VolumeXXXIV No. 8 August 1979 INFORMATION iSSUfD BY THE ASSOOAnOH OF MWBH MWGOS U OlEAT BRITAm easily cared for flats, independent but with a modicum of supervision, but Homes would be for A YEAR OF SUCCESS those who were really disabled in a greater or lesser degree—whether the cause be sickness, con­ AJR General Meeting fusion or simply very old age. Referring to her previous report about the This year's Annual General Meeting on June 28 The journal also carried comments on contro­ problems encountered in the process of unionis­ *' Hannah Karminski House not only re-afBrmed versial issues. This had an enlivening effect and ation of the Homes' staff, Mrs. Taussig reported "le undiminished need for the AJR as the rep­ resulted in an increase of "letters to the Editor". that the situation was now much better. For this resentative body of our community but also Mrs. S. Taussig, General Secretary of the AJR, work tribute had to be paid to the administration Stifled to the organisation's continuous accom­ reported that there had been almost no change in of the CBF, which is the owner of the Homes and plishment of new tasks. Dr. F. E. Falk, Vice- the number of members, which amounted to about the employer of the staff and which, by dint <rf Chairman of the AJR, who presided, extended 4,000, because the unavoidable natural losses could patience and imderstanding negotiations, had over­ 'l>e apologies of the Chainnan, Mr. C. T. Marx, be made up by new enrolments. Yet if everyone come the problems. *ho had been unable to attend. He paid tribute to brought us new members, it would raise our pro­ There was a need for more people to interest 'he Board members, who had died during the past spects and our finances considerably. themselves in the Homes and the residents on a y^r: Dr. Arthur Kaufmann, Dr. Herbert Lawton Sheltered Housing personal level and to relieve a little the members *i<l Dr. Julius Loeb. He also commemorated Dr. The three properties owned by the AJR of the House Committees, many of whom had Adelheid Levj', who had been in charge of the Charitable Trast, Hannah Karminski House, Marie devoted themselves to thb work for up to 20 years ^cial Services Department from the inception of Baneth House in Golders Green and Otto Hirsch and some of whom would like to hand over to *e AJR until 1968. House in Finchley continued to fulfil a valuable younger people. Jn his report on the general position. Dr. W. function in providing good sheltered housing of In our department dealing with applications for ^osenstock, Director of the AJR, referred to the high standard. Hannah Karminski House in par­ admission to the Homes, our Social Workers, Mrs. "Impact which, notwithstanding its manifold short­ ticular filled multiple needs as a home for the Margot Williams and Mrs. Rose Seidman, often comings, the Holocaust Film had made in enormously successful Club under Mrs. Jacoby's had to deal with cases, where people could not Germany, Britain and almost all other countries in and Mrs. Segall's benevolent guidance, and the bring themselves to agree to go into a Home, even ^hich it was shown. He also stressed the duty of Meals on Wheels kitchen with its marvellous band though they found it very difficult to cope in their 'he survivors to save the names of the victims of volunteers sent out nearly 1,000 meals a month. own homes. It was essential to help people to ^^m oblivion. For this purpose, a "Hall of In 1975, the cost of a meal was 38ip, in 1979, manage independently as long as possible and, of yamej" had been created in Yad Vashem, including delivery, the cost was 72ip of which course, the Meals on Wheels Service played a big •'erusalem. He appealed to the audience to register customers were only charged 60p for this splendid part in this. In recent months it had become even '"e names of relatives and friends of theirs, to be service for emergencies and for regulars. more important; while for over a year the admis­ ^"shrined in the Hall; the necessary forms may be Eleanor Rathbone House, jointly owned with sion of new residents was quite rapid, we were °fdered from the Board of Deputies of British the Central British Fund, was always full, and on once again in a position of having to keep people [•^ws, Wobum House, Upper Wobum Place, Lon- the rare occasions when a flat became available waiting, particularly for Osmond House, where °°n WCIH OEP. there were always people ready and waiting— admission was usually urgently needed. , "deferring to the political situation in this country, though not as many as in the past. Since the "^ stressed that, although the National Front had original applications were received, many had Social Services "tained only comparatively few votes in the Gen- found altemative accommodation or been admitted There was a constant co-operation with social fal Election, the danger of its activities should to Old Age Homes. The voluntary support work work departments of the local authorities, hosp­ °t be underestimated. for Eleanor Rathbone House had, for a long time itals and voluntary organisations. They recognised Turning to the work of the AJR, the speaker past, been carried out with great devotion by Mrs. our work and the giving of help and advice was a ^Ported that the Office constantly received en- Anderman, Mrs. Mautner and Mrs. Trent. As the two-way traffic. This was also trae of our Social ^''•ries on legal questions most of which were two latter were at present unable to continue, new Services Department, where there had been some />nnected with the award of German Social In- helpers were needed and anyone who could under­ changes. Mrs. Marion Casson had retired at the , ranee pensions and the taxability of various take to go to Highgate and see the residents end of 1978. She had buih up a highly efficient Itindis of payments to Nazi victims. Though the department but she was also one who was well offic, should contact Mrs. Anderman or the General e had no experts on its staff, it tried to give Secretary. able to delegate, and Mrs. Sylvia Matus, who has j ^'•niation on matters of a general nature, but taken over the Department from her, had known more complicated cases enquirers were directed Old Age Hoines how to profit from this. In future, the Department ft u^^ ^^^ professional experts working in this With regard to the Old Age Homes, Mrs. Taus­ would also take on most of the counselling work sig reported that efforts were constantly made by of Self Aid. Both organisations now worked hand . ''• Rosenstock also mentioned that the con- the AJR in conjunction with the CBF to improve in glove and the need for this integration had been ^^ts with the Committee of the British Academy, the standard of the Homes. As the buildings aged, recognised and nearly achieved. j,"'ch decides on fellowships out of the "Thank- the repairs increased, and many thousands had to Mrs. Taussig ended her comprehensive report by j°f Britain" Fund, had been strengthened. Whilst be budgeted for this work. The CBF continued to announcing that the next Self Aid Concert, that . '^'ng the last years awards had sometimes been do yeoman work in obtaining Local Authority well loved institution which provides an annual cftJ^ for research work on more abstract themes, support for this, and also for the second great area meeting place for the comraunity, was scheduled effo,'•"t s at obtaining more applications from of expenses—that is for fire precautions. To these for Monday, November 5, and that details would y '^^^r% who were able to work on topical ques- two areas of expense had to be added a third, even be announced in "AJR Information". ^ had been intensified, greater—the need to improve the facilities within The Financial Report, which followed, was given /o ^^^ ^"^' "^^ speaker dealt with "AJR In- the Homes, to modernise them and to increase by Mr. L. Spiro, Hon. Treasurer of the AJR. p^^°f'on". As the "Jewish Chronicle", where the toilet facilities. To provide more care for the very Referring to the audited accounts for 1978, copies 5]^'" had been typeset for almost 25 years, had frail, a "Frail Unit" had been established in of which were laid out in the Hall, he stated that jj^d its printing plant, new arrangements had to Osmond House. In the course of the next ten the income from subscriptions and donations had ris ^.^'^^ which also involved a very considerable years or so, Mrs. Taussig pointed out, we would amounted to £34,000 to which the contribution in costs. A high proportion of the columns see a very considerable reorientation of the care of £14,000 through the Central Fund out of the 'he "f^* required for news items and Personalia; for the old. The tendency was already away from heirless Jewish property in Germany had to be efore, space for feature articles was limited. the Homes for the fairly fit. Many would welcome continued on page 2 Page 2 AJR INFORMATION August 1979 A MORAL VICTORY AJR General Meeting Our readers will have seen from reports in the continued from page 1 press that the German Federal Parliament has decided in a free vote to abolish the Statute of added. Against this total income of £48,000 stood help and understanding among Jewish and non- Limitation for murder. This brings the German an expenditure of £51,000, leaving a deficit of Jewish residents of this country.