Righteous Rescuers Pension Fund

Background

In Jewish tradition, the act of saving one life is revered as equivalent to saving the entire world. Embracing this profound ethos, the Claims Conference chose to administer a program to honor the bravery of non-Jews who risked their lives to rescue Jews during the turbulent era of World War II. Established in 1963 by Yad Vashem, the Righteous Rescuers Program, known as Hassidei Haumot Haolam, symbolizes these acts of heroism, providing crucial support to those who displayed exceptional courage in the face of adversity.

The Righteous Rescuers Pension Fund, facilitated through a collaborative agreement with the German Foreign Ministry, has been instrumental in providing pensions to deserving recipients for several years. Our commitment to supporting these individuals remains unwavering as we strive to ensure their well-being and recognition for their unparalleled acts of valor.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible individuals meet the following criteria:

  • Actively participated in rescuing Jews during World War II.
  • Demonstrated unwavering commitment to assisting Jews in peril.
  • Exhibited remarkable courage by risking their own lives to save Jews.

The program requires documented evidence, such as witness testimonies, official documents, or historical records validating their involvement in rescue efforts. Alternatively some Rescuers have provided independent historical sources corroborating their participation in rescue actions.

Recipients are categorized into three groups based on their recognition status by Yad Vashem and familial ties to recipients:

  • Officially recognized individuals with the title of Yad Vashem.
  • Individuals without formal recognition by Yad Vashem but with family members who received the title (Yad Vashem Family – YVF).
  • Individuals and their families without formal recognition by Yad Vashem.

Please note, each application will undergo a thorough review process and will require approval from the relevant German authorities. Further, it is important to note that our program exclusively supports living Righteous Rescuers, with pensions non-transferable to heirs. To ensure continuous pension benefits, recipients must provide an annual certificate of life.