Jewish Groups Active in Restitution Work Deny Tie with “jewish Rehabilitation Bank”

The Jewish Restitution Successor Organization, the agency recognized by the United States military government in Germany as the body to receive heirless and unclaimed Jewish property confiscated by the Nazis, together with the Jewish Agency, the Joint Distribution Committee and the American Federation of Jews from Central Europe–member organizations of the JRSO–today announced that they have no connection with any banks now being established in Germany to handle Jewish restitution or indemnification funds.

The joint statement issued by the four organizations, which declared that none of the organizations sponsor or support any such existing financial institution, was prompted by the announcement in Germany of the formation of an organization known as the “Jewish Rehabilitation Bank.” In their statement, the organization said: “The impression has erroneously arisen that this bank is endorsed by some or all of the aforementioned organizations and that heirless Jewish funds recovered by the JRSO will be deposited with it. This is not in accordance with the facts.”