97-Year-Old Woman Joins Twelve Great-Grandkids in Israel
A 97-year-old British Jew has become one of the oldest people to ever make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel). Herta Lowenthal joined her twelve great-grandchildren in Israel last week, emigrating from Britain, where she lived most of her life.Lowenthal told the British Totally Jewish (TJ) web site that moving to Israel was the fulfillment of a life-long dream.
“My daughter made Aliyah after [she graduated] university at age 21,” she told TJ. “I’ve always wanted to go and decided it was the right time. It’s a special incentive to be there with the family.”
Prior to her Aliyah, Lowenthal visited her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren twice a year, staying in an apartment above her daughter’s home in Haifa.
Lowenthal watched the founding of the State of Israel and visited every year for most of its existence. “I’m filled with deep admiration for all the people who have built such a wonderful country out of virtually nothing,” she said.
According to the TJ report, Lowenthal’s daughter confronted her mother during the Sukkot Festival last year and told her she would have to make a decision at some point whether to live in England or Israel. “She immediately said Israel. I thought it would be nicer while she is independent, healthy and able to enjoy it,” she said.
Mazal tov to Herta!