Alfred Donath

Alfred Donath (May 23, 1932 in Basel – June 28, 2010 in Geneva) was a Swiss pediatrician and nuclear medicine specialist known for his tenure as president of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities. from 2000 to 2008 and vice president of the EJC from 2007 to 2008.[1][2][3]

During his tenure as president of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities, he attempted to have the ban on shechita (Jewish ritual slaughter) in Switzerland lifted, but refrained from these plans when signs of antisemitism intensifying as a result became apparent. He also played a leading role in the establishment of a Jewish community in Switzerland. Donath was the federation's vice president when Swiss banks in 1998 reached an out-of-court settlement to pay Holocaust victims and their heirs $1.25 billion. He was also President of the Chabad Community in Geneva.[4][5][6][7][8]

He was also instrumental in exposing the embezzlement of World Jewish Congress funds committed by Israel Singer.[9][10]

Donath passed away at the age of 78 on June 28, 2010. World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder praised Donath as one of the great figures of Swiss Jewry:

“Alfred Donath always fought hard to defend the Swiss community against all kinds of attacks. At the same time, Alfred Donath was always fair and sought to heal divisions and he leaves a great legacy, notably in the field of inter-faith dialogue, where he achieved good progress.  A vice-president of the European Jewish Congress and a regular participants at WJC meetings, he also was a friend and defender of Israel, and he will be sorely missed by the WJC family.” [11]

He left behind a widow, five children and ten grandchildren.[12] He is buried in the Jewish cemetery of Veyrier near Geneva.[1][4][2][7][13]

References
  1. "Alfred Donath est décédé". www.laliberte.ch (in French). Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  2. "Jewish leader Alfred Donath dead at 78". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  3. SIG/FSCI. "Enterrement du Prof. Alfred Donath". www.swissjews.ch (in French). Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  4. "EJC mourns the Passing of ALFRED DONATH, President of the Swiss Jewish Community and President of the Chabad Community in Geneva". European Jewish Congress. 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  5. "Alfred Donath, who helped Holocaust victims in Switzerland, dies". Associated Press. 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  6. "Alfred Donath | Aided Nazis' victims, 78". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  7. "Alfred Donath est décédé". rts.ch (in French). 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  8. "Alfred Donath, leading figure in Swiss Jewish community, dies at 78". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  9. Ain, Stewart; Rosenblatt, Gary. "WJC Conflict Seen As Intensifying". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  10. "Alfred Donath: "Nous allons demander qu'Israel Singer s'excuse auprès des autorités suisses"". Le Temps (in French). 2005-01-27. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  11. Congress, World Jewish. "World Jewish Congress". World Jewish Congress. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  12. "Genève: Décès du Prof. Alfred Donath, ancien président de la Fédération suisse des communautés israélites (FSCI) – Portail catholique suisse". cath.ch (in French). Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  13. "Leading figure in Swiss Jewish community dies". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
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