Dear friends and colleagues,

I deeply regret to inform you that our close friend and associate ALFRED DONATH, President of the Swiss Jewish Community and President of the Chabad Community in Geneva, has passed away at the age of 78.

Without a doubt Prof. Donath’s family – his wife Léa, children, and his many grandchildren – have suffered an irreplaceable loss. We, too, are orphans without him, for in Prof. Donath we found a true friend who was single-heartedly committed to our common cause of fighting anti-Semitism in all its forms, promoting our best traditions and contributing to the prosperous future of our young people.

I worked closely with Prof. Donath in the European Jewish Congress for many years, and he always offered friendly support and a principled approach to any matters related to our common cause. I would like to note that Prof. Donath’s remarkable knowledge and deep understanding of our traditions earned him high renown among those who were lucky enough to attend Jewish events with him. I had the honour of always sitting next to him at Synagogue, where I felt his support and received his guidance and explanations.

My personal loss is very acute. We will always remember you, our dear friend, and promise that your Memory will live in our hearts and minds forever. We will do everything we can so that your family feels our care, and I believe that G-d will bring you as close to Him as your goodness and kind deeds deserve.

Moshe Kantor,
President of European Jewish Congress,
President of the World Holocaust Forum Foundation