After the Second World War for the survivors, returning to life as it was before the Holocaust was impossible and in much of Europe, there were no longer any Jewish communities, in addition to finding that their homes had been looted or taken over by others.
Returning home was dangerous since even after the war there were anti-Semitic riots in several cities, such as in Kielce, Poland, where when the Jews returned, a rumor spread that they had killed a Polish child to use the blood in religious rituals and as a result, a riotous mob attacked the group of survivors killing 41 people and injuring 50 others. News of the Kielce pogrom spread quickly and the Jews realized that there was no future for them in Europe.
Many survivors ended up in refugee camps set up in places where there had previously been concentration camps, and there they waited to be admitted to countries like the United States, South Africa, or to enter the Holy Land, then “British Palestine.”
The British government refused entry to large numbers of Jews by severely punishing those who tried to enter illegally.
Britain’s scandalous treatment of Jewish refugees increased international pressure for the Jewish people to have a homeland, leading to the formation of the State of Israel in 1948 and Jewish refugee ships landing freely in the seaports of the new nation.
How Are They Today?
Around 161,400 Holocaust survivors currently live in Israel and it is estimated that one in four of them lives below the poverty line according to the National Insurance Institute.
Despite the order not to forget the atrocities experienced by the Jewish people during that dark period, it seems that in Israel today a large part of those who survived the horrors of the Holocaust and still live among us, have been forgotten economically and socially abandoned by the state.
Tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors are forced to choose between food, essential medicine, or home heating in winter.
A new survey conducted by the Holocaust Welfare Fund – which provides assistance to about 60,000 survivors each year -presents a difficult and painful picture of the hardships that survivors have had to face in the last years of their lives.
In the survey, 51% of respondents indicated that they needed a food basket and a third of them made it clear that they desperately needed it. In addition, the financial situation of many Holocaust survivors is so difficult that, in the absence of assistance and support, they are forced to forego the most basic needs such as glasses (43%), dental care (33%), hearing aids (27% ) and more.
But in addition to severe economic hardship, many Holocaust survivors in Israel also suffer from loneliness, which further aggravates their situation. About 25% of respondents indicated that they are not in regular contact with a family member, 10% do not have children, and 25% stated that they need assistance.
Our response to the need
Our “City Of Life” ministry works actively in support of Holocaust survivors residing in our city Sderot and the region adjacent to the Gaza border by providing help and support in the difficult situation they find themselves in, especially in this part of Israel where the sound of warning sirens by missiles fired by terrorist cells from Gaza is frequent having only 15 seconds from the beginning of the siren sound to seek refuge before the impact of a rocket.
Although Israel’s anti-missile system manages to capture some of the rockets in the air, the overwhelming noise produced and the stressful environment bring terrible consequences to these elderly people who carry severe traumas from the war they faced in their childhood in Europe.
As part of our help and care for them and their mental health, this early summer we have successfully organized a “recovery day” in a resort with spa and swimming pools where the elderly could enjoy a time of relaxation and joy together and feel valued and appreciated also experiencing the love that comes from the heavenly Father and is manifested in us through the Messiah.
In addition to cooling off and enjoying the pools and spa, they were able to enjoy a special banquet with delicious food and a fun time to share songs and remember old anecdotes to end an incredible day that they will remember with joy.
Being able to get out of their homes and be entertained, have fun with other seniors, and relax by swimming pools may be perhaps the best day in a long time for many of the elderly Holocaust survivors who suffer from loneliness and depression most of the time and our ministry takes very seriously the fact of honoring them and giving them relief in their last years of life.
Our role as the body of the Messiah is to bring hope to this lost world and illuminate in times of darkness creating an impact on society, so our ministry is committed to reaching as many people as possible who suffer, and many of them depend on our commitment and dedication for the work of the Lord.
You too can bless them and be part of this commitment of obedience to the Lord with us by joining in our goal as there are still many families to reach with the help and together we can achieve it.
You can be part of and impact the lives of more people who need help in our city and together show them the way, the truth, and the life.
We invite you to be part of our ministry so that together we can bring hope to our border town of Sderot.
Our work would not be possible without the help of partners like you, so we ask you to consider in prayer the possibility of a monthly commitment that will allow us to continue with the Lord’s work here in Israel.
Sincerely yours
Pastors
Michael & Dina Beener
and CLM Israel Team
“City of Life”
Messianic congregation and Outreach Center
Sderot, Israel.
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