Obama appoints restitution expert Herbert Block to federal commission
11 April 2011
President Barack Obama has announced the appointment of New York lawyer Herbert Block, executive vice-president of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), as a member of the US Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. Block is also a member of the Strategic Committee of the World Jewish Congress on Holocaust Legacy.
JDC’s CEO Steven Schwager lauded Block’s distinguished work in the areas of Holocaust-era property reclamation, Jewish community development, and public policy. “We are extremely proud that President Obama has chosen to recognize Herbert's outstanding public service, especially his passionate dedication to reclaiming the past and shaping the Jewish future,” said Schwager. “As an organization devoted to rebuilding Jewish life in the farthest corners of Europe and the former Soviet Union, we are truly fortunate to have benefited from Herbert’s longstanding commitment to the Jewish people and the American values we all hold dear.”
The commission - an independent federal agency that helps preserve burial places, memorials, and places of worship in Eastern and Central Europe associated with the heritage of Americans - identifies properties, negotiates US agreements with the governments of the region, and encourages and facilitates private and foreign restoration, preservation, and memorialization efforts.
Block's work at JDC includes government affairs and efforts to restitute Holocaust-era assets. He represents the humanitarian Jewish organization on the board of the World Jewish Restitution Organization and serves on several European bodies dealing with Jewish heritage. Prior to joining JDC, Block's career included, among other roles, his service as the deputy director for intergovernmental relations at the US Corporation for National Service and as an assistant to the mayor of New York City.
Comments
We welcome any comments you may have on this article.
Just three questions, please: Why would any Jew accept an appointment from Obama, who was utterly disrespectful to Prime Minister Netanyahu when he was in D.C.?
Why would any Jew trust Obama when he told Palestinians that Jerusalem, the very heart of Israel and its several millennia of Jewish history, would be theirs?
Why would any Jew trust Obama when Muslim nations are joining their voices in asking him to be their leader and Louis Farrakhan (Chicago Muslim leader) calls him their "messiah"?
If you are a facebook user you may choose to have the comment appear on your wall.
Comments are moderated and we reserve the right to edit or remove any which are derogatory or offensive.
The WJC is not responsible for the content of any comments.
Get Involved
Dalia Frieder, about 1 year ago
My husband grandparents had 2 to 3 apartment buildings in Bratislava, Slovakia. It was reclaimed by a represented lawyer at the Slovakian court an was rejected stating the my husband's grandmother for-fitted her property in order to get out of the country late 40s. It was clearly under duress, yet, we did not hear or find out any more details ever since. Now,, my question is, although in Prague 2009 there was an agreement with several Ex Soviet countries to return properties to Jews, how and through whom can we reopen the case. Thanks for letting me know, as those building are in the old town, currently quite valuable, a lot of money is involved thus the stern position of the Slovak court. There are several heirs, none of whom was involved in the case, My husband appeared before the judge, the only one who spoke Slovak, being a holocaust survivor and the judge declined hearing him. I appreciate knowing whether all the publicity as stated above is of value, or just more of the same, politics. dalia.