Appeal from Project HEART

Project HEART has asked the WJC to circulate the following information

At this time of year many Jewish communities worldwide are preparing events and memorial ceremonies in observance of Yom Ha’Shoah. Jewish communities around the globe will stand together to honor the memory of the millions of innocent victims of the Holocaust, to remember and to never forget.  Project HEART currently seeks direct contact with all eligible persons, Jewish Holocaust victims and their heirs worldwide who lost Jewish property assets from the Holocaust era. Contact Project HEART to learn if you are eligible for restitution.
 
Your family's property may include – but is not limited to:       
·    Real Estate
·    Art Judaica
·    Livestock    
·    Professional Tools
·    Precious Stones
·    Precious Metals    
·    Jewelry
·    Stocks
·    Bonds and Insurance Policies
·    Savings Accounts

It is our obligation to continue the legacy of those who were forced to experience the most unimaginable suffering during the Holocaust and to strive towards bringing about a measure of justice for the survivors, their heirs and all Jewish people. Project HEART is continuing to make every effort to help bring about a small measure of justice by ensuring that all eligible individuals are given the chance to pursue restitution for what so wrongfully taken from them or their families.

In order to reach additional eligible individuals and to notify them of this important restitution effort, we are asking your organization to lend a hand by helping to inform the members of your community about Project HEART.  In order to assist, Project HEART has prepared materials in various languages that can be displayed and distributed amongst those attending the Yom Ha’Shoah events. These materials provide crucial information about the project and the process.

Project HEART's Executive Director, Bobby Brown, stated: “I would like to ensure that these materials reach your organization in a timely manner. If your organization is able to lend a hand by making these materials available to those participating in the Yom Ha’Shoah events, please kindly reply to this email providing me with the postal address that can be used for mailing these materials to you.”

Launched in late February 2011, Project HEART seeks to identify Jewish Holocaust victims and their heirs worldwide whose families owned real estate, movable, immovable, or other intangible personal property that was confiscated, looted, or forcibly sold in countries governed or occupied by the Nazi forces or Axis powers during the Holocaust era. The only limitation for application is if restitution has been made to a victim or the victim's heirs for that property after the Holocaust era; then they are not eligible for further restitution in connection with that property.

The Project HEART database was specifically created to assist Holocaust victims and their heirs during the eligibility process. Individuals can access the database on the Project HEART website. To participate in Project HEART, individuals need to fill out the questionnaire that may be found on the website.

The online database will also serve as a powerful tool during future efforts to achieve restitution on behalf of eligible participants, since the records contained in the database will complement as well as legitimize the information submitted by Holocaust victims and their heirs.