelite Community of Geneva (CIG) as well as the Liberal Jewish Community of Geneva (GIL).
Highlighting an unknown local history
In order to shed light on this unknown episode of Geneva history, and ensure the historical rigor of this important work of memory, the city of Geneva has mandated Mrs. Sarah Pflug, Doctor in history, to draw up a Inventory of current knowledge on the subject.
THE reportavailable at the bottom of the page, is divided into four parts. He approaches theHistory of Jewish communities in medieval Europe And examine the political, economic and social context of Geneva in the 14th and 15th centuries. He Analysis the presence of the Jewish community in Genevafrom its installation to the creation of Cancel, including its expulsion at the end of the 15th century. Finally, he recounts the gradual return of Jewish people to Geneva Since the 18th century.
This initiative is a continuation of the many actions carried out as part of the municipal policy in terms of cultural diversity and the fight against racismand more particularly its “non-discrimination” axis, deployed by the Agenda 21 service-sustainable city. In its fight against anti -Semitism, the city has supported the Cicad since 2018, as well as various specific projects proposed by different associations. She also collaborates with the Canton of Geneva, the Cicad and the World Jewish Congress (CJM) for the construction of a Shoah memorial.
More information on: www.geneve.ch/cancel
We acknowledge Source link for the information.
