A 100-year-old great-grandmother of 15 became the oldest person to immigrate to Israel this year, the quasi-governmental Jewish Agency for Israel said on Thursday.
Sara Unterberg moved to Israel from Uruguay last week to be closer to her extended family.
“I realized I may not have much time left, and I want to spend it with my many grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Israel,” the Lithuanian-born centenarian said. “I believe all Jews should live in Israel. The world is becoming less safe for us.”
Unterberg, whose six grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren mostly live in Israel, said that the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and the burst of antisemitism that it triggered around the globe had spurred her to make the move.
“The truth is that Uruguay gave me everything since I was a child,” she said. “But what happened on Oct. 7 and afterward only confirmed to us that our place is in Israel – and now Israel is welcoming me with open arms.”
After years of visiting family in Israel, she decided that now was her time and made the move to the coastal town of Hadera with the assistance of the Jewish Agency and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
“Sara Unterberg’s aliyah at age 100 is a living reminder that there is no age limit to the Zionist dream,” said Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, chairman of the Jewish Agency. “In every new immigrant who arrives in Israel, we see the triumph of spirit, belonging and unconditional love.”
“Sara’s aliyah to Israel specifically during these challenging times is an immense inspiration to us all,” said Yael Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. “It reminds us of the depth of the connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel which is unbroken even during times of difficulty and war.”
