Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., July 09, 2008 Tamuz 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:51 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Call us contributors, not needy By Shraga Milstein Tags: Holocaust For over a year there has been a vigorous public relations campaign, picked up by the media, charging Israel with neglecting and abusing Holocaust survivors. I experienced all the horrors of the Holocaust, from October 1939 in the first ghetto to be established in Nazi-occupied Poland (in the town of Piotrkow), to the liberation from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945, as a boy of 12, after both my parents and most of my family perished. Several friends and acquaintances who survived the Holocaust do not think Israel has done them any wrong. Quite the contrary. It took us in under conditions that were reasonable for the time, became our home and was the place where we could develop and live normally after the Holocaust years of terror, hunger and suffering. Advertisement Tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors were absorbed into every walk of life in Israel. They rebuilt their lives and raised their families, thanks mainly to the conditions the state provided. Many of us have shared and still share the feeling that we were finally home. We felt we were partners to creating a new reality, establishing a country that was ours, in which we could walk tall after the suffering and horrors of the Holocaust. Israel gave us a roof over our heads and, later, opportunities in various forms of military service, education and work. Although we rightfully deserve it, an increased stipend from the Finance Ministry, based on the reparations agreement signed in 1952, would not change most Holocaust survivors' way of life. There are of course needy survivors, but most of the survivors arrived in Israel on the eve of the declaration of independence or immediately afterward and made a significant contribution to the country's establishment in every field settlement, construction, industry, science, academics, education, the Israel Defense Forces, public service, research, music, art and journalism. Many Holocaust survivors made outstanding contributions to the institutions they worked for or even headed. And most important we have raised a second and third generation of loyal, active Israeli citizens. Today we are a modern, sound, well-established state, mainly thanks to those who arrived penniless but infused with the belief and feeling that they were part of a great historic event. In those bygone days, both ordinary citizens and leaders were filled with hope and optimism, despite the immediate hardships. Nowadays, although the state is militarily and economically strong, it is fear of the future that predominates, alongside a spreading culture of "I want, I deserve." This feeling is intensified by the media. Alongside the popular wailing we must remember the Holocaust survivors contribution to the state's achievements rather than portraying them as needy. Some of them are needy, but they are a small minority that is the exception to the rule. Holocaust survivors are defined by Israel and abroad as people who were imprisoned and persecuted for their Judaism by the Nazis in the countries occupied by the Third Reich in Europe and North Africa. Most of the needy survivors immigrated to Israel in the past few decades. They never lived under the Nazi occupation or were persecuted for being Jewish. They were uprooted from their homes and hurt by the horrors of World War II, along with tens of millions of refugees in Europe during and after the war. As Israeli citizens today they deserve the state's help and they should be helped in every way possible. Shraga Milstein is chairman of the Massuah Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Kibbutz Tel Yitzhak Bookmark to del.icio.us   Desert pursuit IDF criticizes Egyptian soldiers over fatal cross-border manhunt. Backing McCain The more religious the voter the more likely he is to support McCain over Obama.

Read & React Bradley Burston: Fear of calling a terrorist a terrorist Responses: 121 Editorial: Hamas has kept its truce commitments thus far Responses: 81 Former water chief: Faucets could run dry this summer Responses: 63 U.S. exports to Iran shot up despite Bush sanction talk Responses: 33 Assad: Direct talks with Israel only after Bush leaves office Responses: 26 More Headlines 02:01 Key ministers to discuss regenerated Hezbollah, Syria front 23:30 EU, Blair: Checkpoints, Gaza blockade hindering Palestinian aid effort 22:03 PMO: We lack funds to protect all homes in Gaza rocket range 23:28 Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain 21:13 U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran officials, companies aiding nuke program 01:44 Topless DJ at party leads Unilever to apologize; Haredim still offended 01:08 Meteor sighting sparks UFO panic in Israel 02:33 Rightist MK tries Knesset caucus effort to thwart Israeli Arabs 21:44 Police officer moderately wounds truck robber in Negev 23:09 Tamir apologizes for 'unparliamentary' Knesset outburst 19:19 Convicted terrorist released from jail due to declining health 19:20 Mortar shell hits W. Negev in fresh Gaza truce violation Previous Editions Select Day 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved