Congratulations are in order for Tammy Goldenhirsch, who made aliyah from St. Louis this week at the age of 96, proving that it is never too late to make one's dream of moving to Israel a reality.
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Goldenhirsch was first greeted at Ben-Gurion International Airport by employees of the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, who registered her as a citizen. She was then welcomed by three generations of family, who came to the airport to surprise the new Israeli with matching shirts, welcome posters and songs.
Video: Aliya and Integration Ministry
The idea for the surprise came from Eli Zon, who is married to one of Goldenhirsch's granddaughters. He thanked the ministry, as well as the Jewish Agency and Nefesh B'Nefesh, for easing the process of aliyah for the 96-year-old.
"A process that takes at least half a year only took one month. In a way, this is a closure for our family. Now 4 generations live in Israel. Tammy has come home to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren," he said.
Goldenhirsch is joining the 38,475 Jews from North America who immigrated to the Jewish state in the last decade. During the coronavirus pandemic alone, some 4,790 North American Jews moved to Israel.
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