Editor's Letter
int
arc
www.jarc.org
Germany Stepping Up
N
o poor Holocaust survivor should be on a waiting
list for home care. But some are — and that's dis-
graceful. It's a cause we cannot ignore. Survivors are
a poignant reminder that Nazi Germany ultimately lost gain-
ing control of Europe despite murdering 11 million people in
the Holocaust, including 6 million Jews.
The German government continues
to distance itself from its Nazi past,
this time doubling the amount of
money it will ticket for such home care
in 2011. The $145 million next year
will come none too soon. Financial
hardship is more prevalent than
ever among survivors, while sources
of Claims Conference funds for
Holocaust survivor programs continue
to erode.
At the behest of the Claims
Conference, the German government
first funded home care in 2004 with an initial grant of about
$8 million. The grant has continued to grow. Notably, thanks
to a Russian influx, Germany is the only European country
with a growing Jewish population since 2000; today, 240,000
Jews live in the Deutschland. Chancellor Angela Merkel and
her recent predecessors have stood with Israel during some
tough political times even as they face anti-Jewish sentiment
metastasizing in their midst.
Since 1951, the Claims Conference has
strived to secure what it deems a small
measure of justice for Jewish victims
of Nazi persecution. It works through a
combination of negotiations, disburse-
ments and the search for the return of
Jewish property lost in the Holocaust.
to fund services that support survivors. The figure includes
money the Claims Conference receives from the sale of heir-
less Jewish properties in the former East Germany; it does not
include direct payments to survivors from Germany for which
the Claims Conference acts as a pass-through.
Claims Conference-distributed money goes to more
than 100 organizations (including JFS) that provide home
care, food, emergency assistance and medical care to Nazi
Germany victims in 46 countries.
Beating Back Fraud
The December announcement of Germany's funding increase
for home care for poor Holocaust survivors came about a
month after the FBI made 17 arrests in a $42 million fraud
scheme at the Claims Conference. The scheme: Claims
Conference employees filed fraudulent claims for people who
were not victims of Nazi Germany, but who obtained millions of
dollars from the German government through the organization.
The perpetrators got kickbacks from the fraudulent claimants.
Stuart Eizenstat, former U.S. ambassador to the European
Union, is chief negotiator for the Claims Conference. JTA
reported that the Claims Conference notified the German gov-
ernment of the fraud weeks before the fraud became public.
Eizenstat assured that the fraud played no role in the negotia-
tions, underlining that the German government's loosening of
the purse strings was sincere.
Tougher Controls
Over the last 58 years, the German gov-
ernment has paid $60 billion in indem-
nification for suffering and losses result-
ing from Hitler's fury. Claims Conference
negotiations also have yielded survivor
support from German and Austrian
industry as well as the Austrian govern-
ment. Clearly, the Claims Conference is a
godsend for many survivors.
Germany's Finance Ministry is now
working with the Claims Conference to
strengthen the organization's internal
controls, adding extra vetting and pre-
cautions to make sure that the money only goes to survivors,
Eizenstat said. Claims Conference officials told JTA they are
trying to recover the fraudulently obtained money and return
it to the German government.
It's important that the Claims Conference achieves stronger
organizational controls and succeeds in recovering a good
chunk of the money stolen through fraud.
Survivors suffered enough. We should revere them and
the will to live that they have instilled in younger genera-
tions. They shouldn't suffer now — and in the process
have their trust in legitimate aid organizations trampled
because of corruption in a long-respected international
agency intended to help them. ❑
(L to R) Volunteer Shira Bergman
joins Clay Barbour who lives
at JARC's Berlin Home
Thanks to the warm hospitality
of Temple Beth El, JARC's
2010-2011 monthly Bingo
kicked off on November 23
with a Hanukkah theme.
Adat Shalom Volunteer Corps
and many of JARC's dedicated
teen volunteers were there
to help and celebrate with
Survivors suffered
enough. We should
revere them and
the will to live that
they have instilled in
younger generations.
High-Octane Support
The Claims Conference projects the need
for home care will rise until 2014. Then,
it likely will crest before declining as
today's estimated population of 520,000
survivors worldwide continues to fall;
child survivors are now in their early 70s.
Keeping seniors in their homes as long as practical helps
lift spirits and stimulate independence, provided loneliness
isn't rampant.
Next year's German government grant will go to support
home care services for 60,000 survivors in 32 countries. About
1,000 survivors live in Metro Detroit; at least 200 receive
home care support for basic needs such as bathing and cook-
ing. As local liaison for the New York office of the Conference
on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany Inc. (popularly
dubbed the Claims Conference), Jewish Family Service of
Metropolitan Detroit vets local home care applicants. JFS
applies time-tested guidelines to verify Nazi persecution and
financial need.
"Family members are encouraged to support the survivors
in this effort:' says Risa Berris, JFS director of geriatric case
management.
I can't emphasize that point enough.
No survivor who qualifies should go without aid. At the
same time, I would hope family members are doing all they
can to help support, involve and engage our survivors.
The Claims Conference annually distributes $270 million
an enthusiastic group of
Bingo players. Everyone
reported that the games
were lots of fun and the
prizes were "really great"!
For upcoming Bingo dates
and other Volunteer
opportunities, contact
Melissa Rubalcava at
248-538-6610 x 342 or
melissarubalcava@jarc.org .
15arrieK
PLEASE
REMEMBER
JARC IN YOUR
Related story on how to apply for survivor home care: page 18.
Do we take for granted that survivor
needs are being met?
www.jarc.org
248-538-6611
Do you know a survivor who could
benefit from home care?
JN
December 30 • 2010
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