American Jewish Committee Supports Greek Jewish Community Amidst Debt Crisis

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) has made a second donation to the Greek Jewish community to assist Holocaust survivors in financial need due to the severe economic crisis gripping the country.

“We stand in solidarity with the Greek Jewish community, to whom we feel so close,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “Those Greek Jews who miraculously survived the horrors of the Nazi occupation and the Holocaust, during which 86 percent of Greek Jews were murdered by the Nazis, are now vulnerable and in need of help to address their basic needs.”

This is the second major disbursement of AJC funds to survivors in Greece. The first, in December, was to the Thessaloniki (Salonika) Jewish community. Mr. Harris, who visited Greece earlier this month, assured Greek Jewish leadership that additional assistance to help those not reached in the first round would be forthcoming from AJC’s humanitarian funds.

“On many occasions, AJC has demonstrated unreserved support for our community,” said David Saltiel, president of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece. “This time, your generous donations will help our community’s most needy members, the survivors of the Nazi concentration camps.”

During his visit, Mr. Harris met with the leadership of the Jewish community, as well as top Greek officials. For the second time, he addressed the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony in Thessaloniki.

AJC has long had an association agreement with the Greek Jewish community that provides for frequent contact and cooperation.

(SOURCE: American Jewish Committee)