Full Breakdown
Bavarian Hotel’s Anti-Jewish Rejection Sparks Investigation
6/3/2026, 10:39:00 PM
Incident Overview
On 2 June 2026, Hotel zum Hirschen, a 120-year-old family-run hotel in Lam, Bavaria, replied to an Israeli family’s reservation request via Booking.com with the message, “Sorry, there are no Jews allowed in our hotel.” The English-language reply was posted by Israel’s consul general for southern Germany, Talya Lador, on X, prompting immediate condemnation.
Background: Surge in Antisemitic Acts
The episode occurs amid a sharp rise in antisemitic offences across Germany. The Federal Criminal Police Office recorded 6 236 incidents in 2024, including 173 violent crimes. RIAS reported 8 627 antisemitic incidents nationwide in 2024—nearly double the previous year—and 2 197 incidents in Berlin during 2025, still more than twice pre-October 2023 levels. A January 2026 study by the Central Council of Jews in Germany found that 62 % of surveyed Jewish communities felt their security had deteriorated since the war with Iran.
Key Actors
- Hotel zum Hirschen – owned by the Sperl-Vogl family; junior director Andreas Vogl issued the apology.
- Talya Lador – Israeli consul general for southern Germany.
- Josef Schuster – President, Central Council of Jews in Germany.
- Charlotte Knobloch – President, Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria.
- Booking.com – online reservation platform that removed the hotel.
- Bavarian Justice Ministry’s commissioner for combating antisemitism – receiving the formal complaint.
- Regensburg Criminal Police – opened a criminal investigation.
Timeline
- 2 June 2026 – Hotel sends anti-Jewish rejection via Booking.com.
- 2 June 2026 – Lador shares screenshot on X, labeling the message “Are we back in the 1930s?”.
- 3 June 2026 – Hotel apologises, offers a free one-week stay, cites frustration over fraudulent bookings.
- 3 June 2026 – Booking.com removes Hotel zum Hirschen from its listings.
- 3 June 2026 – Regensburg Criminal Police open an investigation; complaint filed with Bavarian justice ministry.
Data & Statistics
- 6 236 antisemitic incidents (2024, Bundeskriminalamt).
- 173 violent antisemitic crimes (2024).
- 8 627 total antisemitic incidents (2024, RIAS).
- 2 197 incidents in Berlin (2025).
- 2 044 antisemitic offences in the first half of 2025, including 50 violent crimes.
Official Statements & Responses
Hotel zum Hirschen described the reply as a “regrettable mistake” caused by human error and anger over repeated fake bookings. The owners emphasized that the comment “does not reflect our worldview” and pledged to “condemn any form of discrimination.” Booking.com confirmed the hotel’s temporary removal from its platform pending review. Bavarian authorities have referred the case to the commissioner for combating antisemitism, with possible charges under § 130 of the Criminal Code for incitement to hatred.
Criticism & Opposition
Josef Schuster called the statement “shocking” and “unacceptable,” while Charlotte Knobloch stressed that the intent behind the message is secondary to its impact on Jewish people. The Central Council of Jews in Germany demanded a thorough investigation and accountability. Professor Guy Katz argued the response reflected deeper antisemitic attitudes rather than mere stress.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The hotel claims the Israeli reservation was mistakenly flagged as fraudulent, yet the explicit anti-Jewish wording contradicts standard anti-fraud protocols. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether formal charges will be filed, and the outcome of the criminal investigation remains pending.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Are we back in the 1930s?” — Talya Lador, Israeli consul general for southern Germany.
- “ "The dehumanizing statement 'No Jews allowed' cannot be justified under any circumstances, regardless of attempts to place it in context," said Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.” — Josef Schuster, President, Central Council of Jews in Germany.
- “Charlotte Knobloch, President of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, "In the end, it is almost secondary whether the author sent it out of hateful intent or simple thoughtlessness, because either way it describes the reality of many Jewish people, not only Israelis.” — Charlotte Knobloch, President, Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria.
- “The threat to Jewish life is worse than at any time since the Holocaust,” — Uwe Becker, Hesse antisemitism commissioner.
- “It was definitely wrong of us to respond in this way in the chat,” — Andreas Vogl, junior director, Hotel zum Hirschen.
What’s Next
The Bavarian justice ministry’s commissioner will evaluate the criminal probe, and prosecutors may decide whether to pursue incitement-to-hatred charges. Booking.com’s removal of the hotel remains in effect, and the establishment faces ongoing threats and reputational damage. The case is likely to be cited in broader debates over rising antisemitism in Germany and the responsibilities of hospitality platforms to enforce anti-discrimination standards.
