Roth is among hundreds of New York-area survivors who benefited from Selfhelp programs in recent years by money from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, a group that distributes large sums. Founded in 1951 to represent world Jewry in negotiations with the German Federal Republic for compensation for Holocaust suffering, it now represents 23 Jewish organizations worldwide. The recent windfall came from the sale of former Jewish property in East Germany, and most has been spent in Israel and the former Soviet Union. But the Claims Conference has come under fire of late, criticized by some individual heirs who say they should be a higher priority than collective programs for survivors, which the group helps fund. Officials of the Claims Conference gave an overview of the various restitution programs established by the German government in the last 45 years, the strict limits imposed on eligibility and their battle with the German government to liberalize those rules.
Officials also acknowledge the criticism they have received from survivors in recent years.
Many of these survivors do not understand that eligibility restrictions for reparations were imposed by Germany, not the Claims Conference, the officials say. We do not. We represent the survivors. The mandate of the Claims Conference is to utilize the proceeds of the sales for projects and programs that benefit needy Holocaust survivors. He added that up to 20 percent of funds are used for research, documentation and education about the Holocaust.