There are approximately 132,826 Holocaust survivors living in Israel – this is according to data published by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day and Heroism of the Palestinian Authority. It also appears that 86 Holocaust survivors who were evacuated from their homes from the south and the north following the ‘Iron Swords’ war have passed away.
About 2,500 Holocaust survivors experienced the events of Shiva in October, including Moshe Ridler (91) from Kibbutz Holit, who was murdered, andShlomo Manzur (86) who is still kidnapped in Gaza. About 2,000 Holocaust survivors were forced to abandon their homes and evacuate to a safe area as a result.
According to the ministry, 52 Holocaust survivors went to the world from the city of Ashkelon, while 12 survivors went to the world from the city of Sderot. From the rest of the settlements in the south, 11 Holocaust survivors died. In addition to this, 11 Holocaust survivors also died from the evacuated northern communities such as Shomra, Metula, Kibbutz Dan, Shlomi and Kibbutz Yaraon.
The data shows that 238 Holocaust survivors who were evacuated to the hotels, left them, some returned to their homes or moved to other places. In the city of Ashkelon, for example, 122 Holocaust survivors left the hotels, while in Sderot, 33 Holocaust survivors left. Most of the Holocaust survivors who were evacuated from the north, on the other hand, remained in the evacuation centers, like the rest of the residents. From Kiryat Shmona, for example, only two Holocaust survivors left the hotel, 2 from Metula and 7 from Shlomi.
An increase in the number of Holocaust survivors who are assisted by welfare services
42% of Holocaust survivors in Israel receive services from the Ministry of Welfare. The ministry provides services to approximately 48,610 survivors, compared to 45,300 last year. The ministry notes that the proportion of survivors receiving aid increased from 35% to 42%, but alongside the expansion of services for survivors, the increase is also due to the decrease in the number of Holocaust survivors living in Israel: from approximately 150,000 last year, their number dropped to only 132,386.
According to the ministry’s data, 22,893 Holocaust survivors receive services in the various Ministry of Social Affairs frameworks, mainly in the support communities and the Mophat clubs, 1,710 survivors receive assistance through the social payments system, where the meaning is mainly material assistance, 5,110 receive services from the Friendship Fund in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Security. More than 1,000 Holocaust survivors Helped by a remote welfare program and a connected program – programs to alleviate loneliness and strengthen the intergenerational connection through two-way digital communication technology systems for remote communication and physical meetings, which aim to improve the quality of life of Holocaust survivors in the community in terms of reducing loneliness and a sense of belonging, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and promoting digital literacy .
The activity of the catalyst: from the expansion of social circles to food security
The Ministry of Welfare stated that they have added designated standards for the care and assistance of Holocaust survivors in the local authorities, alongside the expansion of community services to all senior citizens in the State of Israel. The ministry operates various programs to assist Holocaust survivors amounting to tens of millions of shekels per year, which include social activities, connection to social circles, food security, material and therapeutic assistance, and access to services for those who have difficulty getting around on their own.
The office provides social services to Holocaust survivors in a variety of settings adapted to changing needs. About 70 social clubs operate across the country that provide a social response alongside food security, in a framework that includes meals and transportation. Beside them, there are “Cafe Europe” clubs dedicated to the population of Holocaust survivors, “Hot Houses” where leisure activities are carried out and the alleviation of loneliness, and communities that support the local authorities where a wider variety of needs are met and especially assistance at home. For Holocaust survivors who are confined to their homes and have difficulty consuming services in the various settings, the ministry operates the Salvation Program, which provides a basket of adapted services in the Holocaust survivor’s home.
Aid to Holocaust survivors also includes material aid and meeting financial needs for the survivors, including dental care and vision and hearing aids. In recent years, the fields of assistance have been expanded according to the needs that have arisen from the area. Unlike other services provided by the ministry that require compliance with criteria and income tests, the service for Holocaust survivors is available to the entire population and information about the various services can be obtained at hotline 118 of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security or at municipal hotline 106.
Minister of Welfare and Social Security, Jacob Margi: “The people, many of whom experienced the worst twice, are testimony to Israel’s uprising and the strength and resilience of the Jewish people. The Ministry of Welfare will continue to work and increase support and assistance to Holocaust survivors, and devote great efforts to reaching each and every one of them and helping them to exhaust their full rights.”
