March 22, 2007

By Justin Cohen
 
A 97-year-old great-grandmother of twelve was this week set to become one of the oldest British citizens to make aliyah.

Herta Lowenthal, who was born 38 years before Israel’s creation, fulfilled a long-term dream when she touched down at Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday to begin her new life in the Jewish State.

The pensioner, who has four grandsons and 12 great-grandchildren in the country, told TJ: “My daughter made aliyah after university aged 21. I’ve always wanted to go and decided it was the right time. It’s a special incentive to be there with the family.”

For decades, the St. John’s Wood Synagogue member has been commuting to Israel twice a year, spending time in the flat built by her and late husband Julius above their daughter’s Haifa home.

Speaking hours before her departure from London, Herta, who has volunteered at Jewish Care’s Michael Sobell Centre until as recently as six months ago, said she liked “everything” about Israel and insisted she was not afraid by the ongoing threat of terrorism. “I’m filled with deep admiration for all the people who have built such a wonderful country out of virtually nothing,” she said.

The Chief Rabbi and St. John’s Wood’s Dayan Ivan Binstock last Shabbat led the tributes to one of Israel’s newest citizens, who was an active member of the community’s ladies guild. Her special send-off also included the presentation of a silver plaque for her home during a Kiddush in her honour.

And Herta, who was formerly a Chair of the house committee of Rokefield Home for the Jewish Blind, vowed not to lose touch with people in Britain. She said: “For me family and friends are the most important things in life and I will certainly stay in contact.”

Her daughter Ruth Fluss said to her mother last sukkot that she would have to make a decision at some point about which country she would live in. “She immediately said Israel. I thought it would be nicer while she is independent, healthy and able to enjoy it,” said Ruth, who travelled to London with her husband to join the shul’s send-off and to help pack up Herta’s belongings.

The trio were greeted by a party of delighted relatives when they arrived back at Ben Gurion airport.