N.Y. Holocaust Survivors to Receive $1.1M from ICHEIC

New York Department of Insurance Superintendent Gregory Serio announced that the state’s “Holocaust survivors will benefit from an initial payment of $1.1 million being allocated to four social service agencies that provide assistance to elderly, needy Jewish victims of Nazi persecution.”

The money will be made available by the International Commission on Holocaust-Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC) as part of $132 million in humanitarian funds to be distributed over ten years that it has received from European insurance companies for the benefit of needy Holocaust survivors.

“This is great news and one more step forward in securing justice for Holocaust survivors and their heirs. These funds will assist needy survivors and provide for their social service needs,” Serio stated. “This is just one part of our on-going effort to seek justice for Holocaust survivors and their heirs.” He pointed out that New York had established its own Holocaust Claims Processing Office in 1997, “to assist Holocaust survivors and their heirs in resolving insurance, banking, and art claims from the Holocaust-era.”

Serio indicated that the “Insurance Department has been working closely with ICHEIC to ensure that Holocaust survivors receive payments for unpaid Holocaust-era insurance policies,” said Serio.
The bulletin indicated the Selfhelp Community Services, Bikur Cholim of Boro Park, Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island, and Pesach Tikvah had been selected to receive the funds.

Roman Kent, Chairman of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors, noted that “Many Holocaust survivors are becoming more vulnerable as they grow older and have social service needs that are increasing. Because ICHEIC obtained these long-overdue funds, survivors will now receive more of the care and assistance they deserve.”

Serio concurred, indicating that the one of the NYSID’s primary concerns “working in conjunction with ICHEIC and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners,” is to ensure that “elderly Holocaust survivors will receive much-needed assistance with homecare,” which is “an increasingly pressing need.”

The announcement noted that the ICHEIC has asked the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) to implement initial distribution of the funds. More information may be obtained from the organization’s Website at: www.icheic.org.