Finance Minister Yair Lapid in his first ministerial order has allocated 50 million NIS to assist Holocaust survivors. In the letter sent to the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims, Lapid explains the money was allocated for 2013 towards meeting the needs for quality of life for the remaining survivors.
The treasury explains the decision was made to increase the foundation’s annual budget by 50 million NIS for it is necessary to meet the needs of the remaining survivors, today elderly residents, many unable to meet their basic monthly expenses.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
Kol HaKavod.
Unless this is need based, it is very questionable. They typical holocaust survivor who is still alive at this point in time is someone who arrived in Israel in the late 1940s or early 1950s, at a fairly young age and would have been in “on the ground floor” of Israel’s economic growth. Except for the minority who stayed frum, they became the Israeli elite and probably are in less need than many of those who were refugees from Muslim countries or many of those from poor families today. UNLESS THIS IS NEED BASED AID, it might be seen as Lapid repaying his supporters with money that might be better given to the poor.
#2 – Many holocaust survivors have been unable to put their lives together, have little or no family and have great financial difficulties, particularly since they are now in their old age. There has long been a public outcry in Israel calling for increased public support for these survivors.
this is a first, i agree with yagel.
if a chareidi did this it would be considered “kavod for zekeinim”
#2 The Israel elite were those whose parents arrived in Israel before WW2. The holocaust survivors are needy and deserve this kavod zekeinim.