You are very right, DH. The current leadership in Germany had no part of what happend to the Jews during the Holocaust. Why should they bear that responsibility? That would be like saying that ALL Western nations bear the responsibility for compensating those African(and their decendants) that were sold into slavery, had their lands and heritage taken from them and were murdered. Would any of you agree to that? Hmmm!!!

It's hard to believe that the Israeli Government is not helping the Holocaust Survivors. It's hard to believe the the German criteria is 50% or more disability before they are entitled to compensation. It's hard to imagine the mental tolls the survivors had inflicted on them at such a young age, and that the entire world hasn't done something to at least make their later lives comfortable. I'm embarassed and ashamed of all of us.

Believe me. Germans don't laugh about this matter! The shame will always be there, even for our generation! WE DO NOT LAUGH!

Like you should compensate the surviving Native Americans whose ancestors you slaughtered!!!! You should pay for that bill!

i am so sadden upon that the holocaust had even happen in the late in 1900's and i hope that someone who surrvied the holocaust can e-mail me and tell me about what you have experince beacus i am doing a study research on the holocaust and i would like some to e-mail me IF POSSIABLE

That is awful!!!!!. Unfortunately we still live in a very anti-semitic world.

They should be taken care of, they were spared for a reason. Yet we continue to be blind and ignorant.

What a travesty - for Holocaust victims to survive such horror, only to be living in poverty. These people must be compensated for the suffering that they endured so many years ago. As the article said, "Let them end (live out) their lives in honor." For God's sake, what is wrong with our world?!?!?!

I am disappointed at the lack of compensation for the survivors. There should be no criteria that has to be met other than proof of being a survivor. I pray that all will recieve a settlement that can be beneficial for a better life,and that you will receive it while you are still here on this earth.

And what of the "other" Holocaust survivors? They were not all Jewish. They are not all in Israel. Everyday I see my mother who, as a child of 12-15, survived 3 years in Theresienstadt . Her childhood ripped apart by horror. Who woll give that back to her? Who would want to see and experience the things that she was "forced" to see and experience? She is in her late 70's...and it "lives" on in her whether she wants it to or not! The death, the torture, the starving with deep set darkened eyes questioning "WHY?" The sad, innocent faces of the little ones torn from their families arms shrieking.......on their way to their graves. No greater horror. No greater inhumanity and cruelty! I have seen her torment and her tears all the days of my life. I remember unthinkingly coming upon her sleeping form one day, when she could sleep, a looming figure in the darkness approaching with,,,a water pistol for a prank. I will never forget the eyes of my mother as all she saw qas a gun pointed at her, and the lightining quick movements as she threw me to the ground so fast I had little time to think....and the water hitiing me dead center in the face, the German epithets and curses as she screamed at the "thing" lying at her feet not realizing it was her daughter struggling to outcrawl her retaliation. And I remember the shock when she realized her surroundings."I" am lucky to be here!!!!! Had those been real bullets I would not be writing this. Thas day brought her anger and her terror home to me in my own fear and terror. For one moment only.....yet she endured 3 years and more after she escaped.It took my mother years........to recover enough to function again. Will my childhood be given back to her...when she was so ill she nearly died "countless" times and could not hold me and care for me? Will her health be given back to her? No there is NOTHING anyone can do to give anything that SHOULD have been hers by BIRTHRIGHT....Life, Liberty, Happiness. But SOMETHING should be done to help theses people whose every belonging was ripped from them. Whose families were destroyed. Whose lives will never be the same. Maybe it takes someone seeing their own child hanging from a rope, or thrown into a burning pit of flames before they will say "Never ...will I, personally, allow this to happen to a other human being, no matter what race, color, or creed. Is THAT what it takes to be HUMANE in this insane world...or could it just be as simple as saying "Never!!!!" And meaning it!!!! Stop injustice whereever you see it, refuse to take part in anything like it. If it hurts someone...DON'T do it!!! It is "that "simple. Lest next time...it happen to YOU.

I agree with Heather, all human life is valuable. Also, someone mentioned wars, etc. How about the Native Americans? Or, how about the Rwanda genocide? I know the Holocaust is a grander scale, but the world sits back and treats is as the only sympathetic loss of human life... not true!

I agree that no amount of money will "make up" for the horrors these people have had to endure in their lives. They do deserve to live out what remains of their lives with dignity and respect. BUT-I also agree that it was not modern day Germany that caused this. This generation did not create the problem so why should they have to pay for it?? It should be up to the nation in which the people reside to care for their needs if they themselves (or their family) are unable. These people were tortured and there is nothing that can ease that pain. Now, notice that I said these people themselves were the ones tortured/not their ancestors. Unfotunately, the opinion seems to be in this country that because of atrocities done to peoples ancestors, people NOW are "entitled to something". When are people going to see that you have to be responsible for yourself? There always has been, and unfortunately always will be, some sort of genocide going on somewhere in this world. Those being abused deserve to be freed, have a home and all that life can provide for them. But their ancestors should do it themselves!!!!!!!!!

It should not be at all necessary for those survivors to be disabled to collect compensation. The fact that they were deprived of their liberty and mistreated is enough to rquire the German people to compensate them. There has to be another criteria for compensation other than disablity. It should be based on how they are doing presently. If they cannot supportg themselves, they sh9ould be supported by the German government. What they did must be paid for and every German is responsible. I am certain that more German people than we know were either apathetic to the plight of concentration camp inmates or did not care what happened to them. Now they should pay for what they acceded to. It is not an unbearable burden because all the survivors will soon be gone and the debt can be considered paid.

All Jewish people, or anyone who survived the horror of a concentration camp during WWII, should receive full compensation, health care, adequate living expenses, etc. It's the least the world could do after turning their backs on the Jewish people during the Holocaust and thereafter! The Lord's Love & Protection to His Chosen People - Anna

I have read the opinions on the story.I say to all Americans, If Germany must pay the Jewish survivors money then, we should make Japan pay our survivors and their families. The Jewish people must not think much of their older population. They should have had a system by know to help the survivors why dont they? Why should they when they can get the world to donate to them. Call it free money.

How do you compensate anyone who survived that HELL. Germany and all the world, especially the United States should make sure all of the survivers live and die with their dignity in tack. Why can't we respond to this like everyone did for Katrina and the tsuname? There must be someone that could set up a foundation and help these elderly men and women. Of course, when any money is involved, there will be someone who figures out how to keep most of it and the crumbs go to those it was meant to help. Am I cynical? Let's find a way to help. These survivors were mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers to someone at one time; now they are our brothers and sisters.

These people deserve to be taken care of. There are so many Jewish charities that are more than willing to take care of anyone regardless of their race and religion yet, these elderly people who suffered greatly are still allowed to suffer. What kind of charity is this? There shouldn't be any type of restriction on the assistance rendered here. Just having lived the horrifice nightmare of the holocaust is enough. Anyone who was not involved in that sitiuation is very, very lucky. There people should be allowed to live out their lives in some kind of peace and comfort. They are owed this much and more. The Jewish National Fund should step in and direct this toward these poor unfortunate, brave people.

It seems strange to allow the cat to tell the mice who gets cheese and who gets eaten... WHY, is the German government deciding who "deserves" compensation for living through HELL based on only physical disability? I ask this for real. I also am still able to study for a master's degree and work some--- physical disibility of over or even equal to 50% is a poor standard at best. The criterion is only being narrowed because there isn't enough to pay ALL the survivors, is my guess... but, you need to find a way means that even the survivors can agree with also. Ask the survivors for suggestions on narrowing the list of who/how folks qualify for compensation. Worthiness is not at question. IF they survived they ARE worthy. But, it's a double shame to leave elderly survivors poor, hungry, and without means for medical care(should be free to survivors). Signed an American with Disibilities. Pam Brookshire Signed an American with Disibilities.

Evil exists only when good men stand aside and do nothing. I understand your pain and anger in defense of your Mom. My father is a Korean War veteran. I've seen that same look in his eyes when confronted with an unexpected trigger to a memory. I remember the nightmares and the stories. Sometimes it is not enough to survive - we also need to remember to live. Nothing is forgotten - look at the response this article has elicited. I wish I could take away the memories of both your mom and my dad, but maybe some good can come from great trajedy. I've met a number of holocaust survivors and have always been struck by their grace, compassion and desire to continue to improve the world by personalizing a moment in history for each individual and hopefully providing a lesson to us all. Evil exist ONLY when good men stand aside and do nothing. May you have peace. Germany should not be allowed to determine criterea. Germany will not be able to "foot the bill" for all survivors and Isreal will need to look for a means to assist Germany in providing for survivors. We also have survivors here in the US. There should be a foundation that is dedicated to assisting with holocaust survivors. The best place to look would be the Skirball Museum in LA, California. They should be able to point those wishing to help in the right direction.

Steven Spielberg did not get paid for Schindler's List, he refused to. And any money that he recieved from profits he donated it ALL.