There are three words that raise the hair on Michael Hausfeld's neck: "It isn't fair." And there is one response you'll never hear him make, "Life's not fair, so get used to it." Michael has never gotten used to injustice. He has devoted his legal career to representing ordinary people who have been harmed by large corporations or governments. When people who have suffered from pollution or discrimination come to him and say, "It isn't fair," he fights for them.

Is Michael Hausfeld a good person to have on your side? You bet! When the judge bangs the gavel and the fight for truth begins, we want Michael in our corner.

BABA: Welcome to BABAGANEWZ Michael. Why did you become a lawyer?

MICHAEL: I always had a strong sense of right and wrong. I believed that people shouldn't suffer abuse because of their race, religion, or background. Being a lawyer allowed me to seek justice for human rights abuses and to protect each person's basic dignity and freedom.

BABA: How did you get involved in cases on behalf of Holocaust survivors?

MICHAEL: About 15 years ago, I learned that Nazi war criminals were living in the United States. Some survivors asked me how these criminals could live in this country without being prosecuted. I filed the first case against one of these criminals, Audrija Artukovic, who was known as the "Butcher of Yugoslavia" and was later deported from the U.S.

BABA: Haven't you also represented victims overseas?

MICHAEL: Yes, my law firm represented Holocaust survivors in many European countries. We tried to obtain justice against those who persecuted my clients, and against those who cooperated with the oppressors. We brought legal action against the governments of Germany, Switzerland, France, and Austria, and against companies like Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen.

BABA: When you represent victims of the Holocaust, what Jewish values does your work reflect?

MICHAEL: My work on behalf of Holocaust victims fulfills the commandment in the Torah to pursue justice when wrongs have been committed. The obligation of Jews to bring justice and righteousness to all people began with God's covenant with Abraham.

BABA: How do Holocaust victims react when they learn that they have won a case?

MICHAEL: They're satisfied their suffering has been acknowledged, and they're proud they have raised the conscience of the world about behavior that must never be tolerated against anyone, anywhere.

BABA: How does your work promote the value of pursuing truth?

MICHAEL: When you're working on human rights cases, you're pursuing truth almost every day. You must separate fact from fiction, and tell what really happened, not the story others invented to avoid responsibility. You must fine the truth despite the attempts of powerful persons to hide or change it.

BABA: Thanks for telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, Michael. You may step down!

Tracking Down the Truth

The Case - 300,000 Jewish Holocaust survivors claimed that the Nazi government stole their money and other valuables.
The Truth - As lead attorney, Michael proved that the Nazis stole from Jewish victims, and sent the stolen money and precious items to Switzerland, where the banks “laundered” the money for the German government. The Swiss banks exchanged the money in a way that hid its true ownership.
The Judgment - For the plaintiffs. $8–10 million awarded to the Holocaust survivors and their families.

The Case - 1.5 million Jews and non-Jews claimed they were imprisoned and forced to work for German companies during World War II.
The Truth - As lead attorney, Michael proved that the survivors of German death and labor camps were forced into slavery by the Nazi government.
The Judgment - For the plaintiffs. $5 billion awarded to survivors and their families.

Jewish Thinking

In Pirkei Avot 1:18, Rabban Gamliel teaches us that the world rests on three foundations: truth, justice, and peace. Every aspect of our life—our relationships with other people, what products we purchase, and how we understand politics and current events— is based on these foundations. Judaism encourages us to be seekers of truth, but truth must be balanced with a sense of kindness.

The Hebrew word emet, truth, helps us understand the importance of balancing truth with kindness. The letter alef is a symbol for God, the Source of Compassion. If you subtract the alef from the word emet, all that remains is met, death.

How can we emulate God by seeking the truth and balancing it with justice and peace? Michael Hausfeld gives us a good example.