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New project champions Holocaust survivors' rights
While those that perished cannot be brought back, those left behind can be aided in their twilight years. The 'Right for Survivors' volunteer initiative for Holocaust survivors seeks to do just that
Yoram Sagi Zacks
With growing reports on the difficult plight of Holocaust survivors living in Israel, many private and national organizations throughout the country are working to enhance and improve survivors’ lives. Their efforts however are, unfortunately scarcely enough.
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The ‘Right for Survivors’ National Volunteer Project for Holocaust Survivors’ Rights seeks to enhance survivors’ lives by attaining two central goals: Helping Holocaust survivors attain the maximum benefits available to them, and strengthening the Israeli publics’ bonds with Holocaust survivors.
During the first part of this unique initiative, hundreds of volunteers will frequent survivors’ homes and help them fill out forms that will determine whether they are eligible for additional monetary aid and benefits to supplement the aid that they are currently receiving.
This campaign, naturally, will require the aid of numerous volunteers which ‘Right for Survivors’ desperately needs. Some volunteers will actually visit survivors’ homes, will others are needed to man a telephone hotlines for survivors.
Potential volunteers will attend a brief 10-hour training seminar during which their commitment to, and compatibility with the project will be assessed. They will then be asked to commit to visiting the homes of 10 survivors and help them attain the maximum benefits available to them. Survivors, their families and friends can also call a telephone hotline in order to check their eligibility for benefits.
This first phase of the ‘Right for Survivors’ initiative will soon take place thanks to the assistance and support of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, National Council for Voluntarism, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, Ministry for Pensioners' Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Jewish Agency For Israel, Holocaust Survivors' Welfare Fund and The Centre of Organizations of Holocaust Survivors in Israel (COHSI), and the Ted Arison Family Foundation.
The ‘Right for Survivors’ phone line will be operated by the Ruach Tova organization, with the ELAH- Center for Psycho-Social Support for Dutch Immigrants and the Aviv Society for Holocaust survivor providing training for potential volunteers.
Holocaust survivors are at minimum due some peace and quiet during their twilight years. Nothing can be done do to bring back those that perished, but those left behind can be helped to live in greater comfort and financial security. Hopefully as many volunteers as possible will join this campaign and show Holocaust survivors that indeed they are not forgotten.
For questions about survivors’ benefits, to contribute to the ‘Right for Survivors" project, or to volunteer please call 1-700-505-202 (in Israel only), or contact Bizchutam via email at info@ruachtova.org
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