While researching Holocaust websites, I stumbled across this site and was immediately drawn into searching the content. The website is for the California State Treasury Office and has a portion of the site designated for Holocaust Restitution. I was not aware that there was a Holocaust Restitution, nor that the State of California has the second largest population of Holocaust survivors in the United States. This site has the generic feel of a "State Government" to it but the most important aspect about the site is the purpose.
Because most survivors are over age 75, and a large percent of survivors live in poverty, the California’s Treasury Office requested an act of goodwill from over 170 financial institutions. As a result of this request, over 120 of these institutions waived the transfer fee associated with the monthly payment received by survivors. With each fee costing as much as $40.00 per month, it was a large percentage of each survivor’s small amount of restitution. This website was an amazing find! I have been able to find several other sites on this subject, however the majority of sites are .org and .edu sites. I have yet to find any concrete information on the United States.gov site in relation to the topic of Holocaust Restitution.
California Treasury Office. ~ Kim
2 comments:
Although I had been to the Holocaust Museum in Richmond this summer, I didn't see the video of Jay Ipson or have a guided tour. Mr. Ipson, the co-founder of the museum, is only 2 years older than my father. While I listened to the survival story of Mr. Ipson, I kept thinking, "that could have been my father" which made it much more personal to me. There was also a woman in the video who was the sole survivor of her entire family. I wonder who her family is now. So many lost everything. According to this website, a large population of survivors live in poverty. Some may have no one at all to help them. Although it's a small gesture, I'm glad restitution is being offered to those in need. ~Kim
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