Reach Out Summer/Autumn 2016

Together, we bring hope 2

I find it remarkable to think A quick reminder that we that I joined World Jewish have 35,000 files of those Relief 10 years ago this we assisted. If you know of month. I am privileged to anyone who falls into this have met both many of category please encourage those we help and many them to contact us, as we may of you as supporters. Each have their historical records and every one of you has which we will send free of inspired me to push this charge: www.worldjewishrelief. charity to achieve even more, org/archives. to reduce the vulnerability within our Jewish world Mirjam Bait Talmi, who and demonstrate our core recently received her family’s Jewish values in assisting case file, demonstrates their those beyond our community significance better than I ever where we can. could: “Looking back, I can only think about what a hard Paul Anticoni Inevitably I still feel that the life we orphans real mountain is ahead of us. had. When you sent me the To fundamentally address report regarding my brother, I Chief Executive chronic poverty within the realised that he had been cared massive but fragile Jewish for by the best of people and communities within the not just be left somewhere to die. former Soviet Union still The report gave me an insight requires a greater scaling into my childhood.” THIS SEPTEMBER, JAMES LIBSON, up of our work. But tens of thousands of people’s When people remind me that OUR CHAIRMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE lives and livelihoods are there remain more in immeasurably better thanks than the UK, it never STEPS DOWN AFTER COMPLETING to our work. That wouldn’t be ceases to make me think. The possible without you. difference that we are making HIS TERM OF OFFICE. HE to these people can be seen Colin Lehmann, our former in the tale of Nadezhda HAS BEEN MONUMENTAL IN Treasurer, was an integral (p.6-7), whose apartment was and passionate part of our in such disrepair she had HIS COMMITMENT, ENERGY, organisation, so it was with become totally isolated out huge sadness that we learned of embarrassment; she used THOUGHTFULNESS, INTELLECT of his death earlier this year. to have to wash herself with Our thoughts remain with his warm water heated on her AND DRIVE TO PROMOTE, EXPAND family and friends. stove. Repairing her home and installing a boiler and AND PROFESSIONALISE THIS While my grey hairs might shower transformed her deceive you, World Jewish life. Unbelievably we have ORGANISATION. HE IS A Relief vastly predates my now repaired 1,477 houses tenure. As the organisation in recent years. Changes DELIGHT TO WORK WITH AND that brought tens of like this give people like thousands out of Nazi Nadezhda a reason to live, A CLOSE FRIEND. Germany, both on the thanks to and post war and to you. from the displaced camps, we must not forget our roots. Have a lovely summer.

I’m delighted to welcome Dan Rosenfield as the incoming Chair of World Jewish Relief. Originally from Manchester, Dan has been a trustee of World Jewish Relief since 2014, building his knowledge and developing a huge passion for our work. I look forward to reading his thoughts which he will share with us through a Q&A in the next Reach Out. 3 My helper is like a daughter to me. She brings me food from the store, she cooks for me, cleans my room and helps me to stay clean. She brings light into my house and heart.

A Light unto the Nations: honouring Righteous Gentiles

IRYNA’S STORY IS BOTH Righteous Gentiles, or in Odessa, Ukraine. With Righteous Among the numerous health problems REMARKABLE AND DEVASTATING. Nations, are the brave like diabetes and high individuals honoured by blood pressure, her monthly Yad Vashem for risking pension is barely enough to DOING ALL THEY COULD TO HIDE their own lives to save live on. Jewish people during the AND CARE FOR IRYNA’S JEWISH Holocaust. Men and women Many survivors helped by of all ages and faiths; from Righteous Gentiles kept CHILDHOOD FRIEND IN THEIR physicians to peasants, in touch with those who teachers to resistance hid them and they spoke HOME DURING THE WORLD WAR II, fighters, they are united by to us about the shame of their extraordinary acts. knowing that those who HER MOTHER AND BROTHER WERE rescued them were facing For years, these inspirational such hardships. We simply ULTIMATELY CAPTURED BY THE people were given support had to act. through German reparation NAZIS. IN 2001, IN RECOGNITION funds. In 2008, however, We committed to doing hundreds lost access to more to support this OF THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS, these funds and, thus, special group of people, critical health and social across the Former Soviet IRYNA AND HER MOTHER WERE care services. Increasingly Union, providing urgent frail, they were forced to medication, surgeries and AWARDED THE STATUS OF survive on tiny pensions. basic supplies to those These people, who had most in need. Our focus RIGHTEOUS GENTILES, BUT selflessly provided Jews so far has been on the with refuge, warmth and provision of vital help UNTIL WE MET HER, SHE WAS food, now found themselves around the house for people desperate for help. like Iryna, who now has STRUGGLING FOR SURVIVAL.. homecare support 22 hours Today, Iryna is 96 years old. a week. Without this, Iryna She lives alone in one room would become increasingly in a run-down apartment desperate and isolated. 4 One’s heart aches to witness such things. Jonathan Wittenberg on his visit to Greece

“They’ve been arriving day kindness’, Marie explained. RESCUE TEAMS and night.” I was standing ‘The grandparents of many with Marie from Praksis, islanders were refugees World Jewish Relief’s themselves, fleeing Turkey WATCHED THE partner in Greece, on the across these very waters in island of Lesbos. the 1920s. They remember; COAST DAY AND they bring soup and help The torn plastic sheets the old and the children.’ on the rocks of the beach NIGHT. AT THE FIRST puzzled me. ‘Those were the At Moria, the nearby dinghies’, I was told. ‘That’s camp where those who SIGHTING OF A BOAT, all they’re made of. They’re make it safely over the meant for fifteen people, but sea are registered, buses the smugglers pack in fifty.’ arrive constantly. Only THEY SUMMONED after registration can I found a life-vest on refugees proceed to Athens. VOLUNTEERS AND, the shore, but it was Volunteers are ready fake. Filled with water- with essentials; sleeping absorbent material, it bags, blankets, backpacks, USING FLAGS OR was a death-vest, not a nappies, food. World Jewish life-vest. Someone had Relief plays an essential BONFIRES, DIRECTED sold it to an unsuspecting supportive role. refugee for 20 Euros. Disturbingly, there are Amidst one olive grove THE INCOMING always those eager to profit was the cemetery where from the misery of others. the drowned were buried. REFUGEES TO THE But I was far more struck There we met Mustafa. by those there to help. ‘The When he learned there SAFEST BEACHES. Greek people show deep were dead still in fridges 5 One’s heart aches to witness such things. REFUGEE CRISIS UPDATE Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg on his visit to Greece

THANKS TO YOUR 50,000+ GENEROSITY, WE’VE RAISED REFUGEES TRAPPED IN GREECE after thirty days, he took £877,646 AND A STAGGERING responsibility for burying SINCE SEPTEMBER 2015. them with dignity. Small marble slabs marked the 3 MILLION graves. One word appeared IN TURKEY. repeatedly: ‘agnostica - unknown’ – ‘unknown child, aged 3 months’, ‘unknown woman’. Here lay the price 16,000 THE of this flight from war and SANITATION violence, undertaken for KITS a better future for these WE DISTRIBUTE GIVE children. BENEFICIARIES MUCH NEEDED One’s heart aches to witness SO FAR. RELIEF TO PARENTS. such things. More than people are on the move; history, identities, perhaps WE WE OPENED A NEW the very notion of borders.

The outcomes are unclear. DISTRIBUTE CENTRE But one cannot be human FOR REFUGEE and fail to help. ITEMS LIKE WHEELCHAIRS VICTIMS OF FOR THE M O S T SEXUAL Rabbi Wittenberg is the VULNERABLE. VIOLENCE. Senior Rabbi of Masorti UK. OUR MOBILE OUR MEDICAL UNIT RESCUE IN GREECE HAS HELPED TEAMS

ON THE BEACHES OF 5,000 LESBOS. ASSIST THOSE PEOPLE. ARRIVING BY BOAT. 6 Rebuilding homes, transforming lives Oliver Knight, Home Repairs Programme Manager, reflects on his experiences...

Before 7

HAVING LIVED AND TRAVELLED IN AND , I HAVE WITNESSED EXTREME POVERTY FIRST-HAND. BEFORE WORKING AT WORLD JEWISH RELIEF, I WAS GUILTY, LIKE MANY, OF THINKING SUCH POVERTY COULDN’T POSSIBLY EXIST SO CLOSE TO HOME. AS I COMPLETE MY FIRST YEAR MANAGING WORLD JEWISH RELIEF’S HOME REPAIRS PROGRAMME IT AMAZES ME HOW WRONG I WAS.

I would like to share with heat water in a pan, to then boiler, I have hot water. My you an experience from pour over herself. Her dream life has been transformed.” a home visit I went on was to take a shower in recently. I visited an elderly hot water. With her home With these changes lady in Ukraine called in such disrepair, she was Nadezhda can live Nadezhda Bakanova. Born in ashamed to invite anybody independently and in Odessa, where she still lives to it. Experiencing extreme dignity; she is like a new in a run-down part of the loneliness, with just the woman. “I am very thankful city, Nadezhda is sure that sound of the TV as company, with all my heart. I couldn’t without the help of World Nadezhda told me she often live without this support. Jewish Relief she would not talked to herself. Watching I cannot describe it by have been able to survive. her made me think of my words. I wish I could thank grandmother, who I could never the UK Jewish community As I was sitting with imagine living in this way. each personally.” Her home Nadezhda in her small now fills her with pride kitchen, we shared stories. Thanks to your support, – so much so she invited Admittedly for someone we were able to make friends immediately. Years in their 60s, she had many the changes Nadezhda ago Nadezhda would more than me. Since the so desperately needed, always have friends over death of her son 21 years through our Home Repairs on festivals; this Rosh ago, Nadezhda’s health programme. We dug up the Hashanah she’s already deteriorated and she lived floor, replacing all the pipes planning on doing so again. an increasingly solitary life. and sewerage system and Nadezhda’s apartment is just I was shocked by the state insulated the flat, replacing one of the 1,477 homes we’ve of her apartment. In winter, the windows and doors. repaired since 2009. In the she would sit in her robe We tiled the bathroom and coming months you will hear to keep warm and end up installed a new toilet and more about the impact we can covered in dirt from the coal sink. Most importantly, have by repairing peoples’ she had to use to fuel the we installed a boiler and a homes and how, together, we stove. Unbelievably, she had shower. “I used to dream of can transform peoples’ lives no shower to clean herself. standing in a shower with and bring hope. Nadezhda would have to hot water. Now, I have a 8 Ukraine: the forgotten crisis By Vitaliy Kartamyshev, Director, World Jewish Relief Ukraine

WHEN GAVRILOV IVANOVICH’S HOUSE IN EASTERN UKRAINE WAS BOMBED, HE HAD NOWHERE TO GO. HIS NEIGHBOURS HAD LITERALLY DRAGGED HIM OUT OF THE WRECKAGE OF HIS HOUSE AND HE WAS LEFT WITH NOTHING.

Just a tiny outhouse to live in, Over the past few months, Many pensioners like this repression made it with no heating, nowhere to we have increasingly focused couple are also forced to undesirable for politicians cook and no family. Gavrilov, on how we can maximise our support their grown-up to be seen as ‘too Jewish’. 86, had fought the Nazis; resources in the conflict zones children who have lost their Leaders within Ukrainian now he fights just to survive. to help those most impacted livelihoods. However small, Jewry have pointed to People like Gavrilov don’t by the crisis, like Gavrilov. they at least get a pension, Groysman’s ascent as proof think beyond tomorrow; they For example, our project in whereas their children have of the absence of serious just figure out how to live the buffer zone separating lost jobs and cannot find work anti-Semitism in Ukraine, today. It is only thanks to Ukrainian forces from pro- in the depressed economic whilst Russia has pointed World Jewish Relief’s support, Russian rebels delivers food, situation and in unfamiliar to the country’s alleged thanks to your generosity, that hygiene kits and other basic towns. They face the anti-Semitism to justify he is able to survive. essentials like nappies and unenviable choice of either its conflict with Ukraine, toilet paper to 300 people. accepting financial support including the annexation As the media’s attention has from their parents’ meagre of Crimea. Whatever the casually declined since the When I was in Zaporozhye pensions, or joining the army. case, life for Ukraine’s Jews 2014 revolution, the daily recently, I met an older Jewish remains incredibly tough, struggles of Ukrainians have couple who had fled Luhansk, You may have read that with many surviving day-by- increased, and the currency leaving everything behind. Ukraine has a new, Jewish day thanks to your support. has devalued dramatically. Thanks to your support, Prime Minister, Volodymyr This means that the world's the Jewish community in Groysman. Groysman’s poorest Jewish communities Zaporozhye is able to support openness about his can now only afford one third of them, house and feed them, background isn’t customary what they used to. Conversely, it as we are doing for 3,500 in a country where anti- also means that your donations internally displaced people Semitism and Communist go three times further. across Ukraine. 9 10

Seven decades of history staring back at me

By Rabbi David Lister of Edgware United

MY MOTHER PASSED Recently, I was intrigued to learn been stamped by an immigration officer. that World Jewish Relief had It was a curious feeling to see the AWAY IN NOVEMBER enlisted volunteers to source the marks of officialdom bestowed so NEARLY THREE YEARS documentation of Holocaust refugees. punctiliously by these kindly British You simply contact them with any people who have long since left this AGO. SHE WAS BORN details you can of the person you are world. Did they know how moving IN BERLIN DURING THE trying to trace, and they search their the traces of their clerical routine records to see what they can find. I would be one day? It probably RISE OF NAZISM, BUT sent off the email and life continued never occurred to them that in as usual. 2016 someone would thank them WAS EVACUATED ON for enabling his mother to live A KINDERTRANSPORT Until an email arrived with my mother’s and give birth to him. It probably maiden name in the subject box. never occurred to them that in 2016 TRAIN IN THE SPRING someone would thank them for OF 1939. MIRACULOUSLY, I was suddenly apprehensive as I enabling his mother to live, or that opened the document and scrolled that uncomprehending little exiled HER PARENTS MANAGED through to the scans. The first alien would attain a university degree, document I saw was from the Jewish thrive, and leave behind a flourishing TO ESCAPE GERMANY Refugees’ Committee – one of the Jewish dynasty spanning three EVEN CLOSER TO THE component parts of the Central British new generations. Fund for World Jewish Relief – filing OUTBREAK OF WAR. the date of her arrival in the UK Most poignant was her picture. THEY WERE EDUCATED, (21st April 1939) and new address. A little girl with wild, thick hair, My heart jolted as I recognised my her expression wavering between CULTURED AND HARD- late grandmother’s handwriting, the solemnity and apprehension, stared WORKING, BUT THEY same that cheered me when I used to up at me, dark eyes fixing my gaze out receive her letters. of a computer screen and across seven LEFT GERMANY WITH decades of history. From the same day was a Document NEXT TO NOTHING AND of Identity issued ‘with the approval So I thank World Jewish Relief for this LIFE WAS HARD. of His Majesty’s Government’. Issued amazing service to the community. in Southampton, it bears my mother’s They have made me feel more complete name and date of birth, together with by completing a part of my past, and I the names and address of her parents, urge others to do the same by visiting who were still in Berlin. The reverse has worldjewishrelief.org/archives, or on 020 8736 1250. 11

60 SECONDS WITH... DEBBIE CANTOR, OUR THANKS TO... VOLUNTEER World Jewish Relief would like to thank the following Meet Debbie Cantor, Team Coordinator for our team of supporters and their families for archives’ volunteers. You can read about the archives generous gifts left in their will. project opposite. Here’s what Debbie has to say about volunteering at World Jewish Relief. Gerald Crossman Bernice Goldsmid What is your role? Henry Myers I respond to requests about our archives and manage a small team of volunteers. Irvin Franklin Rayner Franklin What do you enjoy most about your role? I love working for a cause I am passionate about and supporting Gerry Sigler the great work of World Jewish Relief. It is incredible to see the Regina Tessler impact of their work on vulnerable communities across the world. We couldn’t achieve what we do without the With the archives project, I am discovering new stories all the invaluable support of those who want to leave a time. I love the responses we get when we send out the files. lasting legacy. We wish your families a long life.

How often do you volunteer? Gifts in wills are critical to World Jewish Relief. I volunteer weekly and have been volunteering at World Jewish Over the past five years, legacy donations Relief over the past 5 years. have funded over £3 million worth of our life-changing projects. Without this ongoing What do you like about volunteering at World Jewish Relief? support we would be unable to provide such The office environment is a pleasure to work in. Everyone is a range and depth of services to people suffering friendly, working as a team, with a great deal of professionalism. I lives of hardship and poverty. am made to feel part of the team, not an outsider, and that my work is valued. For more information about leaving a gift to World Jewish Relief in your will please contact If you would like to find out about volunteering contact Samantha Richard Budden, Head of Individual Martin on 020 8736 1250 or email [email protected]. Giving & Legacies on 020 8736 1255 or email [email protected].

Fancy a challenge?

This year our amazing supporters “ I ran the London Marathon for have climbed Kilimanjaro, completed World Jewish Relief which was the Great Manchester 10k Run and cycled through Poland! the most rewarding experience of my life. I had to hobble the Registration is now open for the 2017 final 3rd with cramp but the Virgin London Marathon and the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100. feeling of crossing the finish line is like nothing else! I’m Challenging yourself for a charity looking forward to running is extremely rewarding, but don’t just take our word for it… again for the charity.” For more information contact Samantha Martin on 020 8736 1250 or - Greg Ilsen, Virgin London email [email protected]. Marathon 2016 12

Mark a special occasion by supporting World Jewish Relief

If you, or someone you know, is celebrating a special occasion, perhaps a birthday, anniversary, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, or wedding, you could use the opportunity to support our work.

If you know someone who is celebrating, If you have a special occasion coming 1 you can donate to World Jewish Relief 2 up, you can ask well-wishers to donate in their honour. We will send them a to World Jewish Relief in your name. letter with a Mazel Tov card to let them We will keep you updated on who has know you have donated. donated and the total you raise.

For more information about Celebratory Giving please email Hadas Morris on [email protected] or call 020 8736 1250.

Oscar Joseph House E [email protected] 54 Crewys Road T 020 8736 1250 London worldjewishrelief.org NW2 2AD @wjrelief