German Family Ordered to Vacate Home Taken from Jews in the Holocaust

A German court recently ruled that an 85-year-old woman and her son must vacate a house that had been forcibly sold by its Jewish owners during the Nazi era. The property, located in Wandlitz near Berlin, belonged to Alice Donat and Helene Lindenbaum, two Jewish women who ran a children’s home before being deported and murdered during the Holocaust.

The sale of the property in 1939 was conducted under duress, as Nazi laws forced Jews to sell their belongings at a fraction of their value. After decades of legal proceedings, the court has transferred ownership to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which supports Holocaust survivors and their families.

The current occupants, descendants of the man who acquired the property during the Nazi era, resisted the ruling, arguing they are not responsible for their ancestor’s actions. They pointed to their family’s efforts to shelter Jewish relatives during the war. However, the court ruled that looted property cannot legally be inherited.

This decision reflects the Torah’s call for justice and the obligation to rectify wrongs. Although no living heirs of the original Jewish owners have been found, the Claims Conference will use proceeds from the property to aid Holocaust survivors, many of whom still live in poverty.

The case is a powerful reminder of the vast losses suffered by Am Yisrael during the Holocaust and the importance of pursuing justice, even decades later. As we honor the memory of those who perished, we must also ensure that survivors receive the dignity and care they deserve.

“Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Devarim 16:20) remains our guiding principle, compelling us to address the wounds of the past and uphold the sanctity of life and property.