They say that love has no age, and there are quite a few moving stories that prove it time and again. One of them is that of Arnold Clevs and Rose Feldman, a couple of residents at Mediterranean Towers Jerusalem, who made Aliyah to Israel and found not only a home but also friendship, deep connection, and great love at an advanced age.
At Mediterranean Towers Jerusalem, located in the heart of the Arnona neighborhood in the city, life does not stop for a moment. The home grants its residents a central platform to lead initiatives, accumulate experiences, and discover new and exciting content even at the age of seventy and above, all within a vibrant and cohesive community and in an authentic Jerusalem spirit.
The home in Jerusalem, belonging to the Mediterranean Towers chain, the largest and leading chain in Israel in the field of senior living for the third age, grants its residents a flourishing social and community life, diverse and interesting activity, enrichment studies, leadership of fascinating projects, community initiatives, realization of abilities, and fulfillment of dreams both big and small. This is alongside accumulating unique experiences and a wide variety of activities: fascinating lectures by the best lecturers, health and sports activities, art exhibitions, creative and enrichment workshops, trips around the country, visits to the leading cultural centers in the city, and more.
Two Whole Lives – and One Path that Met in Jerusalem
Arnold Clevs, 92, was born in Lithuania and survived the Holocaust. After the war, he reunited with his mother and sister, moved with them to Italy, and subsequently to the United States. In Chicago, he studied dentistry, served as an officer in the US Air Force, established a family, and brought two children into the world. Six years ago, after the passing of his wife Batya, he decided to make Aliyah to Israel, in order to be close to his children, and moved to live at Mediterranean Towers in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Rose Feldman, 94, was also born in Lithuania. When she was only eight years old, she fled with her family to Baltimore and began a new life there. In her adulthood, she worked as a teacher for children with special needs, married twice, and established a glorious family with her three children. Six years ago, she also decided to make Aliyah to Israel, following her daughter Lisa, and chose Mediterranean Towers as her new home in Israel.
"I met Arnold at Mediterranean Towers Jerusalem," told Rose Feldman, "and when I discovered that he is also from Lithuania, we immediately switched to speaking Yiddish and I understood that something special was starting between us. He is a pleasant man, truly a real mensch. He doesn't argue, doesn't insist, always gives respect and space. That is something that cannot be taken for granted at our age".
Arnold Clevs: "Rose and I have the same areas of interest, the same language, the same worldview, so, very quickly, we connected with one another. She is a special woman and we have fun together. Each of us has our own hobbies; for example, I have billiards and the pool, which I do not miss, and the lectures in English that keep us sharp and alert. But the most fun thing is to arrive at Rose 's apartment and dance".
"We Found a Real Home"
"After two months at Mediterranean Towers in Jerusalem, I already felt at home," said Rose . "There is a community of friends here who are like family, and everything here is wonderful. As a tennis player in the past, I really connected to the sports classes here, to the painting and choir classes, and to the Ulpan, where we learned Hebrew in the home of our neighbor, Ruth Yosefson, who was an Ulpan teacher for many years, and since arriving here, she continues to teach everyone who wants to with love".
Arnold: "We are in such a pleasant and good home, with a wonderful and warm staff and wonderful neighbors who cause us to wake up every morning with a smile. We found a real home, and then love also blooms and thrives. Our 'good time' lasts from the moment I finish my morning prayer until we turn off the lights and go to sleep. Every day feels like a gift to us, and we are already looking forward to the next day".
"The residents of Mediterranean Towers in Jerusalem create a human mosaic reflecting Israeli society," concluded Noa Bardugo-Pasternak, CEO of Mediterranean Towers Jerusalem. "A heterogeneous yet cohesive, containing, and accepting community, combining religious, traditional, secular Israelis, and Anglos. Each one enjoys a combination of worlds that complement one another: the personal world, 'a person and his home,' and the social world where every resident belongs to a united and fascinating internal community.
"Our residents live full and interesting lives within an embracing environment, with mutual responsibility and a vibrant social life. Our residents are at the center of the action, and our role is to provide them with the tools and platforms for a life of social and community quality. It is important to us that they continue to act in meaningful activity, creativity, initiative, learning, and a desire to discover new areas of interest and accumulate more and more good experiences".
We are happy to invite you to a fascinating lecture in English.
The article was written in cooperation with Mediterranean Towers Jerusalem