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Claims Conference
Needs Ombudsman
New York/JTA
rage and demand that those
responsible for this catastro-
lderly Holocaust survi-
phe be held accountable and
vors are in fear.
brought to justice. But the
Recently, the U.S.
burning issue before us was,
Justice Department charged
what is to be done now?
employees of the Conference
After long discussion, there
on Material Claims Against
emerged a sense that an insti-
Germany, known as the Claims
tutional channel to credibly
Conference, with participating
deal with survivors' fears and
Elan
in a $42.5 million fraud that
complaints was lacking. Simply
Steinberg
saw the plunder of two major
put, most present agreed, there
Special
programs of Holocaust repa-
was no address for redress.
Commentary
rations. According to pros-
The mood at the meeting
ecutors, the thefts had been
was sober and realistic. We
going on for nearly two decades.
knew there could be no quick panacea, but
At agencies and offices such as ours
something practical, doable and responsi-
that deal with the survivor community,
ble had to be proposed. From this came the
the phone calls were emotional and des-
idea of establishing an office of ombuds-
perate. Of course, the reactions reflected
man within the Claims Conference.
the palpable anger and outrage felt by
By definition, an ombudsman could
the entire Jewish community.
take on the critical role that the present,
"How could this happen?" and "How
delicate situation demands — a trusted
could it have gone on for so long?" were
intermediary who can represent the
the repeated refrains.
interests and concerns of the ultimate
But we were haunted by the questions
constituency of the Claims Conference,
and concern posed most often. Survivors the survivors of the Shoah.
in their 80s and 90s were afraid. For all
We therefore called for "the Claims
too many of our fragile remnant of the
Conference to engage an ombudsman
greatest Jewish tragedy of our time, the
acceptable to the survivor community to
present circumstances are one of bleak-
advocate on behalf of and represent the
ness and uncertainty. Often, a repara-
interest of the survivors."
tions check supplemented by a Social
For those present, one thing was
Security payment are all that stand
certain — changes had to be made
between an elderly survivor and their
in the restitution and disbursement
daily needs — food, medicine, utilities.
process to restore the confidence of
They were too frightened to be angry. shaken Holocaust survivors. An effective
They wanted to know if their slim pay-
ombudsman can be one important ele-
ments were in jeopardy or what was to be ment in those changes.
of their applications for restitution funds.
But to fulfill this role the ombudsman
Many knew that following discovery
must be more than a complaint office. He or
of the fraud at the Claims Conference,
she must act as an independent agent with
payments and applications for the
a clear mandate allowing for broad author-
Hardship Fund were suspended for three ity to remove obstacles to the advancement
months. During that period, even legiti-
of constituent rights and interests. The
mate applicants in dire need could not
ombudsman can in fact serve as the herald
receive payments from the fund.
of other necessary changes.
There was a great deal of misinforma-
We are under no illusion. The establish-
tion or, more precisely, a lack of infor-
ment and the effective functioning of the
mation, which was driving these fears.
office of an ombudsman is merely a first
We needed to assure survivors that the
step. At the same time, it is a categorical
Claims Conference has said repeatedly
affirmation that the central purpose of
that their future payments are not at risk.
Holocaust restitution funds is to address the
But no, we could not tell them what the
needs, the concerns and the insecurities of
full extent of the fraud might reveal and the dwindling remnants of the Shoah.
what the ultimate consequences might be.
We have no choice. We must deal with
Our survivors needed answers and
the realistic fears of survivors today
assurances. In these tense circum-
before an even greater and more shame-
stances, the American Gathering of
ful scandal emerges.
Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their
Descendants called its National Executive Elan Steinberg is vice president of the
Committee into emergency meeting. It
American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust
was, of course, important to vent our out- Survivors and Their Descendants.
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