It has been a long while since I last posted. In the interim period, Israel illustrated their belief in the importance of human rights when they gave special attention to Holocaust Remembrance Day, on Monday, May 1, 2011. The article, “Israel Helps Set Up Database of Property Lost in Holocaust, by Isabel Kershner on May 2, 2011, explains how to commemorate the special day, and to pay special respects to those who perished in the Holocaust, the program Project Heart (a nonprofit campaign by the Jewish Agency for Israel) was announced as being launched in Brussels, Milwaukee and New York City. The project compiles what were historically forbidden documents and belongings and shows them to survivors and their families for the first time:
“Compiled from hundreds of European archives, including tax records and voter registries, it includes real estate and land, movable property like art and jewelry, and intangible personal property like stocks, bonds and savings accounts.”
The article notes how the involvement with Project Heart is the first time the Israeli government has gotten involved with “restitution,” or the giving back of property. Natan Sharansky, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel describes how the Holocaust, “was not only genocide, but it was also the greatest theft in history.” In saying this, he notes how not only were lives taken, which is a very large human rights violation, but also, victims lost their private property as well. I think it is a great thing that Israel is becoming involved in this project, because it pays national attention to the rights of Holocaust victims,
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