During the Prime Minister's visit last week to The Shul, a Chabad synagogue in Miami, Jake, a Holocaust survivor, approached the journalist Yanir Kuzin, The political correspondent of Galts, and asked him if he could arrange a photo for him with the Prime Minister.
Kuzin recounted what happened up until the emotional moment in the synagogue hall in his X-account:
When we arrived at The Shul in Miami for a welcome event for Netanyahu, it was as you might imagine a Jewish event in Miami. A strong smell of wealth in the air, both old and new.
When they entered the main dining room where a long table was set for the dignitaries who were seated around the table with the Prime Minister of Israel (people were really excited), I walked around the table and read the names of the lunch participants. As I walked around the edge of the table, I heard a faint voice say, "Sir, excuse me." I didn't think it was addressed to me, because who knows me here anyway? But the voice continued.
I turned my head and amidst all the commotion at the table I saw an elderly man sitting on a chair with a blue visor hat on his head, a blue sweater on his body, and a small pin in the shape of a yellow badge.
Hello my name is Jacob, he started the conversation. I'm a holocaust survivor I'm over 100 years old, he told me proudly as I detached myself from my surroundings and leaned towards him.
I smile and he continues: I was in the forests and also in camps. I managed to survive but I lost all my family, Everybody! I was left alone in the world".
He spoke slowly as my eyes began to fill with tears, and then he called me to come a little closer to him and said in the loudest voice he could: "I want to take a picture with the prime minister of Israel, it's very important to me, can you speak with him?" (- "I am a Holocaust survivor, I am over 100 years old. I have been in the forests and also in the camps. I managed to survive but I lost my entire family, everyone. I was left alone in the world. I want to take a picture with the prime minister of Israel, and it's very important to me. Can you speak with him so we can take a picture together").
I told him that I didn't work at the bureau and that I was a journalist, but I would try to help. He thanked me profusely and stayed to sit at the far end of the table.
I ran to Dorit from the Prime Minister's Office, who was in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of organizing the media event. I told her about the charming Holocaust survivor who wanted to shake hands and take a picture with Netanyahu.
Dorit replied: "Okay, where is he?" We went looking and suddenly he disappeared from the table.
A few minutes later, the journalists were taken out of the hall, and before I left, I said to Dorit again: "Don't forget the Holocaust survivor! A short guy, a blue peaked cap, a blue sweater, and a yellow badge pin." Dorit nodded and said: "Don't worry, I'll look for him.""
Meanwhile, we wait outside and then we are called into the main hall of the synagogue, where Netanyahu is expected to address the community. Again, all the classic Miami figures take their places, including the prime minister and his entourage, and Miri Regev is being pushed and shoved as usual. A few speeches by all sorts of activists and multi-millionaires from the community (including Simon Falik).
Then comes the moment of Netanyahu's speech, the chronology of the war that we are familiar with, etc. - and then he stops and says: "Out here I met a man named Jake, Jake is 101 years old, he is a Holocaust survivor, I shook his hand earlier. Jake, please stand up.".
And from the hall, which was packed to capacity with hundreds of people, this small, thin man with the blue hat and the badge rose, stood in front of the entire audience, and suddenly everyone stood up and applauded him for a long second.
I looked at him and got incredibly excited.
A day later, the Prime Minister's Office sent photos from the event and I saw that Jake got the photo he wanted so much.
A moment of relief for a man, a 101-year-old Holocaust survivor, who wanted nothing more than a single photo that day.
On the left, in the black dress, is Dorit from the story. Photo: Prime Minister's Spokesperson's Office
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