Great Grandma makes Aliyah

By Justin Cohen 
March 22, 2007
http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/national/?content_id=5902

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.