The World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO) is set to distribute over $10 million to approximately 4,100 Romanian Holocaust survivors globally, including those evacuated from conflict zones in Israel.
The initiative will allocate $9 million to 2,842 survivors of Romanian origin across 21 countries, while $1 million is earmarked for over 1,200 needy Romanian Holocaust survivors in Israel. Funding is provided by the Caritatea Foundation, in partnership with WJRO and the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, with the Claims Conference administering the funds.
WJRO President Gideon Taylor and Caritatea Foundation President Colette Avital emphasized the importance of supporting Holocaust survivors worldwide, especially during challenging times and rising antisemitism.
One beneficiary, Asia Fagen, 89, from Sderot, Israel, shared her story. Born in Bender, formerly part of Romania and now Moldova, Fagen fled Nazi persecution to the Ural Mountains during WWII. She immigrated to Israel in 1997 and was recently evacuated from Sderot following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Fagen drew parallels between her WWII experiences and the current situation in Israel. She noted the stark contrast between the lack of support during WWII and the assistance provided in Israel today, describing the country as "one big family" despite ongoing challenges.
* JPost contributed to this article.