LEGAL NOTICI BY ORDER OF THE COURT The plan to distribute the $1.25 billion Swiss Banks legal settlement has been approved. This notice describes the claims process. The United States Court that ap., 2 Slave Labor I Claims - If you 5. proved the proposed Settlement be- performed forced or slave labor any- Court has approved a claims process tween Holocaust Survivors and Swiss where for an entity which operated to resolve any Nazi-era insurance claim Banks has now approved the "Plan under Nazi authority, you are eligible you have involving Swiss Reinsurance of Allocation" to distribute the money. for payment. Certain heirs of former Company, Swiss Life Insurance and If you already submitted an Initial laborers who died after February 15, Pension Company, and certain affili- 1999 are eligible. ates. You may exclude yourself solely the claims process in the mail. There is 3. Looted Assets Group - Because Settlement, if vou act before August . no cost to submit a claim. all survivors had assets taken by the 5, 2001. If vou do not exclude your- Questionnaire, you will automatically get a claim form or information about If you were persecuted by the Nazi Regime because you were or were be- lieved to be Jewish, Romani, Jehovah's Witness, homosexual, or physically or mentally disabled or handicapped, you may be in one of the first five groups below. The sixth group, Slave Labor II Claims, is not limited to these "Vic- tims or Targets of Nazi Persecution." 1. Deposited Assets Claims - if you had assets deposited with any Swiss bank, investment fund or other cus- Swiss Insurance Claims - The from the insurance provisions of the Nazis, there is no claims process for self, you will be bound by the insur- this group. Instead, needy survivors ance provisions of the Settlement. may be eligible for services such as food packages, medical assistance and emergency cash grants to be distrib- uted through Court-approved hu- manitarian relief programs. 6. Slave Labor II Claims If you plausibly . demonstrate that you per- formed slave labor anywhere for a Swiss-run company appearing on a list issued by the Court, you will receive Refugee Claims - If you plausi- payment. Certain heirs of former slave bly demonstrate that, while seeking to laborers who died after February 15, avoid Nazi persecution, you were de- 1999 are eligible. 4. zerland, or admitted into Switzerland There were also improvements and amendments to the Settlement Agree- todian prior to May 9, 1945 and your claim is approved, you will receive pay- treated or abused, you will receive pay- ment; including: artwork looted dur- ment. A list of names is available to help . you determine your eligibility. ment. A partial list of names is avail- ing the Nazi era may be recovered in able. You can submit a claim even if certain situations; and a list of names You can submit a claim even if your your name is not on the list. Certain in Swiss Bank files relating to accounts name is not on the list. Certain heirs heirs of refugees who died after Feb- that possibly belonged to victims of of original depositors are also eligible. ruary 15, 1999 are eligible. Nazi persecution has been publiShed. Get a claim form at www.swissbankclaims.com or call: Type of Claim Call Claims Due Deposited Assets (All) 1-800-881-2736 August 5, 2001 Slave Labor I (Jewish) 1-800-697-6064 August 11, 2001 August 11, 2001 Slave Labor I (Non-Jewish) 1-877-691-2862 Looted Assets There is no claims process for this group. Refugee (Jewish) 1-800-564-2895 September 30, 2001 Refugee (N on-Jewish) 1-877-691-2862 September 30, 2001 Swiss Insurance (All) 1-800-881-2736 September 30, 2001 Slave Labor II (All) 1-877-691-2862 September 30, 2001 For general information call 1-888-635-5483 United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, CV 96-4849 IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR FITNESS •Nutritional Counseling •Muscle/Massage Therapy 5/11 2001 116 In Temple times, prayers and blessings were said over an omer, or sheaf, of barley that was brought to the Temple each day. nied entry into or expelled from Swit- as a refugee but were detained, mis- Let us help you be the best you can be with 1 on 1 training at our club. A patient friendly program designed just for you to help you reach your realistic fitness goals. Change your life by changing your lifestyle. Muscle therapy and nutritional consulting available. Call us today for a FREE consultation. Now You Know INTERNATIOLL P IOU CHA •TV Celebrity Anchor PETER NIELSEN'S • Children's Fitness Programs Personal Trainin i Club 4119 Orchard Lake Rd. (at Pontiac Tr.) West Bloomfield Visit our website www.peternielsen.com • Free Consultation (248) 855-0345 11 two weeks and five days of the Omer. But math is not the real focus of counting the Omer. In fact, it has been a time of great anguish in Jewish history. During the first 33 days of the Omer, 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students died in a plague because, the Talmud says, they did not treat each other with respect. Later, there were a series of massacres of Jewish communities in the Rhineland during the Crusades in 1096 and 1146, and then during the Chmielnicki mas- sacres of 1648-49. Consequently, Torah-observant Jews to this day refrain from haircuts (some men also do not shave), do not have weddings and other celebrations, and do not play or listen to live music during the omer period. How To Celebrate: Throughout the Jewish world, Lag b'Omer is enhanced by the many weddings that take place, and by parents giving their 3-year-old sons their first haircuts (another kabbal- istic tradition), along with hosting a party to celebrate the event. Observant men and women also may take the opportunity to get a haircut, and men likely want a good shave. In Israel, thousands of Jews gather in the northern town of Meron for prayer and festivity at the tomb of Shimon Bar Yohai. Others go to the tomb of another ancient sage, Shimon Ha-Tzadik, in Jerusalem. For unknown reasons, some light great bonfires and children play with bows and arrows on Lag b'Omer. They also commemorate Bar Kokhba and his rebellion against the Roman occupation of Israel (132-135 C.E.). Why Bar Kokhba is associated with Lag b'Omer is a matter of debate. ❑