What it is about
The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) has secured an additional $114 million in funding for Holocaust survivors following negotiations with the German Federal Ministry. This allocation intends to enhance social services and educational programs, ensuring dignified living conditions and combating Holocaust denial.
Why it matters
The supplementary funds, reaching a total of $972.5 million over the next two years, represent a significant commitment from Germany to support the aging population of Holocaust survivors. Enhanced resources will ensure survivors live their final years with dignity and their stories, along with the lessons from the Holocaust, continue to be taught worldwide.
Executive Insights
Greg Schneider, the Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference, emphasized the urgency of these increased provisions given the survivors’ advanced age. “We must ensure they are able to live their final years in dignity,” Schneider stated.
Unwavering Commitment
The Claims Conference collaborates with 300 social welfare organizations across 83 countries, providing services such as home care, food packages, transportation, and social events for Holocaust survivors. Countries benefiting from this partnership include Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Poland, Romania, among others.
Government Support and Holocaust Education
Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, Special Negotiator for the Claims Conference, expressed gratitude to the German government for its continued dedication to both supporting survivors and ensuring the horrors of the Holocaust are not forgotten or repeated.
Moreover, claims for Holocaust education will increase by $55 million, summing up to a total of $177 million over the next four years. This measure responds to the worrying statistics indicating decreasing Holocaust awareness among younger populations, yet a strong desire for education on the subject globally.
Securing the Future
In a climate of growing Holocaust denial and distortion, educating future generations has never been more crucial. Ensuring robust Holocaust education will provide a comprehensive understanding of history’s lessons.
“The commitment to this final generation of Holocaust survivors is steadfast and unfaltering,” said Gideon Taylor, President of the Claims Conference, highlighting the organization’s unwavering responsibility to remember and teach the past for a better future.
This story was first published on jpost.com.