A staff member at Hotel Zum Hirschen in Lam, Bavaria, replied to an Israeli guest’s inquiry with a message that Jews were not welcome, igniting an international scandal. The email, sent to Michael Winokur, led to the hotel’s removal from Booking.com and sharp rebuke from officials in Germany and Israel.

Anti‑Semitic Email Sent to Israeli Tourist Michael Winokur

The offending message, which read “Sorry, there are no Jews allowed in our hotel,” was dispatched after Winokur, an Israeli traveler, asked about a two‑night stay for his family. According to the source report, the email originated from a staff member and was framed as a reaction to what the hotel claimed were “suspected fake bookings.”

Immediate Removal from Booking.com Disrupts Hotel Operations

Booking.com acted swiftly, delisting Hotel Zum Hirschen from its platform within hours of the incident becoming public. The platform’s decission cut off a major source of reservations for the family‑run establishment, threatening its revenue during the peak tourist season. As the report notes, the hotel’s online visibility plummeted, forcing management to confront a sudden loss of bookings.

German Anti‑Semitism Commissioner Calls Hotel an “Abyss of Anti‑Semitism”

Germany’s anti‑Semitism commissioner publicly condemned the email, describing the establishment as “an abyss of anti‑Semitism.” The official statement underscored the country’s zero‑tolerance stance toward hate speech, especially given Germany’s historical context. This condemnation added pressure on local authorities to investigate potential violations of anti‑discrimination laws.

Israeli Consul General Talya Lador‑Fresher Labels Incident a “Back‑to‑1930s” Moment

Talya Lador‑Fresher, Israel’s consul general in Munich , posted on social media questioning whether the hotel was “back in the 1930s,” a reference to the era of state‑sanctioned anti‑Jewish policies. Her remarks amplified the diplomatic dimension of the case, prompting calls for a formal inquiry and highlighting the sensitivity of tourism‑related discrimination.

Hotel Manager Andreas Vogl’s Defense and Offer of a Free Stay

Andreas Vogl, the hotel’s manager, insisted the business itself is not anti‑Semitic, arguing the email was a “knee‑jerk reaction” to suspected fraudulent reservations. To mitigate the fallout, Vogl extended an invitation to Winokur and his family to stay at the hotel free of charge, hoping to demonstrate a “non‑discriminatory environment.” The source indicates this gesture has yet to be accepted.

Who Is Still Unaccountable? The Unidentified Staff Sender

The identity of the staff member who authored the email remains undisclosed, leaving a gap in accountability . without knowing whether the act was isolated or reflective of broader attitudes within the hotel, investigators and the public are left with unanswered questions about internal training and oversight.