March of life for Israel in Zürich

In the afternoon of September 11, 2017, the first "March of life for Israel" ever in Zürich, Switzerland took place, organised by amongst others Christians for Israels Switzerland, Ebenezer Operation Exodus and Gebet für die Schweiz. Initiated in Germany in 2007 and organised internationally since for the following purpose. Remembering: Working through the past, giving survivors of the Holocaust a voice. Reconciliation: healing and restoration between descendants of the victims and perpetrators. Taking a stand: for Israel and against modern anti-Semitism.

In Zurich, over 300 participants of the Jewish and Christian communities, among them several people from "Christians for Israel Switzerland" / "Christen an der Seite Israels Schweiz" and "Isreality Schweiz", passed the streets of the old town, from the Höllentor at the Kunsthaus, and the former Medieval Synagogue, where a shofar was blown, to the Zwingliplatz beside Zürich’s main church, the Grossmünster. There the negative role of the church towards the Jews throughout the ages was remembered and confessed.

The march continued to the Fraumünster church, and to Paradeplatz. Then upon arriving at the city square between the Swiss National Bank and Bürkliplatz, the second part of the march program took place viewing to the southeast, i.e. the direction of Jerusalem. Representatives of the perpetrators' side and the victim's side in World War II commented on their past and a joint confession was spoken.

Two Swiss Holocaust survivors, Catherine Rübner and Gabor Hirsch, told their touching stories, after which Michael Ernst and Philip van den Berg handed over roses to them as a sign of reconciliation. A lecture on taking a stand against anti-Semitism followed, followed by a Jewish dance performance, during which the march participants joined in spontaneously.

The feedback of the Jewish people that attended was positive and many new relations with them were formed. We pray that this march will cause a spiritual breakthrough in the churches of the city and in the kanton of Zurich. And we hope that an increasing number of Christians may be touched by God’s love, as well as His plan with Israel, and that the local Jewish community will be increasingly comforted.

Next year the following marches are scheduled (preliminary dates).

April 2, 2018: Start "March of Life for Israel" from Konstanz to Geneva:
April 2, 2018 Konstanz/Kreuzlingen.
April 8, 2018 Zürich.
April 15, 2018 Bern.
April 22, 2018 Payerne.
May 6, 2018 Geneva.
Other 2018 marches: April 8 Davos, April 12 St. Gallen, April 15 Basel.

Additional photographs can be viewed here.

Philip van den Berg
Christen an der Seite Israels Schweiz

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