Report: Holocaust survivors face increasing financial difficulties

"I live from hand to mouth. I don't own a cell phone or a DVD player. The German income I receive is spent on rent fees for this small one-bedroom apartment, and I live off of the NIS 1,800 ($500) National Insurance pension. I am constantly depressed and have been on medications since the war."

These remarks was made by Earnest Deutsch, an 84-year-old Holocaust survivor living in Tel Aviv. He is one of 60,000 Holocaust survivors supported by the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel.

A report published by the foundation on Thursday - the International Holocaust Remembrance Day - does not bear good news. In the past five years the number of survivors in need of the foundation's financial support increased by 160%.

In 2005, only 23,000 survivors were supported by the foundation, but 2011 saw some 60,000 in need of assistance. This dramatic increase occurred despite the fact that since 2005 about 56,000 survivors, out of the remaining 264,000 (22%), have passed away.

In 2010, about 208,000 survivors lived in Israel. According to Brookdale Institute, an estimate 6% - 13,000 - are likely to die in 2011.

The foundation says that despite their budget increase, they have been unable to assist all of the survivors who have applied for aid, since the average age of the survivors has gone up.

"While the world marks the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we must do everything in our power to continue and increase support for the survivors, starting with material aid and just as importantly –a supportive community to be 'a light to all Jews,' before we attempt to be 'a light to all the nations,'" said Foundation Chairman Elazar Stern.

'Exempt us from property tax'

The 2011 International Holocaust Remembrance Day is marred by the threat hovering over Holocaust Survivors' organizations in Israel, which are in danger of being shut down.

Many of these organizations are not able to pay the high cost of property taxes. Despite Interior Minister Eli Yishai's promises to assist them, the solution seems far off. Some of these organizations work from the survivors' homes as a way to avoid paying rent.

Miriam Schuster is the volunteer director of the Help for Holocaust Survivors organization, founded over 50 years ago, which now might have to close due to financial troubles.

Shuster spoke of the great importance of such organizations. "An elderly Holocaust survivor came to me and requested that I help her call the National Insurance Institute. I asked her why her kids weren't helping. She answered that her children laugh at her. Holocaust survivors find it easier to ask something from another survivor. When an elderly person sees another elderly person, he sees himself, and so it makes it easier for him to open up," she said.

Six months ago a delegation of Holocaust survivors met with Minister Yishai and asked him to exempt their organizations from property tax. He promised to help, but nothing has changed since. A letter written last month by Secretary-General of the Center of Organizations of Holocaust Survivors in Israel Noach Flug and addressed to Yishai stated: "Despite your word that you would look into this matter, we have yet to receive any sort of answer on the subject or any response from you."

Something must be done

Director of the Association of Romanian Immigrants Ze'ev Schwartz still hopes for the best. "Maybe something will change now. There is no reason the survivors' only activity – going out to meet other survivors – should be taken away from them. There are 52 organizations. Many survivors are lonely and it's very important that we get them out of the house, get them to come to meetings, read a newspaper, drink coffee and talk to other survivors. We mustn't forget the youngest survivors are over the age of 75."

The Interior Ministry said in response: "Minister Yishai appreciates the Holocaust survivors, and just as he did for the handicapped public, he intends to alter regulations in the Holocaust survivors' case without waiting for the Barzilai Committee for municipal tax reform."

The German and Polish presidents will meet Holocaust survivors Thursday at Auschwitz-Birkenau for ceremonies marking the 66th anniversary of the death camp's liberation.

Flug expressed his concern over the physical condition of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum. He said that despite funding from Germany, the United States, Austria and other countries, they are still short for $54 million intended to complete restoration and preserve the historical sites.

"We mustn't allow these sites to be neglected for generations to come," he warned.

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