World Report

ZURICH (JTA) -- The chairman and CEO of Credit Suisse apologized to the World Jewish Congress after an employee of the Swiss bank wrote in an open letter that Jewish leaders, including WJC officials, were responsible for creating an anti-Semitic atmosphere.

"We deeply regret that a reproach of such gravity has been voiced against representatives of Jewish organizations," Lukas Muhlemann said in another letter to the WJC regarding Credit Suisse employee Roger Schaerer. "I can assure you that there is no place in this institution for bigotry or anti-Semitism."

Schaerer had cited the June 7 shooting death of Rabbi Abraham Greenbaum, a 71-year-old rabbi visiting from Israel, as the fault of the WJC leaders.

Credit Suisse gave a similar assurance to the Anti-Defamation League, which called on the company to undertake a company-wide program of anti-bias education.