Jewish Restitution Successor Organization Collection

The Jewish Restitution Successor Organization (JRSO) was incorporated in 1947 and “aided in the relief, rehabilitation and resettlement of Jewish victims of Nazi persecution” (Report, pg 4.). JRSO comprised the following organizations: Agudas Israel World Organization, American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Anglo-Jewish Association, Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Sueddeutschen Landesverbande Juedischer Gemeinden, Board of Deputies of British Jews, The Central British Fund for Jewish Relief and Rehabilitation, Conseil Représentatif des Juifs de France, The Council of Jews from Germany, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Jewish Cultural Reconstruction Corporation and World Jewish Congress.

Some of JRSO’s activities included the recovery of heirless property, monetary claims filed against the German government, pensions and hardship funds, restitution of communal property, indemnification claims for destroyed synagogues and communal property, recovery of cultural objects, maintenance of abandoned cemeteries and legal aide. Funds obtained from restitution and indemnity claims were allocated to other service organizations: Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and Council of Jews from Germany.

Source: Kagan, Saul and Ernest H. Weismann. Report on the Operations of The Jewish Restitution Successor Organization: 1947 - 1972. New York: Jewish Restitution Successor Organization, 1973.