The German government has allocated a record $1 billion to aid care homes for Holocaust survivors.

The German government has allocated $1.08 billion for the care of Holocaust survivors in 2026. This is the largest amount recorded in the budget for home care, reflecting the growing needs of the aging survivor population.

The funding was made possible, writes www.jta.org, as a result of negotiations with the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. It will allow all survivors waiting for assistance to finally receive it. Stuart E. Eizenstat, who leads the negotiations on behalf of the Conference, expressed confidence in the successful implementation of this goal.

According to him, with the increase in the home care budget, for the first time in the history of the Conference, which has been negotiating with Germany since 1952, it will be possible to provide for all those waiting. Last year, Germany spent $1.5 billion on reparations.

Increase in Care Spending

Despite record amounts, the average age of survivors has already reached 87, which has intensified the need for care. A demographic analysis published by the Conference in April confirms that almost all survivors will live only for the next 15 years, and half of them will leave this world by 2031.

“We are now in the final stage of the survivors’ lives – in ten years, half of the 200,000 remaining will simply not be among us,” noted Eizenstat, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a dignified life in their final years.

Significant Needs of the Aging Population

The connection between the decreasing number of survivors and increasing needs has become a key issue in the negotiations. If survivors previously needed support, now those who have reached deep old age are in a state of significantly greater health and social vulnerability.

According to Eizenstat, more than 80% of survivors from the former Soviet Union countries live below or near the poverty line. In the United States and Israel, about a third of those who survived the trauma lived in poverty. The new budget should become a catalyst for local federations, which should help survivors not only financially but also by providing them with decent living conditions.

Initiatives for Righteous Rescuers

The negotiations also led to securing funding for a group the Conference calls “Righteous Rescuers” — people who once risked their lives, not belonging to the Jewish people, who helped save Jews during the Holocaust.

“This confirms our deep commitment to ensuring the rights and well-being of those who risked their well-being to save others,” noted Eizenstat.

Support for Educational Initiatives

In addition, Germany extended funding for the Holocaust education program until 2029, with a total amount of $205 million over the next four years. In 2022, the first steps were recorded towards implementing such support from the German government.

“Holocaust witnesses will disappear, and the need for educational initiatives becomes urgent against the backdrop of growing anti-Semitism and misinformation,” added Eizenstat, emphasizing the importance of forming a more inclusive and humane view of society.

Universal Values and Lessons of the Holocaust

The expectations of increased funding for Holocaust victim assistance and educational initiatives are that it will serve as an example for achieving social tolerance goals. Eizenstat hopes that this will help strengthen mutual understanding and reduce the stigmatization of people who differ from the majority.

“With the moment of growing intolerance around the world, the lessons of the Holocaust emphasize the importance of social interaction.” — he concluded.