spirit

torah portion

CHANGES TO INDIVIDUAL COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

The Claims Conference has negotiated liberalizations with the German government.
The following changes to individual compensation programs are now effective.

Our Responsibility
As Jews

W

hy does the name of God
not appear throughout
the Scroll of Esther —
unlike all of the other 24 books of
the Bible, which feature His name in
almost every verse?
Ki Tisa is the most theological
portion of the Pentateuch. It
Moses continues to press,
deals with one of the most
entreating, “How shall it
profound issues facing our
be known that Your nation
religion: What is the nature
has gained Your favorable
of God’s involvement with
grace unless You go (on the
the world in general and
journey) together with us
with Israel in particular?
(imanu), so that we may be
The Israelites certainly felt
distinguished, Your nation
God's involvement and pro-
and I, from every other
tection during the period of Rabbi Shlomo
nation on the face of the
the plagues and the splitting Riskin
Earth?" But God doesn’t
of the Reed Sea. They con-
acquiesce. Yes, He will reveal
tinued to sense God’s close
the “paths” on which He
connection when they stood
wishes Israel to walk; and by means
at Mount Sinai and heard His voice.
of His divine Torah, He will show
But then, Moses absented himself
them how He wants them to live. He
and seemed to have absconded into
splendid, supernal isolation with the will send leaders, prophets, teach-
ers and generals to lead them in the
Divine, leaving the nation bereft of
both leadership and the Divine pres- right direction. But, they will have
to follow their leaders without ever
ence. They panicked and regressed
seeing God’s face or having God’s
into the destructive idolatry of the
presence in their midst until they
Egyptian Golden Calf. They lost
take responsibility for their actions,
their moorings.
repent and become worthy.
Now, after they have accepted
During the early biblical period,
their punishment and are about to
continue their journey, they have one God was still very active "behind the
scenes” because, after all, the Jewish
major, crucial request: They wish
people were very much in their
God to enter into their midst so that
they will always be sure of His protec- infancy. It was during the Second
Commonwealth, and especially in
tive presence.
God explains to Moses, the spokes- our period, that God expected and
expects us to initiate, to play center
man for His nation, “I will send an
stage in our journey toward redemp-
angel (messenger) before you; I will
tion.
drive out the Canaanites … bring
The Book of Esther, which we read
you to a land flowing with milk and
honey, but I will not go in your midst” at Purim, was written at the begin-
ning of the Second Commonwealth
(Exodus 33:3). “I will not go in your
when God was expecting much
midst because you are (still) a stiff
more human action than Divine
necked (stubborn and rebellious)
nation, lest I destroy you on the way” intervention. Hence this book begins
the era of a God who will grant vic-
(Exodus 33:2,3,5)
tory as long as we act properly and
God is loving and compassionate,
initiate wisely — as did Esther and
but He has high standards. If His
Mordechai. •
presence is truly in our midst, if He
has no opportunity to “look away” (as
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is chancellor of Ohr Torah
it were), then He will have to punish
Stone and chief rabbi of Efrat, Israel.
in the same way that He rewards.

Parshat Ki Tisa:
Exodus 30:11-34:35;
I Kings 18:1-39.

x

Jewish Holocaust survivors who were persecuted in Iasi, Romania, for at least three
months between August 1941 and August 1944 may be eligible for a monthly pension.

x

Jewish Holocaust survivors who lived in hiding for at least four months, under
inhumane conditions without access to the outside world, or lived under false identity
for at least 4 months in Nazi-occupied territory and/or in Nazi satellite states, may be
eligible for a monthly pension from the Article 2 or Central or Eastern European Fund.

x

Jews who were residing in Algeria between July 1940 and November 1942, and suffered
Nazi persecution such as restrictions or deprivation of liberty, may be eligible for a one-
time payment from the Hardship Fund.

Pensions may only be paid to survivors who do not already receive a pension from a German
source (including but not limited to, Article 2 Fund, Central and Eastern European Fund
&(() *HUPDQ)HGHUDO,QGHPQL¿FDWLRQ/DZ %(* /lQGHUKlUWHIRQGV$XVWULDQSHQVLRQ
(OFG) or Israeli Ministry of Finance) and who meet all other criteria, including the income
and asset criteria.

In addition, Jewish Nazi victims who were not eligible for a payment from the Hardship
FundEHFDXVHWKH\KDGUHFHLYHGDSULRUSD\PHQWIURPD*HUPDQVRXUFHVXFKDVWKH%(*
%XQGHVHQWVFKDGLJXQJVJHVHW] RUDJOREDODJUHHPHQWPD\QRZEHHOLJLEOHIRUDVXSSOHPHQWDO
payment that represents the difference between the amount received from that German
source and € 2556.46 the current amount of the Hardship Fund one-time payment.

Applicants who were a fetus during the time that their mother suffered persecution
described above should also apply. The Claims Conference funds homecare and other
welfare services for vulnerable Holocaust survivors according to the criteria of the German
Government. There is no cost to apply. Heirs are not eligible to apply.

To download an application from our website, please go to: www.claimscon.org/apply

For more information, contact: Claims Conference
32%R[1HZ<RUN1<7HO
Email: info@claimscon.org www.claimscon.org

The Claims Conference has an Ombudswoman.
7RFRQWDFWWKH2I¿FHRIWKH2PEXGVZRPDQSOHDVHHPDLOOmbudsman@claimscon.org
RUZULWHWR7KH2PEXGVZRPDQ32%R[2OG&KHOVHD6WDWLRQ1HZ<RUN1<

NEW YEAR=NEW BENEFITS

O u r k n o w l e d g e a b l e , f r i e n d l y ,
caring staff will help you prevent
cavities and gum disease

t Our pleasant, professional atmosphere makes it easy
to relax and feel at ease
t Convenient location: evening and weekend appointments
t One hour denture and partial repairs while you wait!
t Now Accepting Care Credit
t 0% Interest Financing Available
t Most Insurances Acceptedt4FOior Citizen Discount

WE ACCEPT DELTA HEALTHY KIDS

Steven Markowitz DDS Family Dentistry
Jonathan Miodownik DMD

2 4 7 6 4 S o u t h fi e l d R d . t Southfi eld, MI 48075 (1 Block S. of 10 Mile Rd.)

(248) 557-2618

EXISTING
PATIENTS ENJOY

$

10
OFF
Any Service

One Coupon per visit. Exp. 3-31-18

SPECIAL OFFER
FOR NEW PATIENTS

Comprehensive Oral
Exam, 2 X-Rays &
Routine Cleaning

X-Rays are non-transferable.

Only

80

$

With Coupon. Not valid with any other offers. Exp. 3-31-18

jn

March 1 • 2018

41