World's Oldest Holocaust Survivor Just Had a Birthday! You Won't Believe His Age

News Staff : Sep 18, 2014
Breaking Israel News

"We cannot comprehend the challenges that you have endured, but we can and are incredibly inspired by your courage and spirit."

In recent years, Maccabi Tel Aviv has done a great deal toward commemorating the Holocaust of the Jews in Europe and today, the club marked an exceptional personal story. Israel Krysztal, born in Żarnów Poland and a resident of Haifa, will mark his 111th birthday today, naming him the World's Oldest Holocaust Survivor. (Photo: Maccabi Tel Aviv/via Breaking Israel News)

Israel was born in a very quaint place to a family that owned a confectionary, but as WWI broke out and before he was 11 years old, he became an orphan and was later sent to the Lodz Ghetto with his first wife. In 1944, he was sent to Auschwitz, which he survived and where his wife perished. Despite the hardships, Israel continued the family business and brought his experience to Israel when he immigrated in 1950.

Krysztal, three years older than the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club, received a touching gesture today as two members of the team, Barak Yitzhaki and Eden Ben Basat organized a birthday party for Israel. The players were very moved by Israel's life story; they hugged him on behalf of the club and gave him a jersey bearing the number 111. The two players brought a birthday cake and balloons appropriate for a celebration that happens only once in 111 years.

Krysztal wished the players good health and success in their next games and the upcoming season. During the visit, club owner Mitch Goldhar called from Canada and spoke to Israel and his daughter, Shula, who was also at the party. Goldhar said: "We cannot comprehend the challenges that you have endured, but we can and are incredibly inspired by your courage and spirit."

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