OPINION
Holocaust Survivors
Need Our Attention
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many of them, the horrors of the
Holocaust have not disappeared. In
addition to mental distress, many suf-
fer from medical conditions that may
n the wake of recent lawsuits
have been exacerbated by the malnu-
against certain Swiss banks and
trition, harsh weather and slave labor
German companies and disputes
endured during wartime.
concerning ownership of Nazi-
At Shaare Zedek Medical Center in
looted Austrian and French artwork,
Jerusalem, Holocaust survivors are an
. money has become the focus of the
important part of our patient
world's Holocaust remem-
population. Every day, we not
brance. The real focus should
"The real focus
be those who suffered during
should be those only treat their medical ail-
ments, but also try to repair
the Holocaust.
who suffered
the
emotional damage of the
While Holocaust victims
during the
Holocaust. Whether it be
should receive money that is
Holocaust."
through post-traum a tic coun-
rightfully theirs, we cannot
seling, physical and occupa-
allow our human loss to be overshad-
tional therapy or health education class-
owed by the financial one. Let us not
es, Holocaust survivors can benefit from
concentrate on lost dollars, zlotys or
services tailored to meet their needs.
francs. It is important to consider the
The need for these services was
human element — to think about
highlighted during the Persian Gulf
how we can provide concrete benefits
war when Israel was under threat of
to Holocaust survivors.
chemical warfare. To protect its citi-
As Jewish citizens, we need to be
zens, the Israeli government issued gas
especially sensitive to the needs of
masks to each person. But for many of
Holocaust survivors. We lost our
Israel's 360,000 Holocaust survivors,
grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles,
those gas masks caused more psycho-
brothers, sisters — even our children
logical harm than comfort. Memories
— in this war. It is our duty to see to
of the gas chambers in the concentra-
it that the Holocaust is remembered
tion camps made it too painful for
properly and survivors are treated with
some
Holocaust survivors to wear the
respect, dignity and love..
gas masks; yet without them, there
To enhance the lives of survivors,
was a risk of inhaling noxious fumes.
we need to stretch our discussion of
To keep these survivors safe and calm,
compensation for the atrocities of
Israeli hospitals provided large, tent-
World War H beyond reimbursing
like gas masks as well as free psycho-
slave labor or claiming lost bank
logical counseling.
accounts, insurance policies and paint-
Holocaust survivors will continue
ings. We should consider funding spe-
to
need
our support. As members of
cial health care.programs for Holo-
the
"Never
Again" generation, it is our
caust victims.
responsibility not only to preserve the
Survivors need specialized medical
memory of those who perished in the
treatment and psychological care. For
war, but also to take care of the sur-
Menno Ratzker is president of the
vivors. Let us think how we can best
American Committee for Shaare Zedek
fulfill that role.
Medical Center in Jerusalem.
MENNO RATZKER
Special to The Jewish News
I