Hanna was 7 years old during World War II and almost starved to death on the streets of the Warsaw Ghetto. Today, she is 79. Although she lives in the Jewish state and is no longer victim of anti-Semitic persecution, Hanna is still wandering around hungry on the streets of Jaffa.
On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember the atrocities committed by the Nazis and their collaborators. Every year, on the 27th day of Nissan, in Israel we observe a minute of silence and refrain from going clubbing or indulging in nice meals at restaurants. Many spend the evening at home reflecting on the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, or watching films such as “Schindler’s List.”
In fact, we think about the Holocaust all year long: when we send our children on trips to Poland, for example, or when we (and every diplomat visiting Israel) pay a visit to Yad Vashem. We strive to educate future generations about this tragic time in history and are adamant about making sure the dead will not be forgotten.
But are we so obsessed about these 6 million dead Jews that we forget about the living ones?
When we see an old man with a tattoo on his arm, we automatically think about the terrible ordeals he must have endured in the 1940s. But do we ever think that this man could be enduring a terrible time in the present?
Of the 250,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel, more than a quarter live below the poverty line. This means that many of the people who survived the Nazis’ atrocities and sought shelter in Israel do not have enough money to afford basic necessities such as a home, food, medical treatment and clothes. Jews who were hungry in the ghettos and in the death camps 70 years ago are still hungry today, in the Jewish state.
This grave issue does not concern only Israel. The Jewish Federations of North America reported that more than half of the 127,000 Holocaust survivors in the United States live below the federal poverty line on less than $21,660 per year. About 4,000 of those survivors live in the Bay Area. They receive help from organizations such as Jewish Family and Children’s Services through reparation claims programs, at-home services, individual assistance, cultural engagement and peer support activities.
So how did we get to this terrifying reality?
Having immigrated to Israel under a reign of terror, the vast majority of Holocaust survivors arrived destitute, without the financial resources for a secure start. This disadvantage has continued to plague them throughout their lives, and many have reached old age without the savings necessary to ensure that they can live their last years in comfort.
Though many survivors receive monthly payments from Holocaust compensation programs and/or the Israeli government, as they have aged and begun to experience increased health problems, many have found that these payments are not sufficient to cover even their basic needs. Indeed, Holocaust survivors in Israel are twice as likely to experience chronic illnesses as other people their age, and nearly half report trouble sleeping. Furthermore, a significant number require medication for trauma-related mental health disorders. Increasingly, the bills for necessary medical care are swallowing their small incomes, leaving them unable to afford basic costs of living.
Furthermore, one of the consequences of old age is the loss of close relatives. Sadly, in the case of Holocaust survivors, this situation is compounded for those who lost their families in the Shoah and were unable to rebuild new ones in Israel. As such, more than 40 percent of survivors in Israel are single, and about a quarter live alone. Without a support network to look after them, many are living on the periphery of society with no one to ensure that their basic needs are met.
In addition, it takes great effort to be legally recognized as a Holocaust survivor by the State of Israel. A significant number of legitimate victims of the Shoah do not have the mental or physical strength to face these bureaucratic difficulties to receive compensation, and consequently are in great need of financial support.
Holocaust survivors soon will disappear. In addition to remembering the tragedy of the Shoah, let us not forget the living victims and let us rally to help them, either through donations or volunteer work. We can only do so for a few more years.
As chairman of the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel Elazar Stern said, “The needs of needy Holocaust survivors will continue to grow. …The younger generation will not forgive us if we do not deal respectfully with the older generation.”
Not only will the younger generation not forgive us, we will not forgive ourselves.
Deborah Garel is a grant coordinator at the Jaffa Institute, an Israeli nonprofit that supports the needs of underprivileged children from Jaffa, south Tel Aviv and Bat Yam and distributes food to families and Holocaust survivors. Garel can be reached at [email protected].