The Jewish Community of Fribourg

Fribourg

City and capital of the Fribourg canton, Switzerland. 

Toward the middle of the 14th century, a number of Jews received permission to settle in Fribourg as citizens and to engage in moneylending. As elsewhere in Switzerland, they lived in their own part of the town, although not confined to a ghetto. On the outbreak of the Black Death (1348-1349), the Jews of Fribourg, like those in the rest of Europe, were accused of causing the epidemic by spreading poison. The decrees of expulsion of the Jews from 1428 and 1463 were not permanent. Jews were subsequently granted the right to buy houses. Until at least 1481 Jews could live in the city.
From the end of the 17th century, Jewish cattle dealers were occasionally permitted to visit the city's open market, but the ban on Jewish commerce issued by nearby Berne in 1787 also affected Fribourg until 1798. Restrictions against the settlement of Jews remained in force until 1864, though some privileged Jews received residence permits after 1843. The present community was founded in 1895. In 1968 it numbered approximately 150 persons and had a synagogue. In 2000, Jews in the canton of Fribourg numbered 138 persons; 66 were members of the community. The community built a synagogue in 1904 and acquired a cemetery. It was given an official status in 1999/2000. The leading Nordmann family opened department stores. Jean Nordmann, president of the Jewish community Association in 1973-1980, was one of the first Jewish colonels in the Swiss army. Jewish subjects are taught at the local Catholic university.