Kosher and Jewish Life in Zurich

The city of Zurich lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland, a global center for banking and finance. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its premedieval history. Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th-century Rathaus (town hall). Permanently settled for around 2000 years, Zürich has a history that goes back to its founding by the Romans, who, in 15 BC, called it Turicum. There are about 390,000 people living in Zürich (as of 2011), making it Switzerland's largest city. Zürich has a rich cultural tradition. In addition to high-quality museums and galleries, Zürich has high-calibre chamber and symphony orchestras and several important theatres. The Zürich Film Festival is one of the most important upcoming international film festivals. In just a few years, the Festival became firmly established upon the national and international festival landscape. Over the course of 11 days, it attracts both stars and new talents and celebrates popular international productions. More recently, the kickstarter.com funded Mobile Motion Film Festival will hold its first event in May 2015.