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CHAIRMAN OF JEWISH AGENCY EXECUTIVE TO HEAD HOLOCAUST EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT FUND TREASURER: JEWISH YOUTH MUST HELP REPAIR CEMETERIES IN EASTERN EUROPE WORLD JEWISH RESTITUTION ORGANIZATION DISCUSSES APPROACH TO COMMUNAL AND PRIVATE PROPERTY RESTITUTION IN EASTERN EUROPE At the meeting of the WJRO's governing council in Jerusalem last week, Jewish Agency Treasurer Chaim Chesler issued a call for Jewish youth from Israel and abroad to take an active part in the task of repairing and restoring Jewish cemeteries throughout Eastern Europe. The council heard reports about the poor state of these cemeteries, more than 1,000 in number, and discussed using some of the money from Holocaust-era restitution to restore them. "All Holocaust-related educational trips for youth to Eastern Europe should include time spent restoring and repairing one of the cemeteries", said Chesler. "It is holy work." The council decided to establish a series of committees to deal with Holocaust-era communal and private property restitution in Eastern European countries. The committees, divided on a country-by-country basis, will develop a strategy for tackling the issue in that country. A separate committee was established to discuss Holocaust education and the use of Holocaust-era funds for education, under the leadership of Jewish Agency Chairman of the Executive and WJRO Co-Chair Sallai Meridor. Also raised was the issue of stolen artwork. "This is not only a question of theft", noted Israel Singer, WJRO Co-Chair. "We must address this because of its moral value. Art that once belonged to Jews does not now belong in the cellars of museums in countries throughout Europe."
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