SENATE RESOLUTION No. 114
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED DECEMBER 11, 1997
By Senators LITTELL, SINGER, Sinagra and Bennett
A Senate Resolution urging Congress to adopt House Concurrent Resolution 14 of 1997, which encourages efforts to reunite family members separated during the Holocaust.
Whereas, Thousands of Holocaust survivors who fled Poland and Eastern Europe to the United States, Israel, Russia and other Eastern European nations may be living around the world, not knowing that family members from whom they were separated during the Holocaust are also still alive; and
Whereas, In July 1996, Russian resident Solomon Bromberg and his sister, Israeli resident Rivka Bromberg Feingold, were reunited after a separation of more than 60 years, both having believed that their entire family had been murdered during the Holocaust; and
Whereas, The Bromberg siblings were reunited after a business acquaintance, returning from a trip to Russia, contacted Israel’s Jewish Agency, an organization which attempts to reunite family members separated during the Holocaust; and
Whereas, Many other Holocaust survivors are trying to locate living family members from whom they were separated during the Holocaust, thereby highlighting the significance of efforts long pursued by organizations such as the Red Cross and Israel’s Jewish Agency to reunite family members separated during the Holocaust; and
Whereas, Coordinated efforts of the United States, foreign nations, especially Israel, Russia, Poland and other Eastern European nations, and organizations such as the Red Cross and Israel’s Jewish Agency will help to reunite family members separated during the Holocaust; and
Whereas, A concurrent resolution sponsored by Congressman Robert Franks introduced in the United States Congress encouraging the Secretary of State, foreign nations and others to work together to support the effort to reunite family members separated during the Holocaust has yet to be reported from the Committee on International Relations to the entire House of Representatives; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House recognizes the enormous significance of helping families locate family members who may have survived the Holocaust, pays tribute to the inspirational efforts of those helping reunite family members separated during the Holocaust and endorses every attempt to coordinate these meaningful efforts.
2. This House urges the United States Congress to adopt House Concurrent Resolution 14 of 1997, which encourages the Secretary of State, foreign nations, especially Israel, Russia, Poland and other Eastern European nations, and organizations such as the Red Cross and Israel’s Jewish Agency to coordinate efforts to help reunite family members separated during the Holocaust.
3. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and every member of the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives.
STATEMENT
There have recently been successful, pathbreaking efforts to assist families locate missing or lost family members scattered around the world as a result of World War II and the Holocaust. This resolution urges Congress to adopt House Concurrent Resolution 14, which encourages the Secretary of State, foreign nations, especially Israel, Russia, Poland and other Eastern European nations, and organizations such as the Red Cross and Israel’s Jewish Agency to coordinate efforts to help reunite family members separated during the Holocaust. This resolution also affirms the support of the Senate of the State of New Jersey towards such meaningful and inspirational efforts.
Urges Congress to adopt House Concurrent Resolution 14 of 1997, which encourages efforts to reunite family members separated during the Holocaust.