Amid winter, Holocaust survivors forced to choose between food and heating

Decades of neglect and meager stipends from the government resulted in many Holocaust survivors relying on charity to survive the winter; 'When it's cold, I just freeze at home,' says one survivor

Ynet|12.20.21 | 16:02

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The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has served to exacerbate the already dismal economic and medical condition of many of the country’s Holocaust survivors.
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Despite years of public calls for help, Holocaust survivors in Israel have suffered from decades of institutional neglect and meager stipends which resulted in some being unable to afford even the most basic of needs, such as heating during winter.
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(Photo: Shutterstock)
“How did we get to a situation where Holocaust survivors have to choose between heating, food or medicine?” asks Tzviya, a Holocaust survivor who found herself struggling during winter.
“When it's cold, I just freeze at home,” she says, adding that those who provided her aid in her time of need are the volunteers of the Chasdei Naomi association - an NGO which seeks to help families in need as well as Holocaust survivors.
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Demonstrators in Tel Aviv protesting the lack of aid to Holocaust survivors during the coronavirus pandemic 
(Photo: Moti Kimchi)
“The volunteers came to me like angels because I do not usually ask for help. They simply placed heating supplies on my doorstep before the last storm. I called to say thanks and they said no thanks was necessary,” added Tzviya.
The Chasdei Naomi association, meanwhile, stated it is in the midst of an ongoing operation to distribute heating and food products to the needy and Holocaust survivors.
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Frida, one of the Holocaust survivors aided by Chasdei Naomi 
(Photo: Chasdei Naomi)
"Just this week, we distributed dozens of heating products to women who escaped the prostitution industry in Tel Aviv, and we sent many packages to the needy together with Israel Police," says CEO Moshe Cohen.
“During the COVID pandemic, the situation has become much more difficult and many needy people need help from the public.”
“Many are fearing the encroaching winter and are begging for help. We are asking anyone who can help to join our campaign."

Those wishing to join the association or donate to families and Holocaust victims can do so through the Chasdei Naomi website.

1Comments

1.

Once again, this is not completely as it is

Covid has affected everyone, and certainly for the elderly, it's been shockingly bad because isolation has been the worst and most inhumane thing about it. All the same - and I may get plenty flak for this, but I live alongside many needy pensioners, amongst whom are several holocaust survivors and can say that with that taken into account, the majority of the holocaust pensioners (mostly from the former USSR) are NOT having to choose between medicines and food. It's been said over and over again as a means of drawing attention to the State's long neglect of ALL elderly people on very low incomes, but since 1916, medicines have been free for holocaust survivors, and they're exempt from quarterly medical visit fees. Heating is another matter, but... there are just 3 months of colder weather and most don't like airconditioner, so bills for electricity are high for no more than that, and most get an electricity discount. The worst off, however, are NOT holocaust survivors but very impoverished people - some with mental incapacity - from eastern countries. I know this because I live in a place which has many of both. Agreed that the extremely well off electricity department - about to raise electricity by almost 10 percent yet again - can exempt the worst off from electricity payments, but the notion of food vs medication has to end. It's simply not the case.

rrr| 12.23.21

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