September 12, 2012

(JTA) — A non-profit entity set up by the Israeli government is launching a campaign to find the North American heirs of Holocaust victims entitled to unclaimed assets.

The Hashava Company, which was established by a 2006 law, is seeking to find the rightful heirs of more than 60,000 unclaimed assets held in Israel in an effort that begins Thursday.

Thousands of Jews across Europe had invested in prestate Israel prior to World War II, and those investments have to continued to grow.

The Company for Location and Restitution of Holocaust Victims’ Assets in Israel, or Hashava — the Hebrew word for restitution — is responsible for finding heirs to the investments and has set up an online database allowing individuals to search for family names.

The campaign, which is scheduled to last until mid-November, includes media advertisements, as well as outreach to synagogues and Jewish organizations in the United States and Canada.

“What differentiates Hashava from other Holocaust restitution companies is that the assets are currently located in Israel and are waiting to be claimed by rightful heirs,”  Israel Peleg, the CEO of Hashava, said in a statement. “We want to honor the ideals and legacy of those who perished in the Holocaust by making sure their investments reach their relatives, along with some part of their legacy.”

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