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Israel/Zionism See other Israel/Zionism Articles Title: Name of obscure federal agency reveals all "American" equals "Jewish" now. The two terms are interchangeable, the trance- formation is complete in the view of the fedgov. NN The U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad By Steve Paul Johnson, November 14, 2000 Note: since this article was written, years ago, the Commission has undergone many changes. No longer do they assist with fundraising, and no longer are they providing assistance to the Gottscheer Heritage and Genealogical Association. Please visit their website for the latest: http://www.heritageabroad.gov - Steve Paul Johnson, June 11, 2003 The United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad is a little known, yet important, federal agency for family historians. It's goal is to encourage the preservation of documents, memorials, and cemeteries in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union. The Commission was created by an act of Congress in 1979. It's chief founder, Rabbi Zvi Kestenbaum of Brooklyn, New York, a holocaust survivor, developed the concept of a commission to preserve Jewish cemeteries, monuments and other holy sites throughout the world. He was instrumental in getting federal legislation introduced into Congress to establish the Commission. Kestenbaum saw a great need to preserve and restore cemeteries in the war ravaged nations of Europe. The damages done by two world wars, the Nazi and Soviet aggression, and even today the battles waged in the former Yugoslavia, have left cemeteries, monuments, and historic structures in ruins. Because the United States is a nation of immigrants, Congress recognized the need to help those nations restore all places of significance to America's heritage. The Commission is headed up by a Chairman, appointed by the President of the United States. In addition, there are 21 "commissioners", also appointed by the President of the United States. These commissioners meet with local officials and heads of state, as well as genealogical and historical societies, and leaders of religious groups. They tour cemeteries and historic monuments in desperate need of repair. Through these meetings the Commission is able to establish partnerships to restore cemeteries and monuments. The Commission involved in Cemetery Restoration The Commission is able to work with foreign governments and special interest groups to restore cemeteries and erect monuments. A Jewish cemetery in Wyszkow, Poland, had been devasted by Nazis during the Holocaust. After deporting the town's Jews to concentration camps, the Nazis removed all tombstones, and used them to reinforce a river bank, which eventually eroded away. Some 200 other stones were used to construct sidewalks, building foundations, and even the floor of the local Gestapo headquarters. Several descendants of those buried at Wyszkow asked the Commission to assist in recovering the tombstones from the buildings, and to build a memorial to the town's holocaust victims. One of the commissioners spearheaded an effort in conjunction with the town of Wyszkow, the Polish Government, and the Jewish Community of Warsaw, to construct the monument. The Polish government supplied new tablets, and the Commission obtained funding from private donors who traced their lineage back to Wyszkow...... Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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