Lawyers aid Southern Nevada Holocaust survivors
Groups offer guidance in receiving reparation payment from Germany
Heather Cory
Bernard Judd, a Holocaust survivor, talks with his attorney, Audrey Levinson, at his home last week.
Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009 | 12:01 a.m.
Related link
The Jewish Family Service Agency and Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada have partnered with a pair of local attorneys in an effort to heal the wounds of local Holocaust survivors.
In September, attorneys Alan Sklar and Audrey Levinson began providing free legal services to Holocaust survivors in Las Vegas who worked while living in German-controlled ghettos during World War II.
Through a nationwide program called the Justice Network that was founded in 2007, eligible Holocaust survivors can receive a one-time payment from the German government of approximately $3,100.
The program is geared toward survivors who worked in German-controlled ghettos, regardless of their age at the time. Survivors must still be alive in order to be eligible.
"We know of about 300 survivors living here in the Las Vegas Valley," said Danielle Pokroy, program manager of the Jewish Family Service Agency. "So far, the program has completed about 40 applications."
About one-fourth of those applicants have received their reparation with an average processing time of three months.
Some of Sklar's elder family members, including his maternal grandfather and mother, were Holocaust survivors.
"This is all very personal to me, and even 63 years after the end of war, still very raw," Sklar said. "I covet the opportunity to help Holocaust survivors in any way."
Pokroy said that although money will never make up for what the survivors experienced during World War II, reparations can help make life easier.
"Many survivors in southern Nevada need assistance with basic living needs," she said. "This can help with paying for food, rent or prescriptions."
The Jewish Family Service Agency was founded in 1977 and provides counseling, adoption and food services to Southern Nevada seniors, adults and children in need.
To learn more about the reparations program, call the Jewish Family Service Agency at 732-0304
Established in 1958, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — formerly known as Clark County Legal Services — provides legal advice and representation for those who cannot afford to hire an attorney. For more information, visit www.lacsn.org.
Jeff O’Brien can be reached at 990-8957 or jeff.obrien@hbcpub.com.
Discussion: 3 comments so far…
Post a comment
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Franchione potential early candidate for UNLV football post
- Police: 3 arrested in officer’s death have gang ties
- Big fight headed for a New Frontier?
- Mayor: Morale not good among LV city employees
- Hotels rein in risque advertising campaigns
- MGM Mirage (finally) makes George Strait show official
- $60 million to stabilize neighborhoods buys five homes
- Creditors want to expand probe of Station Casinos deal
- Las Vegas condo hotels remain a tough sell — just ask Trump
- Reserve Rebels didn’t have time to panic
Blogs
Elsewhere
Sands China raises $2.5 billion in Hong Kong IPO
Marquardt v. Sonnen scheduled for UFC 109
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity
Will a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson be good or bad for NASCAR? (2 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: And then there were four
Top Chef Episode 12: On keeping it simple
Miech Again
Chilly start for Chace, but Stanback says he'll warm up (1 Comment)
Elsewhere
Harvard Poker Pro: Texas Hold 'Em skills can help traders
- Live chat
- Tuesday, noon PST
- Chat with Krista Creelman
- Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question
Calendar »
- 21 Sat
- 22 Sun
- 23 Mon
- 24 Tue
- 25 Wed
-
UFC 106 at Mandalay Bay Events Center
Mandalay Bay Events Center | 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Julio Iglesias at the Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
Natasha Wicks hosts at Hawaiian Tropic Zone
Hawaiian Tropic Zone | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Tito Ortiz hosts at Tao
Tao | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Hiroshima at Santa Fe Station
Santa Fe Station
-
Frank Mir hosts at LAX
LAX Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
The Four Tops at The Orleans Showroom
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Amir Sadollah hosts at Prive
Prive | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati










Comment removed by staff.
Comment removed by staff.
Isn't it refreshing to see anti-semetism alive & well here in Las Vegas?!?!
Only PURE IGNORANCE & PURE EVIL could compare Israel's self defense to Nazi Germany! {Way to go captainamerica & jfnance!} Just rub salt in the wounds of the survivors of the holocaust! These comment posters have obviously no clue about history or truth! You got politics out of this story??? (perhaps your reading skills aren't up to snuff - THAT would explain A LOT!)The story is about helping people who suffered unimaginably at the hands of sadists. You dare to compare the IDF - the most advanced military - to those butchers?? You should be ashamed, and your comments should be removed from the site!