Group seeks to return Holocaust victims' assets

Hashava Company launches three-month campaign to return Israeli property purchased during Holocaust to its rightful heirs.

By GIL STERN STERN SHEFLER
Holocaust survivors 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski )
Holocaust survivors 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski )
In the first half of the 20th century many fervent Zionist Jews living in Europe invested in the Jewish settlement in Palestine by buying stakes in local industries or agricultural and residential land. Many perished in the Holocaust and did not live to see the creation of the state. Most of their assets went to the government of the fledgling Jewish state, which has been holding on to them for over six decades.
But now the Hashava Company has launched a campaign aimed at returning the property to its rightful heirs, it announced on Wednesday. “What differentiates Hashava from other Holocaust restitution companies is that the assets are currently located in Israel and are waiting to be claimed by rightful heirs,” said Dr. Israel Peleg, CEO of Hashava in a press release.
“We want to honor the ideals and legacy of those who perished in the Holocaust by making sure their investments reach their relatives, along with some part of their legacy,” Hashava said on Wednesday.
The company is currently looking for such heirs in North America. It invited relatives of some 60,000 property owners to search its online database to determine their eligibility. The campaign begins mid-September and lasts for three months.