Maccabi players Barak itzhaki and Eden Ben Basat joined the world's oldest holocaust survivor, Israel krysztal, to celbrate his 111th birthday. goldhar: "inspired by your courage".
In recent years Maccabi Tel Aviv have done a great deal toward commemorating the Holocaust, the decimation of the Jews of Europe by the Nazis and their allies in the 1930's and 40's, and today the club marked an exceptional personal story. Israel Krysztal, born in Żarnów, Poland, and a resident of Haifa, marked his 111th birthday today, making him the world’s oldest holocaust survivor. Israel was born in a very small village into a family who owned a confectionary, but just as the second world war broke out and before he had reached his 11th birthday, he was orphaned and was later sent to the Lodz Ghetto with his first wife. In 1944 he was sent to the extermination camp 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, who is three years older than the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club, received a touching gesture today as two members of the team, Barak Itzhaki and Eden Ben Basat, organised a birthday party for him. The players were very moved by Israel’s life story, embraced 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 in 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".
Israel's daughter Shula thanked the club owner and players for the touching gesture and for coming to Haifa to celebrate with her father. The players updated Israel on the team’s current position and told him about Maccabi's long and celebrated history. They joked that Eden Ben Basat wears a jersey with 99 on it and that Israel now has the highest shirt number at the club – 111, marking his birthday.
When talking about the visit, Eden Ben Basat said: “We were very touched. There is no greater honour than to celebrate and bring some joy to such a special person who experienced many hardships and still greets you with a smile and an open heart. Israel is inspiring at all levels, a role model who showed us the meaning of being optimistic in life".
Barak Itzhaki added: “When I gave Israel the championship hat and scarf, I told him that he is the true champion. I left the visit with a great sense of hope and pride, pride that was born with him before the First World War, survived the Second World War and the Holocaust and is with him still as the head of a family with 24 great grandchildren. Celebrating someone's 111th birthday is undoubtedly one of the most exciting events of my life. I thank Israel and his family for their hospitality, their smiles and their big hearts".
The Maccabi Tel Aviv family, along with the entire country, wish Israel a happy birthday, good health and longevity.
