Information Issued by the Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain
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VOL. XX No. 3 March, 1965 INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES IN GREAT BRITAIN • FAIRFAX MANSIONS. FINCHLEY RO. (corner Fairfax Rd.), Lendm. N.W.I 0//ic* and Ctnuilting Houn: TdapheiH ; MAIda v*l« S096/7 (Gmaral olAct and Wtllart tor tha Agad). Monday to Tkurtday 10a.m.—Ipjn. }—6pjn. MAIda Val* 4449 (Employmant Agancy, annuallr llcanicd br tha L.C.C.. and Social Services Dept,) Friday IOa.m.-~l p.m. so far about 150 people had expressed their ACHIEVEMENTS AND NEW PLANS interest in the scheme. The idea was that every applicant should contribute proportion ally to the investment costs, and that the AJR Board Meeting current maintenance cost would also have to be defrayed exclusively by the residents themselves. Arrangements were also envi More than 60 people from London and the The AJR Social Services Department had saged for persons who, without wishing to be Provinces attended the meeting of the AJR to deal with a variety of problems raised by a admitted now, were prepared to contribute Jioard on January 31, when past activities and great number of callers, including employ towards the investment costs with a view to plans for the future were reported and dis ment, accommodation, help in cases of sick being admitted when the need arose. The cussed. ness and psychiatric advice. shape of a company to be founded was at pre The Meeting was opened by Mr, A, S, AJR Information was an indispensable sent being considered by the Sub-Committee in Oresel (Chainnan of the AJR) who paid source of information and also a link between consultation with legal experts. While the tribute to the memory of Sir Winston headquarters and all members. Home would be acquired and administered in Churchill and read out the letter of condo Turning to finances the speaker stated that the name of such a company, it was intended lence written by the AJR to Lady Churchill. in 1964 the income from subscriptions and that a House Committee be set up under the He also recalled the losses sustained by the donations had amounted to £8,620 (as against auspices of the AJR and that the AJR should AJR during the past year through the deaths £8.780 in 1963) and the expenditure to also take charge of the administrative work of Dr, Hans Reichmann, Rabbi Dr, Max Eschel £13,300 (as against £12,800 in 1963). A sub involved. hacher, Dr. Alexander Philippsborn, Dr. stantial increase of expenditure was to be The purchase of a site was at present under Alfred Wiener, Dr. Erich Eyck and Mr. Louis expected in 1965 in view of the necessary active consideration, but it could not yet be Sonneborn (Manchester), further expansion of the work. On the other stated whether it would materialise. He welcomed as new Board Members Mr. hand, it should be possible to increase the Apart from a Self-Supporting Old Age C. F. Flesch, Mrs. S. Horwell and Dr. L. G. number of members, and also to obtain higher Home, assistance in the erection of a Self- King. subscriptions from those members who could Supporting Flatlet Home was also planned. In the general report about the work of the afford it. As the Flatlet Home at Avenue Road would AJR during the past year Dr. W. Rosenstock The AJR Charitable Trust derived its assets accommodate only about 50 people, whereas ^(General Secretary) first dealt with the mainly from the AJR's share in the alloca the number of applicants amounted to about Thank-You Brilain " Fund. Whilst the Fund tions to the Council of Jews from Germany 250, applicants with comparatively large *as a joint enterprise of all major organisa out of the heirless German Jewish property. means at their disposal would have to be tions of former refugees, the AJR had been Furthermore, it was the recipient of current eliminated at thc outset. An announcement the main initiator and had also taken charge of payments made by AJR members under about a Self-Supporting Flatlet Home, pub the substantial administrative work covenant. The Trust had also benefited from lished in AJR Information, had resulted in a The building work at Adamson Road, where donations and legacies. Most of the assets considerable number of replies. However, in the AJR Club is to be accommodated, was at present available would be required for this scheme the AJR would confine its help expected to be completed in April or May. the buildings at Adamson Road and Avenue to bringing the interested persons together, Eight bed-sitting-rooms on the upper floors had Road, and in view of these and various other whereas all further steps (foundation of a oeen allocated to indigent former refugees present and future liabihties an increase of Housing Society, looking for a site, etc.) selected by a Sub-Committee which was the income from Covenant payments, dona would have to be taken by the interested per appointed by the AJR Executive. The upper tions and legacies was highly essential. sons themselves, or by persons to whom they decided to delegate the work. ground floor would be used for the AJR Club. That part of the work for the Jews from The lower ground floor offered various oppor Germany which aimed at the preservation of Dr. F, Goldschmidt (Chief Legal Adviser to tunities, e.g., regular meals services for our cultural heritage was carried out by the URO and Representative of the Council on the indigent persons, meetings of the AJR and Leo Baeck Institute which had already a great Legal Committee of the Claims Conference) of other organisations, and also expanded number of important publications to its credit. reported that on behalf of the Council of Jews activities of the AJR Club. The future work greatly depended on the from Germany Dr, W, Breslauer, Mr, A. S. With regard to the Flatlet Home at Avenue membership strength of the Societies of Dresel and he had repeatedly negotiated with Koad (Highgate) the speaker reported that the Friends of the L,B,I,, but, unfortunately, the the German personalities concerned on legis obstacles to be overcome had been very number of members in this country was still lative questions of restitution and compensa sreat. At present the detailed plans of the rather small. tion. The abolishment of the 1,500 million building were being worked out. As soon as The speaker also reported that after much DM ceiling in the original Federal Restitution they were ready tenders from building firms preparatory work the Council of Jews from Law was to a high extent due to the efforts Would be asked for. Germany had published a book carrying the of the Council, The number of would-be residents of the life stories of 180 Jewish communal leaders At present endeavours were concentrated existing four Old Age Homes was practically in Germany who had perished under the on the Final Compensation Law, the draft of 'unlimited, and the few arising vacancies could Nazis. He appealed to Board members to ,which was now under considieration. The on^ be used for the most urgent applications. acquire this important and unique publication. Council had especially pressed for an adequate The full weekly maintenance costs which Dr. E, A. Lomnitz (Deputy General Secre settlement of the payment of annuities to *ere, however, not paid by all residents tary) gave a report about the work of a Sub- those widows whose husbands had died before amounted to £10 per head, but this sum did Committee set up by the Executive to explore October 1, 1953, It had also taken up the 'lot include expenses for major repairs, the possibility of establishing a Self-Support interests of those whose deceased relatives ?,aniinistrative costs of the AJR and the ing Old Age Home for people who, in view of had lived in Eastern Germany and some of fifH,^' ^^'^ interest on capital. As far as the their comparatively good financial position, "tth home, Osmond House, for more infirm were not eligible for admission to the existing whose claims could not be settled under the People was concerned, the weekly costs per homes. About 40 people had been rejected for present law. As far as the damage to educa Resident amounted to £21; this was mainly admission to the present homes for financial tion was concerned a general increase of the ^iie to the high ratio of nursing staff required. reasons, but there were many others who had 5,000 DM compensation to 10,000 DM was ^s only comparatively few residents could pay not applied because they knew that they did under consideration. However, it was not yet "16 full maintenance cost of £21 the annual not quaUfy for admission. In answer to an certain whether and for which types of vic- aeficit was very substantial. announcement published in AJR Information Continued on page 2, column 1 Page 2 AJR INFORMATION March, 1965 Achievements and Plans PAMS EXHIBITION ON JEWISH "THANKYOU BRITAIN 'FUND RESISTANCE Continued from page 1 An exhibition entitled " The Jews in the A Progress Report tims such an increase would be provided for Struggle Against Hitlerism" was opened in in the final law. Paris. M. Jean Sainteny, Minister for Ex-Ser The Council had also dealt with the pay On February 9 the Committee of the ments of Social Insurance Annuities to those vicemen, who spoke at the opening, called on " Thank-You Britain " Fund, on which all female victims of Nazi persecution who had French youth to honour the memory of Mor major organisations of former refugees are contracted out when they married.