The text is long, but please read it to the end. This is not just about them, this is about us. One day we will be in their place, and we will be treated exactly the way we allow them to be treated today.

Beginning of Alexander Berman's letter, "Front of Honor":

On October 14, the new German Ambassador to Israel, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, met with the management of the Center of Organizations of Holocaust Survivors. The center is headed by former Knesset member Colette Avital. The "Front of Honor" movement is a member of the center as a collective member.

On behalf of the movement, Alexander Berman, Avrum Sharnopolsky, and Roman Sokolov thanked the German government. For several years now, it has been assisting tens of thousands of Holocaust refugees from the former Soviet Union. Every year they receive a financial grant: in 2026, it amounts to 1,350 euros. In addition, Germany finances 9 additional hours of home care for those who need them. 73% of Holocaust refugees from the Soviet Union live below the poverty line, which is why this assistance is very important to them.

The "Front of Honor" operates in the Knesset and the government on behalf of 40,000 Holocaust refugees from the former Soviet Union. Movement representatives handed the ambassador a letter, in which they recalled that in 2009, the movement published the first book of memoirs by Holocaust refugees who were children between 1941 and 1945. Since then, 8 volumes have been published, including translations into German, English, Hebrew, and Finnish. These books told of the severe hardships endured by 2.5 million Jews who survived the Nazis thanks to evacuation to the rear of the Soviet Union. Many children suffered severe psychological trauma then, which stays with them all their lives.

Thanks to the movement's activities, in 2014 the government and the Knesset recognized 80,000 refugees as Holocaust victims. Most of them are immigrants from the former Soviet Union who made Aliyah to Israel after October 1, 1953. They received the status of Holocaust survivors. However, they did not receive the status of victims of Nazi persecution. This status is granted to refugees from Poland, Romania, and other European countries who made Aliyah to Israel before October 1, 1953.

In the 26th Knesset, the "Front of Honor" will work to advance the bill proposed by Knesset member Tatiana Mazarsky. The proposal aims to equate the rights of Holocaust refugees who made Aliyah to Israel after October 1, 1953, most of them from the Soviet Union, with the rights of refugees from Europe who made Aliyah earlier.

The ambassador was presented with 3 volumes of Holocaust refugees' memoirs in German, Hebrew, and Russian. The movement published them together with the Association of Immigrant Scientists in Israel between 2009 and 2021. They wished the ambassador success in his responsible position.

Alexander Berman, President of the "Front of Honor" movement

End of the letter.

* * *

Addendum from Civil Compass

Alexander Berman, President of the "Front of Honor" movement, asked us to help get answers from the parties. We sent letters to all the parties running in the elections with questions about the problems of elderly Holocaust survivors. Along with them, we also sent questions that concern other citizens.

Those who replied to us:

1. Yisrael Beiteinu led by Avigdor Liberman

2. Beyachad led by Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett

3. The Democrats led by Yair Golan

4. Yashar! led by Gadi Eisenkot

5. Blue and White led by Benny Gantz

All answers are published on the Civil Compass website www.amechad.info.

We hope that the rest of the parties, no matter which sector they represent, will also help Holocaust survivors. This is our duty.

No matter where you made Aliyah from: anyone can help. Two steps need to be taken.

Step one: Sign the Holocaust survivors' petition. It takes a second. The link is at the end of the post.

Step two: Go vote on October 27. The petition is important, but a single signature is not enough to make politicians address the problems of Holocaust survivors. The signature shows what we want, and voting gives us the right to demand the fulfillment of promises. A single vote can be ignored. Tens of thousands of votes cannot.

This is our duty to them, so that we can look them in the eye.

After the elections, we will ask the elected Knesset members when the living conditions of Holocaust survivors will improve.

There is still time to sign the Holocaust survivors' demand. Just think of the number 73%.

The Holocaust survivors' letter and petition:

https://www.amechad.info/knesset?inquiryLang=he#inquiry-ta95b8hurog5x8v0efgcewt0/

Dr. Gutnik, Civil Compass

In the photos: Alexander Berman and Avrum Sharnopolsky presenting the German Ambassador to Israel, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, with three volumes of memoirs by Holocaust refugees from the former Soviet Union; Colette Avital, Ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, a translator, and Avi Rosenthal, CEO of the Center of Organizations of Holocaust Survivors.