Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 19, 2009 Shvat 25, 5769 | | Israel Time: 23:33 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 00:00 16/07/2007
Holocaust survivors' children sue Germany for therapy fees
By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press

A group representing thousands of children of Holocaust survivors filed a class-action lawsuit against the German government on Monday, demanding that Germany pay for their psychiatric care.

The plaintiffs, calling themselves second-generation Holocaust survivors, say the scars of the Nazi genocide on their parents have crossed generations. Many still live with an irrational fear of starvation and incapacitating bouts of depression, the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit marks the very first time that the German government will be asked to take responsibility and to care for those of the second generation in Israel and indeed, worldwide, attorney Gideon Fisher said before filing the suit at the Tel Aviv District Court.
Advertisement
The suit seeks to set up a German-financed fund to pay for biweekly therapy sessions for 15,000 to 20,000 people, or about $10 million annually for three years.

"If they will not do it voluntarily, and unfortunately they have not done it so far, then I really hope the president of the court here in Tel Aviv would make them take responsibility," said Fisher, a child of Auschwitz survivors who founded the Fisher Fund, the nonprofit group behind the lawsuit.

Baruch Mazor, the fund's director, said four to five percent of the 400,000 children of survivors in Israel require treatment. "Since many cannot hold steady jobs, they cannot pay for their own treatment, and aid from the government and health insurance has been inadequate," he said.

About 4,000 people have joined the suit, he said.

"The only thing we are asking for is some kind of financial help in order to give them psychiatric treatment. There will be no money passed from hand to hand," Mazor said Monday.

It was unclear what standing the court would have in a damages case against a foreign country.

Mazor said the Tel Aviv suit was a first step aimed at winning recognition that Germany bears responsibility for the suffering of survivors' children.

The plaintiffs will then try to negotiate a settlement, or will take their case to a German or an international court, he said.

In Berlin, the German Foreign Ministry said it would not comment on an ongoing legal process. But Germany was likely to see the suit as a window for an indefinite number of future claims.

Since the 1950s, Germany has paid more than $60 billion in reparations to concentration camp survivors, families of the some of the six million Jewish victims, and to the State of Israel. Much of that money went to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, a New York-based organization that negotiates with Germany and distributes the payments.

Mazor said money handled by the Claims Conference is earmarked for survivors, and their children did not want to detract from those funds.

The suit claims the second generation grew up in the shadow of depression, grief and guilt of their parents, which created a powerful inclination among the children for pain and suffering.

Children had a twisted relationship with their parents that impeded their development and led to severe psychological problems, the suit claims.

One 58-year-old woman told her story to Israel Radio Sunday, saying she inherited the fear of starvation experienced by her parents in Auschwitz, where inmates prized any crust of bread they could obtain.

If you come to my house and open the freezer, loaves of bread fall on you, without any proportion to what I really need, the woman said.

She declined to disclose her name, but Mazor said she spoke for thousands.

She said she felt as if she had no childhood, and jumped directly into adolescence. "In our house it was forbidden to exhibit pain or say that you are sad. My father taught us not to show people how we feel, that it is forbidden to show people you are hurt, or that things are hard for you. And this was very, very hard," said the woman.

One plaintiff, 55, is afraid of traveling on buses as they remind her of the trains that took Jews to the extermination camps. She is subject to panic attacks and takes tranquilizers.

Another plaintiff, who says she was raised in a dark, dirty home by parents suffering from depression, has developed fear of dogs. Today, she is emotionally disabled.

Mazor said the Fisher Fund held lengthy negotiations with the German Embassy over the compensation claims, but the talks were cut off by the Germans.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Bibi running scared
Netanyahu is talking about a broad coalition only because he is afraid.
Happy trails, Ehud
Despite the scandals, Israelis are going to miss Olmert.
  1.   Reasonable Request 16:28  |  Semsem 16/07/07
  2.   Ruth Sinai ? shame on you 16:46  |  Rolland 16/07/07
  3.   Shoah Entrepreneurs 16:58  |  Double Click 16/07/07
  4.   The Kibbutzim should pay 16:59  |  Binyamin Dissen 16/07/07
  5.   seventh-generation Civil War vet 17:01  |  edgar 16/07/07
  6.   Jew$ 17:01  |  Mike 16/07/07
  7.   Unreasonable Request 17:03  |  Robert 16/07/07
  8.   bof 17:04  |  Bruno 16/07/07
  9.   holocaust second generation.. 17:16  |  scanadu 16/07/07
  10.   Palestinians should sue Israel likewise 17:16  |  Simba 16/07/07
  11.   What a load of crap 17:17  |  rasta 16/07/07
  12.   They Did not get enough yet ? 17:20  |  Emilie 16/07/07
  13.   strange disease 17:28  |  nomatterwhat 16/07/07
  14.   Good! 17:28  |  Nechama 16/07/07
  15.   have fun with this, psychotherapy bashers 17:32  |  newageblues 16/07/07
  16.   #10, Simba, many Israeli families have grounds to sue Pals too 17:36  |  newageblues 16/07/07
  17.   I want to join the class action 17:38  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/07/07
  18.   What is Israel 17:46  |  Dav 16/07/07
  19.   "16"newageblues 17:56  |  Labhras 16/07/07
  20.   Do they really believe this type of law suits are possible ? 17:57  |  Sal 16/07/07
  21.   The Black people in the US, South America 18:01  |  Simba 16/07/07
  22.   Palestnians should do the same and sue Israel 18:07  |  Great Idea! 16/07/07
  23.   heard that Germany pays for therapy for children of S.S. members 18:09  |  newageblues 16/07/07
  24.   Growing up irrational, in a traumatized family 18:11  |  C McCoy 16/07/07
  25.   Successful Franchise 18:17  |  Mary 16/07/07
  26.   holocaust survivors`children suing Germany 18:20  |  sra 16/07/07
  27.   Scars 18:30  |  naive 16/07/07
  28.   Sue the World 18:37  |  The Other Alan 16/07/07
  29.   Holocaust survivors 18:42  |  steve gure 16/07/07
  30.   not just jews suffered 18:46  |  jonathan 16/07/07
  31.   I am Palestine 18:58  |  Palestine 16/07/07
  32.   I thought Jews took care of Jews... 19:00  |  Kevin Minailo 16/07/07
  33.   U MUST BE KIDDING 19:03  |  WW11 16/07/07
  34.   #2 - Just the tip of the iceberg 19:20  |  Guy 16/07/07
  35.   Great idea 19:23  |  Tom 16/07/07
  36.   to robert from atlanta 19:25  |  daniel 16/07/07
  37.   Holocaust is really a HOLOHOAX 19:33  |  Muhammud al-Swain 16/07/07
  38.   This is just sick 19:39  |  Shana 16/07/07
  39.   newageblues 19:56  |  mm 16/07/07
  40.   To the mockers 20:00  |  Gila 16/07/07
  41.   #3 Jews from Arab Countries could Sue Arabs Also 20:21  |  Laila 16/07/07
  42.   Take the money from israeli banks and the JCC 20:22  |  Jecheskel 16/07/07
  43.   Israel Also Guilty of Mistreating Holocaust Survivors 20:23  |  Fortunee 16/07/07
  44.   # 30, right Jonathan 20:27  |  Gabi 16/07/07
  45.   #40 Gila 20:31  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/07/07
  46.   Is buffet included in the fee? 20:32  |  ben 16/07/07
  47.   Roma 20:33  |  Mark 16/07/07
  48.   #29, Steve, Gure, that`s one hell of a sweeping statement 20:34  |  newageblues 16/07/07
  49.   #40 20:44  |  shana 16/07/07
  50.   As #43 suggests, fault may lie with Israel 20:48  |  newageblues 16/07/07
  51.   Holocaust... 20:52  |  wibism 16/07/07
  52.   setting a dangerous precedent 20:57  |  Mike 16/07/07
  53.   #47, Mark, that does sound like a good point 21:03  |  newageblues 16/07/07
  54.   Excessive 21:20  |  Dina 16/07/07
  55.   Muhammad al-Swain 21:39  |  JB 16/07/07
  56.   2nd generation 21:50  |  judy 16/07/07
  57.   #32, Kevin, the settler enterprise has come first 22:03  |  newageblues 16/07/07
  58.   Judy #56 22:22  |  wibism 16/07/07
  59.   NOT A REASONABLE SUIT AT ALL! 22:34  |  tbart 16/07/07
  60.   "34" Guy 22:44  |  Labhras 16/07/07
  61.   Holocaust survivors` children sue Germany for therapy fees 23:26  |  VaidyaManeesh 16/07/07
  62.   Gila 23:58  |  Ghandi 16/07/07
  63.   African Americans Should sue the US govermnet 00:00  |  Man 17/07/07
  64.   Edgar Bronfman to the cause...or not ? 00:21  |  Guy 17/07/07
  65.   Labhras, I tried to respond, did not pass gatekeeper 01:50  |  newageblues 17/07/07
  66.   #56, Judy, thanks for your voice, people should read the post 05:25  |  newageblues 17/07/07
  67.   Diverse Holocausts without any End 12:26  |  rene delavy 17/07/07
  68.   Fed Up! 05:41  |  K 18/07/07
  69.   Once Again 07:09  |  Dave 18/07/07
  70.   Give back 09:56  |  Dav 18/07/07
  71.   Holocaust Second Generation Problems 17:26  |  Fran Smordin 18/07/07
  72.   Laughable 05:30  |  Joe 01/08/07
 Haaretz Hot Topics
Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
Israel goes to the polls
Conflict in Gaza
Israel vs. Hamas
Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
More Headlines
22:09 Egypt recalls commerce delegation to Israel
23:10 George Mitchell: U.S. committed to Israel security, Palestinian state
17:40 Livni to Kadima: We're going to the opposition
23:27 Indyk: Netanyahu may seek Syria deal to deflect U.S. pressure
23:18 Ehud Olmert, we will miss you
23:15 IAEA: New uranium traces found at suspected Syria nuclear site
18:47 Hundreds gather at Tel Aviv mall expecting cash to fall from the sky
20:30 U.S. Senator John Kerry makes rare visit to Hamas-ruled Gaza
21:09 3 Qassam rockets strike western Negev; no one hurt
23:23 Netanyahu, put your money where your mouth is
20:36 Jewish Yemenite family arrives in Israel after secret rescue
16:56 Report: Vatican readmits society that propagates anti-Semitism
19:21 UAE grants Israeli tennis player Ram visa to compete in Dubai tournament
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Summer in Israel
Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
Passover Vacations
The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida
Camp Kimama Israel 2009
The best place for your children this summer
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
Site rules | Makom: Engaging on 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