Protection from persecution in the Middle Ages, an initiative by the watch industry in modern times, solidarity in the present: this is how one could characterize the history of the Jews in Biel. The history of the Jewish community in Biel begins in 1305. In that year, a Jewish widow and her children received a residence permit that granted them many religious and business freedoms. In the 15th century, Biel offered refuge and income to several Jewish families who had been expelled from Bern. The only dark spot in this mostly bright history can be identified in the early modern period when Biel aligned itself with the rest of the Confederation and prohibited Jews from residing in the city. Following the French watchmakers, Alsatian Jews moved to Biel in the 19th century, purchased houses, and established businesses. The bilingual Biel provided a new home for the Alsatian Jews.