Making aliya in his 90s.

JORDAN MOSHE

In spite of having had a heartfelt desire to move to Israel for a number of years, it is only now that the time is right for the Israeli chapter of his life to begin. “It’s the land of my ancestors,” he says. “I am glad to be going home.”

His move to Israel will bring him closer to his children and grandchildren who live there. “My father needs more care, and feels strongly that he should be in a place where he has children and grandchildren,” says his daughter, Deborah Amos.

“He is expecting a richer life, surrounded by his immediate family.” He is excited to be living in the same country as his two children, six grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

Not only will he be living in the same country as his family, but in a flat in Ra’anana within 20 minutes from all of them. “At the moment, he is in an old-age home in Johannesburg and hating the institutional way of life,” says Deborah. “He is feeling very lonely, but will now be moving into a flat only five minutes away from my sister.” Deborah, who lives on a kibbutz up north, works as a geriatric nurse at Beth Protea old-age home in Herzlia three to four days every week. So, she will be close by much of the time.

“Having him in Israel will make it easier for his children to see him. With him near us, we will be able to take care of him, and surround him with family so that he won’t ever be lonely.”

While Kotzen will certainly not lack for company nor care – with both his family and a live-in caregiver looking after him – he says he will miss South Africa.

“I will miss my relatives and friends in Jo’burg and Cape Town,” he says. “Joburg in the spring with the jacarandas in bloom, blossoms spreading a lilac carpet across the roads and lawns, are the things I will long for.”

According to the Israel Centre of South Africa, there is increasing demand for aliya among older people. People in their seventies, eighties, and even nineties are approaching it to arrange emigration to Israel.

Says Sue Resnick, the head of the centre’s aliya department, “Obviously younger people and families are making aliya, but older people are certainly making aliyah as well to retire or to join their children.”