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29/07/2020
Jewish History & Genealogy Resources
We hope you enjoyed our online event on Jewish History & Genealogy. If you missed it, a recording will be posted on our YouTube channel within the next couple of weeks. There is a handout of further information and sources here and more information from The Wiener Holocaust Library can be downloaded here. Thank you to all our speakers: Sarah Williams, editor of Who Do You Think You Are? magazine. Jeannette Rosenberg OBE, Education lead for the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain and part time professional genealogist Elise Bath, Senior International Tracing Service Archive Researcher at The Wiener Holocaust Library Debbie Cantor is Archives volunteer at World Jewish Relief
27/07/2020
Good news for those seeking German citizenship
Following the Federal Constitutional Court decision of 20 May 2020 in Germany, the eligibility criteria under Article 116 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) concerning the restoration of German citizenship have been extended. With immediate effect, children born in wedlock before 1 April 1953 to German mothers whose citizenship had been revoked and foreign fathers, and children born out of wedlock before 1 July 1993 to German fathers whose citizenship had been revoked and foreign mothers, are also considered as descendants under citizenship law. Prior to the Court decision, applicants to the Article 116 procedure who were rejected were referred to the discretionary naturalisation process under Section 14 of the Nationality Act. This latter application procedure was simplified by decrees announced last August, which has already resulted in the granting of German citizenship to some of the applicants. The German government is now putting in place additional resources so that applications...
14/07/2020
A Virtual Celebration of AJR Volunteers
In a change from past AJR thank you events held annually at locations such as Manchester Jewish Museum and the House of Lords, this year our guests only had to travel to their kitchen table to join the 2020 AJR Celebration of Volunteers via Zoom. The Rt Hon Lord Pickles Eric Pickles and Robert Rinder joined the event to thank both the volunteers and the AJR for their support. Lord Pickles spoke about the challenges he has faced managing his roles whilst in lockdown. Rob Rinder suggested that AJR change its name to FJR or MJR, Family or Mushpuchah of Jewish Refugees, as the care and support given to members is akin to what one would receive from family. Fran Horwich, AJR Northern Volunteer Coordinator, read a moving poem she wrote expressing the value of a volunteers’ phone call to an AJR member. During the fun quiz compered by AJR Chief...
13/05/2020
AJR’s plaque scheme goes global!
AJR Unveils Commemorative Plaque at the British Embassy in Berlin The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) is delighted to announce the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the British Embassy in Berlin on Tuesday 12 May, 2020 in dedication and memory of consular officials whose devoted efforts in issuing visas helped many thousands of Jews escape Nazi Germany and Austria during 1933 to 1939. The plaque was unveiled by the British Ambassador to Germany, Sir Sebastian Wood accompanied by Ambassador Michaela Kuechler, German Special Representative for Relations with Jewish Organizations at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event was be live-streamed to members of AJR. Left to right: Deputy head of mission of the Israeli embassy in Berlin, Aaron Sagui; Ambassador Michaela Kuechler, German Special Representative for Relations with Jewish Organizations at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President of IHRA; Lisa Bechner from...
11/03/2020
AJR Response to Coronavirus
At this challenging time when your everyday lives will be impacted by the spread of the coronavirus, we are writing to assure you that the AJR will do everything possible to continue to support you, our members. At the time of going to press, the government had just announced advice for the over-70s to self-isolate, a decision that we recognise will profoundly affect you. In response, the way we deliver our frontline services has been altered. Rather than home visits in person from our social workers and volunteer befrienders, we have started to make contact with members by telephone. Initially, and as a priority, this will be with our most vulnerable members with the greatest needs. Above all, the call will be made to establish what that member’s situation is, what needs they might have – be it food, medical or social – and whether there are relatives, carers, neighbours...