Professor Picard of Jewish Origin?

Professor Picard, the ballonist-scientist, who succeeded in rising to a height of nine miles and has brought back important scientific records, is of Jewish origin, it is stated here. His grandfather is said to have been a Jewish ritual slaughterer employed by a small Jewish Community in Hessen, whose son, Professor Picard’s father, emigrated to Switzerland, where he became a banker and was baptised, Professor Picard being born a Christian. He attended the Technical Hign School at Zurich, where he was a favourite pupil of Professor Einstein, who was the examiner who awarded him his doctorate.