The Situation of Holocaust Survivors in Israel:
Of the approximately 260,000 elderly Holocaust survivors living in Israel today, nearly one-third live in poverty! Thousands of Israeli Holocaust survivors do not take advantage of their rights under the law and existing programs. They are unaware of benefits due them from Israel's Finance Ministry, from Germany, from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, from the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel and other agencies.
Even professionals and volunteers working with Holocaust survivors are unaware of the latter's basic rights and cannot guide these elderly people through the bureaucratic maze.
Those paying out the pensions and grants know only what is being done in their own area of expertise, and cannot provide survivors with a complete picture of their rights.
Thus, elderly Holocaust survivors are left with many questions, few answers and, primarily, without full realization of their rights. Realizing their rights would ensure that they live the rest of their lives with dignity and in comfort. We can help them – and it is our obligation to do so!
A brief word about "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah":
Until recently, Israel lacked authorized sources of information about the full realization of Holocaust survivors' rights in Israel. There was no single, comprehensive government information center that could advise survivors about what is due to many of them under the law.
The "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah" (Spring for Holocaust Survivors) non-profit organization was founded in 2007, to ensure the full realization of the rights of Holocaust survivors in Israel.
Our organization is headed by Aviva Silberman, an attorney with 16 years of experience in the field of Holocaust survivor rights. She is primarily involved with the instruction of professionals, volunteers, Holocaust survivors and their families on the subject of realization of rights. Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah works to disseminate and make accessible information on the subject, often ensuring a significant improvement in the financial status of Holocaust survivors in Israel.
"Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah" is the only agency in Israel that trains volunteers, professionals and Holocaust survivors in all aspects of realization of survivors' rights.
Our goal is to bring information to both professionals and survivors as quickly as possible. Our dream is that all Holocaust survivors will be able to live their lives with dignity and in the comfort they deserve, and that they receive respectful and proper treatment from the various agencies assisting them.
Activities of "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah" to date:
· We have developed special instructional materials, making it possible to understand all the rights of Holocaust survivors in Israel. The material, includes summaries of rights, examples of applications on every subject and detailed instructions as to how to help a survivor obtain what he/she is entitled to. Until now, comprehensive, clear and well-organized information about this complicated subject was not available.
· We have trained 50 volunteers from the Kibbutz Movement, with the cooperation of Yad Vashem – which, with our professional guidance, helps approximately 5,000 Holocaust survivors living on kibbutzim to realize their rights.
· We have trained teams from Information Centers for the Elderly all over Israel on the subject of Holocaust survivor rights, and guide them in their work.
· We have trained professionals who work with survivors, helping them realize their rights. They refer the survivors' inquiries to Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah's attorneys, who respond to specific questions.
· We have trained young women and youths in Israel's National Service under the VeHadarta Pnei Zaken (". . . and you shall honor the face of the old.", Leviticus 19:32) program. Under this program, these young people regularly visit and assist individual Holocaust survivors.
· We have trained hundreds of volunteers under the Bizchutam ("Thanks to Them") project. The volunteers visit survivors at their homes and help them realize their rights.
· We send updates regarding new rights and benefits to everyone we have trained.
· We hold Rights Realization Days in different cities, when our staff, together with trained volunteers, gives direct assistance to Holocaust survivors.
· We have answered thousands of e-mail requests, and have telephoned many survivors and their families, instructing them as to how to realize their rights.
· We have given lectures to Holocaust survivors at their clubs and in old age homes.
· We have given lectures to university students.
· We have initiated radio programs providing important information for Holocaust survivors, as well as question-and-answer programs for survivors.
· We have compiled a table of approximately 15 current programs that grant rights and benefits to Holocaust survivors, and have disseminated it to the public.
· We have provided translations and explanations of the new German Ghetto Fund application form, in order to help survivors complete this complicated form. We have a special e-mail address to respond to questions about filling in the form.
· We have initiated an e-mail advice center for social workers, in order to reply to the specific questions of social workers who care for survivors, and to guide them in assisting survivors to receive the maximum rights due them.
Examples of recent successes and achievements:
· A Holocaust survivor from Petach Tikvah came to an old age home after her uninsured home was destroyed by fire. A social worker at the old age home, trained by "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah", submitted the relevant applications for realization of her rights for her. The survivor left the old age home after about six months, with an addition to her pension of 2,700 NIS per month.
· A volunteer from Kibbutz Dalia, trained by "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah", advised and assisted 19 Holocaust survivors on his kibbutz to submit applications, all of which were accepted. Reimbursement of medical expenses for the 19 survivors totaled over 100,000 NIS. If not for the volunteer's work, the survivors would not have known about their right to reimbursement, and would not have received their due . . .
· A volunteer from a northern kibbutz submitted applications pertaining to the deteriorating health of more than 20 Holocaust survivors living in kibbutzim in the area. Although they received a pension from the State of Israel, they were unaware of their right to submit applications pertaining to deteriorating health. All their applications were accepted, and each survivor received additional disability percentages – an increase for each of them of between 400-500 NIS a month, that is, a total of tens of thousands of shekels a year.
· A doctor, asked to give a medical opinion to a survivor for the purpose of reimbursement of medical expenses, cast great doubt on the possibility of receiving the refund. "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah" acted, and she was persuaded to submit a request for her mother-in-law. To her amazement, the latter received reimbursement of thousands of shekels.
· T.S. was recognized as a disabled victim of Nazi persecution by Israel's Finance Ministry. Until she met an "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah" volunteer, however, she was unaware that she was entitled to benefits as a Holocaust survivor. She began receiving a monthly pension of 1,073 NIS, as well as all the benefits that accompany this pension (medication expense exemptions, recuperation, etc.).
· N.B. requires constant nursing care. Her family did not know that she had been classified as a Holocaust survivor according to the criteria of the fund that grants nursing hours to Holocaust survivors. Guided by a volunteer trained by "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah", she now receives nine additional free nursing hours a week, as well as a free distress call button.
· A social worker trained by "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah" submitted an application for osteoporosis benefits for a Holocaust survivor. The application was accepted, and the survivor now receives an increased monthly pension, as well as all osteoporosis medications free of charge.
· A volunteer trained by "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah" told a neighbor, a survivor from Hungary, that he was eligible to be reimbursed for the electric scooter vehicle he had recently purchased. The survivor submitted the receipt and was reimbursed in the sum of 12,000 NIS.
· A Holocaust survivor heard a radio program, on which our organization's Chairperson told of a new program granting 2,000 Euros to anyone who had carried out non-forced labor in the ghettos. He contacted "Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah", received instructions and a translation of the complicated application form, and submitted the application properly. He is awaiting receipt of a one-time payment of 2,000 Euros.
Only in 2008 Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah had succeeded to receive for the benefit of Holocaust survivors a sum of 8,000,000 shekel!
"Aviv LeNitzolei HaShoah" now urgently requires additional contributions in order to function and continue its important work and significant assistance for Holocaust survivors.
press here for your donation- thank you!
Our email address: info@avivshoa.co.il
