Members of Fort Belvoir's Jewish congregation learned what the U.S. State Department is doing to help bring a level of justice for Holocaust survivors during a Nosh and Learn meeting, Sunday at the Religious Education Center.
Ambassador Douglass Davidson, U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, discussed his work over the last three years to help create programs for Holocaust survivors, while congregation members noshed on late afternoon snacks.
"I like to talk about my job," Davidson said of why he came to speak to the congregation members. "I like to inform people of what we are doing to help Holocaust survivors."
Davidson is responsible for developing and implementing U.S. policy pertaining to the return of Holocaust-era assets to their rightful owners, compensation for wrongs committed during the Holocaust, and Holocaust remembrance.
"It's the greatest crime in the history of mankind," said Davidson. "We can't bring complete justice for Holocaust survivors, but we can try to bring them as much justice as possible."
The Special Envoy office was created 15 years ago. Davidson said he thinks it's odd that an office specific to helping holocaust survivors was implemented more than 50 years after the end of World War II, but it's better for the office to have been created late than not at all.
"This issue was jetted by political events of the 1990's," said Davidson. "But, there was a realization in the 1980s and 90s to what happened to Jews during the Holocaust and that rights needed to be made."
Members of Belvoir's Jewish Congregation like Sarah Astrow, Fort Belvoir Chaplains office, Jewish Coordinator, enjoyed listening to Davidson talk about a subject that is so personal to many of the congregations' members.
Astrow decided to bring Davidson to the event after recently hearing him speak at a local Jewish celebration event.
"This is a very fascinating topic because of members of our congregation," said Astrow. "There's not enough focus on the needs of Holocaust survivors."
Many parts of Davidson's remarks stuck out to Astrow, but the office's main purpose is what she most appreciates.
"I like how the office is trying to get retribution for survivors and their Family members," said Astrow. "It's long overdue."
Remembering what happened to Jews during the Holocaust and the after-effects survivors have dealt with since, is important for everyone, according to Astrow.
"We only focus on the Holocaust in April and lose focus the rest of the year," said Astrow. "But, it's important to remember because it could happen again."
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