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22/10/2020
Keep a Light On for Kristallnacht
More than eight decades on, the AJR continues to remember the events of Kristallnacht on 9 November by launching its Keep a Light On campaign and moving the annual commemorative service online and open to all. Following on from last years’ initiative, we once again encourage the illumination of synagogues and households on the night of 9 November, in commemoration of the wave of antisemitic violence which took place across Germany and Austria on that night in 1938. AJR Chief Executive, Michael Newman said, “Building on the strong interest of previous years, AJR’s Keep a Light On campaign will create awareness through remembrance in the Jewish community and beyond. We welcome support from families, synagogues, and community organizations.” A logo has been created for use on social media to help spread news of the campaign, which we ask our members and friends to post with the hashtag #KeepALightOn. The logo...
14/10/2020
Good news for victims of Nazi oppression
AJR welcomes the increases in support and financial assistance for Holocaust survivors and victims of Nazi oppression announced by The Claims Conference following their annual negotiations with the German government. Of particular note is the decision to make refugees from Nazi oppression, along with survivors, eligible for an increase in hours of Homecare from 2021. Michael Newman, Chief Executive of the AJR, said. “The significant increase in Homecare support for the refugees, who fled before the outbreak of the Second World War, is a levelling up for which the AJR has strongly advocated. "We congratulate the Claims Conference on the outcome of these negotiations and thank the German government for their continued support, which enables us to further assist our members and help them live in their own homes for as long as possible.” The Claims Conference announced, “The maximum number of homecare hours that can be received by a...
12/10/2020
Facebook & Twitter ban Holocaust denial
On Monday 12 October 2020 Facebook announced its decision to ban Holocaust denial from its platform, followed by Twitter confirming it is also to ban Holocaust denial on Thursday 15 October 2020. “On behalf of all members of the AJR, many of whom were eyewitnesses to the events of the Holocaust, we welcome the long overdue decision by Facebook and Twitter to ban Holocaust denial from its platform. This is exactly what our members called for in their message to Mark Zuckerberg as part of the #NoDenyingIt campaign run by The Claims Conference. Denial is a manifestation of antisemitism, and these once-fringe ideas have found fertile breeding ground online, influencing countless millions of people. Enough is enough. We expect that Facebook and Twitter will actively enforce their new policy, and hope that other online platforms will follow suit.” -- Michael Newman, Chief Executive, The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) 15...
12/10/2020
AJR Congratulates Members On Queen’s Birthday Honours
The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) is delighted and proud to announce that a number of its members have been included in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2020. Members honoured include: Lilian Black, Eva Glicksman, Hana Kleiner, Marcel Ladenheim, Lady Zahava Kohn, Tomi Komoly, Ellen Davis, Renate Inow, Lili Pohlmann and Elfriede Starer. The AJR is also thrilled that Jeffrey Pinnick, who served for many years as the Chairman of the Yom HaShoah Forum, has been honoured. AJR Chief Executive Michael Newman said, “The AJR extends its congratulations to those of our members being recognised for their tireless commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education, including those who have been able to continue to share their experiences by speaking to school pupils during the pandemic. “That more people are staying at home and accessing information online has added value to AJR’s digital testimony projects, Refugee Voices and My Story, which...
04/08/2020
Austrian Citizenship Act Amendment
An amendment to the Austrian Citizenship Act took effect from 1 September 2020 enabling more descendants of Austrian Holocaust refugees and survivors to apply for Austrian citizenship. To assist with the process, the Austrian government has created this short online questionnaire which gives prospective applicants a summary of which documents will be required and facilitate a fast procedure after a declaration has been submitted. The shortened procedure will also applicants avoid an extensive search for documents that might not be required. Click here to read further information Under the terms of the amendment to the Act, Austrian citizenship can now be granted equally to all descendants regardless of whether their mother or father was persecuted by the Nazis as citizen or resident of the Republic of Austria. Until now children of Austrian citizen mothers born in wedlock before September 1983 have been excluded from obtaining citizenship. The...