Transcript WJRO World Jewish Restitution Organization

HOLOCAUST ERA ASSETS CONFERENCE
Prague, June 26-30, 2009
HISTORIC REVIEW
Before World War II 10 Million Jews were living in Europe.
The Holocaust decimated Jewish communities from
Finland in the North to Greece in the South.
The largest concentration of Jews lived in Poland
(3.3 million), substantial communities lived in Hungary
(800,000) and Romania (600,000). Additional 5 million
were scattered in around two dozen other countries in
Europe.
Six Million Jews were exterminated in the Holocaust
(Shoah). In some countries 90% of the Jewish community
was decimated.
HISTORIC REVIEW
Until 1938, thousands of Jewish communities were deeply
rooted in Europe where they flourished and accumulated
substantial private and communal wealth.
During the Holocaust, 21,000 communal properties were
confiscated in Eastern and Central Europe. Only 16% of
which have been recovered or for which compensation was
paid.
Most of the Jewish-owned property which was confiscated
during the Holocaust era has not been returned, nor has a
fair compensation been paid to its rightful owners.
HISTORIC REVIEW
Over sixty years since the end of the Holocaust and almost
twenty years since the fall of the “Iron Curtain” the
overwhelming majority of confiscated Jewish property is still
in the hands of European governments and private citizens
protected by national legislation.
The World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO) was
created, in 1993, to serve as a voice for the Jewish people –
to establish or improve existing claims processes, and
increase attention to the issue of restitution of immovable
communal and private property.
WJRO – BACKGROUND
Founded in 1993 by leading Jewish organizations with
global reach, the WJRO is a non-profit organization
registered in Israel.
Serves as the legal and moral representative of world
Jewry, victims and exterminated communities - who were
devoid of any representative or protective government
during the Holocaust - with regards to claims for recovery
of Jewish property in Europe (excluding Germany &
Austria).
WJRO – STRATEGIC GOALS
To address European Jewry’s vast assets lost during the
Nazi and Communist eras.
To recover both private and communal property, looted
art and the unpaid material claims belonging to hundreds
of thousands of Jewish victims of the Holocaust in
Eastern Europe.
To address the pressing issue of recuperating heirless
private property.
WJRO – DEMONSTRATED NEED
Today the number of living Holocaust survivors can be
counted in the few hundred thousands.
All are advanced in age, many are in need of home care,
physical and mental assistance and responsibility for their
wellbeing and welfare. They still live with the horrors of
the past and the destruction of their families, homes and
communities.
Their voices, as well as the echo of the victims, should be
heard through increased Holocaust education,
remembrance and research so their legacy can continue.
It is therefore incumbent on us to address these needs
and meet these challenges .
WJRO MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
The Jewish Agency for Israel
The American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee
The World Zionist Organization
The Conference on Jewish
Material Claims Against
Germany
The World Jewish Congress
B’nai B’rith International
World Agudat Israel
The Organization of Holocaust
Survivors in Israel
European Jewish Congress /
European Council of
Jewish Communities
The American Federation of
Jewish Holocaust Survivors
WJRO - MISSION
Consulting and negotiating with national and local
governments to conclude agreements and ensure
legislation concerning the restitution of property to the
Jewish people.
Conducting research on Jewish property in national and
local archives and to establish a central data bank in
which information on Jewish communal property will be
recorded and assembled.
WJRO - MISSION
Signing cooperation agreements with local Jewish
communities for the purpose of:
Administering and utilizing restored properties and using the
income received from it to strengthen local communities and
provide aid for Jewish residents in need.
Improving the economic circumstances of former residents of
the country in question, regardless of where they live today.
Allocating funds for the preservation of Jewish cultural and
educational projects in that country.
To date, such funds have been establishes in Poland,
Romania and Hungary
WJRO and LOCAL COMMUNITIES
PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATIONS
IN POLAND:
The Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage was
founded in 2001 by the Polish Jewish community, with
WJRO assistance.
By May 2002 over 5,700 claims had been filed – 3,500 by
the Foundation and the remainder by local Jewish
communities.
As of 2007, of the total 5,544 communal property claims
filed, only 1,327 cases (24%) were resolved.
Prior to the war, there were 4,833 Jewish communal
properties in Poland and 1,249 cemeteries.
WJRO and LOCAL COMMUNITIES
PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATIONS
IN ROMANIA:
In 2005 the Romanian Government authorized the
establishment of a Property Fund – ‘CARITATEA
Foundation’ - out of which compensation would be paid,
where confiscated properties could not be returned.
In spite of legislation which appears beneficial,
implementation of the restitution process in Romania
has been seriously flawed.
WJRO and LOCAL COMMUNITIES
PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATIONS
IN HUNGARY:
In November 2007, the Hungarian government approved
a special joint committee – consisting of government
officials, local and international Jewish representatives –
to address remaining property restitution issues,
including heirless Jewish property, looted art, insurance,
bank accounts, etc.
Following negotiations between the Hungarian
government and the WJRO regarding the joint
committee, $21 million was allocated as down-payment
for heirless property.
WJRO – GOING FORWRAD
Engage in intensive consultations and negotiations with all
relevant European countries to encourage communal and
private property legislation.
Foster international support of WJRO’s mission and
activities.
Impress on nations which have not passed legislation (e.g
Poland - for private property, and Lithuania - for communal
property). to enhance the necessary processes without
further delay.
Establish funds with local Jewish communities to
administer the recovered assets.
Enlist support and assist The European Shoah Legacy
Institute in Terezin.
Ambassador David Peleg
Director General
WJRO, World Jewish Restitution Organization
E-Mail: [email protected]