••i^!Sf»smm!m^mmfaism«ssas>mBm Volume XXX No. 8 August, 1975 INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE ASSOOAJm OF XWBH RBUmS Bl 6REAT BRITAHI had to change their abode. Judging from past experience it was, however, to be expected PROGRESS AND NEW PROBLEMS that they would soon overcome initial difficul­ ties and settle down well in their new en­ vironment. It was also a source of deep regret General Meeting of the AJR that the House Committee of Otto Hirsch House would cease to function. All of its The variety of tasks to be fulfilled by the The speaker then gave a detailed report members had been deeply attached to the ^•IR and the changes it has to undergo lest it about the policy concerning the Homes, jointly Home and done wonderful teamwork under becomes stagnant became evident anew at administered by the AJR and the CBF. The their successive chairmen. Dr. Walter Dux, this year's Annual General Meeting, held on work in this field commenced 20 years ago, Mr. H. C. Mayer and Dr. Laura Stein. Special June 17 at Haimah Karminski House. when the first residential Home for the Aged, thanks were due to all House Committee mem­ After his welcoming address, Mr. W. M. Otto Schiff House, was opened. It was followed bers. Sehr, OBE, chairman of the AJR paid tribute by the establishment of Leo Baeck House and Dealing with the finances of the Homes, to the memory of the honorary officers who otto Hirsch House in 1958 and Heinrich Stahl the speaker reported that during the nine had passed away during the year. The Execu­ House in 1962. Altogether these Homes com­ months July 1974 to April 1975 the total defi­ tive sustained severe losses by the deaths of prise 152 single rooms and 17 double rooms. cits of the four ordinary Homes amounted to Mr. F. W. Ury, who was also a member of During tlie first years there were long waiting £15,000, of which Otto Hirsch House had the the Management Committee for the Homes lists. Yet gradually the situation changed and proportionally highest share, and for Osmond 3nd chairman of the House Committee of Leo the admission policy could be relaxed. As a House to £22,500. The costs for the total year, ^aeck House, and of Mr. Richard Schneider, first step, most of those double rooms which ending June 1975, which were not yet worked *ho had been associated with the work of the were not required by married couples were out at the time of the meeting, would, however, ^JR since its inception. The AJR also lost its used as single rooms. Several years ago it also be considerably higher, especially in view of Soard members Dr. L. Eschwege and Mr. P. became possible to lift the barrier which the new wage scales for nurses and auxiliaries Mosbacher. originally excluded applicants with compara­ which came into force on April 1. Under this In his general report. Dr. W. Rosenstock tively larger incomes or assets. aspect, the closure of Otto Hirsch House was (General Secretary) stated that one of the In the course of the last two years the situ­ a step in the right direction. The decrease of outstanding successes of the AJR during the ation, however, underwent even further the current deficits and, above all, the proceeds year under review was the introduction of a changes. There was an increasing number of from the sale of the Home would extend the special clause in the Finance Act 1974, re- cases in which applicants showed a certain t jne for which the reserves of the funds would <lucing the taxability of pensions to Nazi reluctance, once a room was offered to them. remain available. This will be of special bene­ ^'ictims by 50 per cent. This was to a high This attitude is in keeping with the general fit for the facilities of Osmond House which extent due to a memorandum submitted by the trend in the field of care for the aged. The renders help to those in our midst who need it ^JR when the Finance Bill was under con­ elderly want to keep their independence as most and whose maintenance, due to the amount sideration. The deduction clause mainly con­ long as possible. of staff required, costs substantially more than cerns German pensions to former civil servants the residents can afford. To provide privacy to ^ud Jewish communal workers and German Homes: Changed Priorities more residents the number of single rooms at ^nd Austrian Social Insurance pensions. Under this aspect, sheltered acconunodation Osmond House will be increased by the par­ Special thanks were due to Dr. F. E. Falk and in self-contained flatlets, as provided at titioning of three of the five four-bedded wards I*!'- C. I. Kapralik and also to the Members Eleanor Rathbone House, becomes increasing­ into two single rooms each. 0^ Parliament, who had endorsed our plea, ly important, and the waiting list for this especially Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg, Mr. Greville Flatlet Home is very long. On the other hand, The speaker then briefly summarised the Janner and Mr. Peter Rees. The speaker candidates for the Old Age Homes often make work of the Social Services Department, the stressed that the regulations of the Finance up their minds only after their health has most effective and essential Meals-on-Wheels ^ct 1974 did not affect the annuities under deteriorated to such an extent that they can Service and the wonderful community work of the German Federal Indemnification Law no longer be properly looked after in one of the AJR Club at Hannah Karminski House. (BEG), which, as before, are entirely exempt the ordinary Homes, but need the care pro­ *rom taxation. vided for at Osmond House, the Home for the "Thank You Britain" Fund infirm. A recent incident which, though srtrictly Spokesman for Community This gradual change in the situation has now speaking is outside the orbit of the AJR, has reached a state where practical conclusions some bearing on our community concems the The success achieved in this particular have to be drawn from it, and as it is now 'Thank-You Britain' Fund. This Fund, raised 'natter has also re-affirmed the important possible to accommodate all applicants who mainly among members of the AJR, had been •"ole to be played by the AJR as the recognised are in a reasonable state of health in three put at the disposal of the British Academy to ^ud effective spokesman of the former refu­ instead of four ordinary residential Homes, be used for research work on subjects relating gees. the closure of one of the Homes, Otto Hirsch to the well-being of the inhabitants of the AJR Information has now entered its SOth House, has been considered as necessary and United Kingdom. Accordingly, a number of year of publication. Beyond informing mem- justified. This Home had been under-occupied important and useful studies have been pub­ hers on questions of restitution and related for a considerable time, partly also due to the lished with the help of fellowships granted by subjects, it also carried general news on Jewish fact that a high proportion of applicants al­ a Selection Committee of the British Academy, events and articles on themes of special rele- ways preferred to move into one of the Homes and the annual lectures by well-known speakers J'ance for readers of Continental Jewish in the North Westem districts where many have always been attended by many of our hackground. Sometimes editorial problems of their relatives and friends lived. The effect friends. ^•"ise from the risk that comments on impor­ of the under-occupancy was a considerable deficit, because the overhead expenses had to A few years ago a grant was awarded to a tant happenings in Jewish life may be be spread over a smaller niunber of residents. scholar, Robert Skidelsky, for research work Superseded by the time the issue reaches its The transfer of the residents to other Homes on Mosley and British fascism. The result of '•eaders. Yet the indispensable function of our has already started and wUl be completed these studies forms the middle section of the Monthly always becomes evident anew, if for soon. recently published Mosley biography by Mr. ''easons l)eyond oui control the printing or Skidelsky. When the matter came to the notice Posting takes more time than usual and mem- The speaker stressed that those responsible of the AJR Executive, all Executive members hers anxiously enquire why they have not yet for the Home were well aware of the human ""eceived their copies. problems arising for elderly people when they Continued on page Z, column 1 Page 2 AJR INFORMATION AUGUST, 1975 to the benefits arising from payments under PROGRESS AND NEW PROBLEMS deeds of covenant to the AJR Charitable Trust; however, in view of the administrative work Continued from page 1 involved covenants should, in the first place, only be made out by those members whose annual payments exceed £10. It would also be were outraged about the use of money raised concerns the Jewish aspects, will be published most gratifying if members bequeathed legacies by the victims of Nazi persecution for a pub­ in one of our next issues.—The Ed.) for the AJR Charitable Trast in their wills. lication on this subject, and the following At the end of his report, the speaker briefly The speaker stressed that the funds from letter, drafted by the Vice-Chairman of thc dealt with the work of the Council of Jews which so far the deficits could be covered were AJR, Mr.