UJA-New York petitions to help Holocaust survivors

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Among the many items in the proposed $103.4 billion New York state budget is money for case management services and the UJA-Federation of New York is campaigning for an additional $2.5 million to aid Holocaust survivors.

There are 40,000 survivors living across the state and 40 percent of them live in or near poverty, according to the UJA, a New York-based social services organization that bills itself as the “world’s largest local philanthropy.”

The UJA added that during the coronavirus pandemic elderly Holocaust survivors, living with advanced age and health issues, have faced increased risk of illness and many remain stuck in their homes, unable to shop for food and other items or gather with friends and possibly family.

In the Five Towns, nearly 25 percent of the Holocaust survivors that the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC have in its programs lives at or near the poverty level, according to Associate Executive Director Cathy Byrne, who oversees the older adult and special needs programs.

“Our Holocaust survivors continue to teach us the meaning of courage, commitment, tolerance and resilience,” said Gural JCC CEO Aaron Rosenfeld. “It is our honor and duty to ensure they are cared for, celebrated and that their life lessons are retold to each successive generation. That has been integral to the mission of the Gural JCC for the past 40 years and will continue to be for the next 40 years.”

In February, State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat who represents the Five Towns, joined with State Sens. Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck) and Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) in writing letter that urged the added money should be included in the budget for fiscal 2022.

“It is imperative that we look after our community’s Holocaust survivors and ensure that they can live out their lives with dignity,” Kaminsky said. “That is why I am pushing for the Legislature and governor to include $2.5 million in funding in this year’s state budget for care, services and resources for survivors. After all they have experienced — and following a year of isolation during the pandemic — that is the least we can do for them.”

Assemblywoman Melissa Miller (R-Atlantic Beach) said she is also supporting the uptick as well. “I have written to the Speaker and governor requesting this funding for Holocaust survivors,” Miller said.

Money for food and meal delivery; emergency cash for rent, medicine, and other basic needs; and virtual programming to alleviate the isolation of homebound survivors, along with helping thousands of survivors secure the vaccine and meet pressing needs exacerbated by the pandemic, are efforts that the UJA noted it has done throughout the pandemic.

Saying that more is needed, the UJA highlighted that the extra $2.5 million would pay for mental health services, legal services, emergency cash assistance, Covid-compliant transportation to doctor’s appointments and vaccine appointments, Covid-compliant programming to keep survivors socially engaged and connected and specialized care for trauma survivors.

The New York state budget is legally required to be approved by April 1.

The UJA is encouraging people to urge their state legislative leaders to ensure sufficient funding is available to care for New York’s Holocaust survivors, and to “never abandon and never forget,” those in need.

Go to https://bit.ly/3lceo7K to sign the UJA’s petition to support the organization’s campaign.