Swiss hotel criticized for signs telling Jews to shower before using pool

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- A hotel in Switzerland has been criticized for hanging anti-Semitic signs with rules specifically for Jewish guests.

"To our Jewish Guests. Please take a shower before you go swimming and although [sic] after swimming," a sign in English said at the Aparthaus Paradies hotel, according to the Jerusalem Post. "If you break the rules, I'm forced to [close] the swimming pool for you. Thank you for understanding."

Another sign said, "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." 

Ruth Thomann, manager of the hotel, which is located 80 miles southeast of Zurich in the Swiss Alps town of Arosa, and she told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the signs were a misunderstanding.

"I have nothing against Jews, whom we regularly receive warmly here," she said. "I may have selected the wrong words. The signs should have been addressed to all the guests instead of Jewish ones."

Thomann said the swimming pool sign was put up because guests are not allowed to swim without showering first and only Jewish guests were breaking the rules.

She also said the refrigerator sign was due to Jewish dietary restrictions.

"The sign was addressed to Jewish guests simply because the other guests are not allowed to put food in the fridge, and we wanted our Jewish guests to access the food only at set times because otherwise it was an impossible situation," she said.

But Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's deputy foreign minister, said the signs were "an anti-Semitic act of the worst and ugliest kind."