Claims Conference visits Jewish Care

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Senior Policy Analyst for the Claims Conference in New York, Dr Madeleine Tress has visited Melbourne meeting with Holocaust survivors and key community members.

From left: Dr Esther Jilovsky, Magali Kaplan, Dr Madeleine Tress, Bill Appleby, Dr George Halasz and Dr Anita Frayman

It was Dr Tress’s first visit to Melbourne.

Dr Tress met with Mrs Riva Gershelis and Mr Michael Gershelis, who receive home help from Jewish Care which is funded by the Claims Conference.
Mrs Gershelis’ daughter, Ms Lana Rosinsky, said “I think it was special that someone came from the US to visit survivors like my parents, spend time with them and see where and how they live. My parents were very touched by Madeleine’s visit and they are very appreciative of all the work the Claims Conference does for them.”

Dr Tress also toured Jewish Care aged care facilities, The Jewish Holocaust Centre, social programs for Holocaust survivors and the Jewish Care Annual General Meeting.

“Madeleine’s visit represents the strong partnership of the Claims Conference and its executive team with Jewish Care in Australia. Having attended the annual meetings of the Board of Directors of the Claims Conference, I’ve learned of the high regard for the professionalism of both the administration and the carers of our Holocaust survivors,’’ said Dr Danny Lamm, Director Claims Conference and President of the Zionist Federation of Australia.

“We were delighted to have had the opportunity to host Dr Tress at Jewish Care to allow her to see the important impact that Claims Conference funding brings to the lives of our precious Shoah survivors,” said Bill Appleby CEO Jewish Care Victoria.

Dr Tress, who has extensive experience in analysing social conditions of Holocaust survivors worldwide and using research findings to develop human service programs, said she was overwhelmed by the quality and the compassion of Jewish Care and the work it does for the Victorian Jewish Community.