Aloumim

Aloumim (Hebrew: עלומים) is an Israeli association of Jews who were hidden as children in France during the Holocaust. It was founded in 1993 by survivors who had been concealed in France between 1941 and 1944, with the aim of preserving the memory of their experiences and ensuring that the Holocaust would not be forgotten. The association is recognized by both Israeli and French authorities and operates through the volunteer efforts of its members. As of June 2006, it had approximately 900 members. Membership is open to individuals who were hidden in France (with or without their parents) during all or part of the years 1941–1944, who live in Israel, and who were born after January 1, 1925. The association is chaired by Dr. Israel Lichtenstein. The association's activities focus on two main areas: memory and support. In the realm of memory, Aloumim collects testimonies, primarily on audio tapes, conducted by trained interviewers. These testimonies are transcribed and deposited with Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and the Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine (CDJC) in Paris for historical research. The association also publishes a bilingual (French-Hebrew) newsletter called Mémoire Vive, which features autobiographical stories, notices seeking relatives, and articles. Social activities include gatherings around themes such as "School during the War," "Crossing to Switzerland," "The Dividing Line," "Children's Homes," and "Hiding in Catholic or Peasant Environments." Members give testimonies in schools, before IDF personnel, and to Israeli students and groups from France. Memorial ceremonies are held at Yad Vashem and in the Roglit Forest, at a monument commemorating Holocaust victims deported from France to death camps; the ceremony is conducted in Hebrew and French on Holocaust Remembrance Day, attended by members, their descendants, and school students. An educational project led by Mrs. Dora Weinberger focuses on the history of French Jewry during the Holocaust, encouraging the education system to deepen its study; it offers prizes with support from the Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah in Paris and the Central School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem, and is aimed at middle and high school students across Israel. In the area of support and mutual aid, Aloumim provides psychological support through discussion groups where participants can express themselves and share reflections, with immediate support from psychologists of AMCHA (an organization providing mental and social support to Holocaust survivors and the second generation). Administrative assistance includes help in preparing and submitting claims for the restitution of stolen property and for orphan pensions for those whose parents perished in the Holocaust, to institutions such as the Claims Conference. Socio-economic assistance is provided to those in financial distress, a need that has become increasingly common over the years, funded by the Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah in Paris. Aloumim maintains an official website, which is archived on the Internet Archive. It is also listed on GuideStar Israel. The association collaborates with the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris and Yad Vashem.

Aloumim was founded in 1993 as an Israeli association of Jews who had been hidden as children in France during the Holocaust. The association emerged from the need not to forget the past and to ensure that the memory of the Holocaust, from which its members were saved, would be preserved forever. It is recognized by Israeli and French authorities and operates through the volunteer efforts of its members. As of June 2006, the association had approximately 900 members. Membership criteria require that a person was hidden in France (with or without their parents) during all or part of the years 1941–1944, lives in Israel, and was born after January 1, 1925. The association is chaired by Dr. Israel Lichtenstein. The association's activities are divided into two main areas: memory and support. In the area of memory, Aloumim collects testimonies, primarily on audio tapes. The collection is conducted by trained individuals, and it has been found that the process has a liberating effect on the testifier, allowing them to continue managing their lives with relative calm. The testimonies are then transcribed and deposited with Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and the Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine (CDJC) in Paris for historical research. The association also produces the newsletter Mémoire Vive, which publishes autobiographical stories, notices seeking relatives, articles, and more. The newsletter is bilingual (French-Hebrew), enabling the younger generation to read it as well. Social activities include gatherings on topics such as "School during the War," "Crossing to Switzerland," "The Dividing Line," "Children's Homes," and "Hiding in a Catholic or Peasant Environment." Members give testimonies in schools, before IDF personnel, and to Israeli students and groups from France. Memorial ceremonies are held at Yad Vashem and in the Roglit Forest, at a monument erected in memory of Holocaust victims sent to death camps from France; the ceremony is held in Hebrew and French on Holocaust Remembrance Day in the presence of association members, their descendants, and school students. An educational project, led by Mrs. Dora Weinberger, focuses on the history of French Jewry during the Holocaust and its unique aspects, encouraging the education system to deepen and research this subject. The project, which offers prizes, is supported by the Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah in Paris and the Central School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem, and is intended for middle and high school students throughout Israel. In the area of support and mutual aid, the association addresses psychological, administrative, and socio-economic needs. Psychologically, it offers support groups (discussions) where each participant can express themselves and share their thoughts with other group members. Immediate support is provided by psychologists from AMCHA, an organization that centralizes mental and social support for Holocaust survivors and the second generation. Administratively, Aloumim assists in the preparation and submission of claims for the restitution of stolen property and in filling out forms for orphan pensions for those whose parents perished in the Holocaust, to various institutions such as the Claims Conference. Socio-economically, the association provides assistance to people in financial distress, cases that have become increasingly common over the years. This action is carried out with financial support from the Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah in Paris. Aloumim maintains an official website, which is archived on the Internet Archive. It is also listed on GuideStar Israel. The association collaborates with the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris and Yad Vashem.

• 2006

  As of June 2006, the association has approximately 900 members.

• 1993

  Aloumim is founded as an Israeli association of Jews hidden as children in France during the Holocaust.

1. 1Aloumim - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2עלומים (אגודה) - Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org