I’m compelled to stand up for this cause as it’s so close to my heart. Whilst interviewing and visiting our holocaust survivors i have had the incredible honour of building relationships and hearing their stories. It’s most common for us to look back, remember the past and re-live the shock from holocaust survivors stories, but we also have a duty to not lose sight on making sure they are looked after properly in the present.
The shocking truth is that of 165,800 Holocaust Survivors 90% over the age of 80 are without autonomy over their living expenses.
We have a problem and we need to create a support system for our Holocaust Survivors that need extra support and community as they are ageing and have no access to income, health or housing by their own means and rely heavily on the state. Whilst the State of Israel has many issues it is dealing with, often the momentum for change can come from the people to remind us of what is truly valuable to us as Jews and as Israelis. We have a state of Israel because of the suffering of so many at the Nazi’s hands. It really is our job to make sure our survivors can live respectfully and comfortably the rest of their days in the land they helped bring to existence through their suffering and the loss of their loved ones.
We need to make all Jewish communities aware of our moral obligation in our shared responsibility for our people. Help us take action and make change to bring better support to our survivors in need of community, home and better income support. Right now, the present situation is that there are too many cases of “power of attorney” being given to the government allowing them to take over the bank accounts of Holocaust Survivors and vulnerable lonely elderly people that need more caregivers, better support and more access to having their needs met.
Survivors are not being heard and they are living in not good conditions and it’s our shared responsibility to look after them. Though there are many organisation that work in this space, they are not motivated to make this a priority and positive change. If survivors need to be in sheltered accommodation it should at the very least be of a significantly good standard and not be be told that there is no funding for this by the government.
This is not a plea for money, there is no link to donate what is needed is your care and effort to spread the word, reach out to those in need in the community and begin the road to this issue being discussed and dealt with in the open. Any action you can take is a step in the right direction.
Let’s Make The Change Together.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TO SUPPORT OUR SURVIVORS
- Find Out if There Is a Survivor In Your Community or Neighbourhood by contacting a local Rabbi, Community Centre or Social Worker
- Get in Touch with them, Make Contact and See What Support You Can Give Them. Find Out If They Are Safe & Healthy. Ask if They Would Like Some Company and Arrange a Visit.
- Contact an Independent Legal Aid Society to Fight For a Survivors Legal & Financial Rights.
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