Background
Elise Bergman, age 92, was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1931 to a secular Jewish family. In 1939, at age eight, she was placed on a Kindertransport to England, becoming one of the thousands of Jewish children rescued from Nazi territories before borders closed. Her parents, who remained in Vienna attempting to secure their own exit visas, were ultimately deported to concentration camps and perished in the Holocaust.
In England, Elise was placed with a Christian foster family in rural Yorkshire. Given her young age, trauma, and isolation from other Jews, her connection to her Jewish identity gradually faded. Her foster family, while kind, raised her as a Christian, and she eventually adopted their faith. By adulthood, she had fully assimilated into British Christian society, married an Englishman named William Thompson, and raised three children in the Church of England with no connection to Judaism.
It wasn’t until her 70s, following her husband’s death, that Elise began researching her family history. This exploration led to the profound discovery of her parents’ fate in the Holocaust and a reconnection with her Jewish origins. Over the next two decades, she gradually reclaimed aspects of her Jewish heritage—learning about Jewish customs, connecting with Jewish communities in London, and even visiting Israel on a Holocaust survivors’ tour.
At age 92, facing increasing health challenges and feeling a profound desire to “die in the Jewish homeland her parents had cherished,” Elise decided to apply for aliyah. Her advanced age, distant Jewish connection, and lifetime as a practicing Christian created unprecedented questions about both eligibility and practical viability.
The Challenge
Elise’s application presented extraordinary obstacles:
- Her advanced age (92) raised serious concerns about healthcare needs and adjustment capacity
- Her lifetime of Christian practice conflicted with typical understanding of Jewish status
- Questions arose about whether her childhood forced separation from Judaism had truly severed her Jewish status
- She had no family in Israel to provide essential support at her advanced age
- Her health conditions required specialized geriatric care
- Her children and grandchildren remained committed Christians with no interest in Judaism
- Practical concerns existed about immigration at such an advanced age with significant healthcare needs
Precedent Case: The Holocaust Survivor Reclamation Right (2013)
Elise’s situation found resolution through the “Holocaust Survivor Reclamation Right” established in 2013, which addressed the unique circumstances of Holocaust survivors who had been separated from their Jewish identity through childhood rescue operations.
The principle established that: “Child survivors of the Holocaust whose Jewish identity was interrupted by rescue operations deserve special consideration under the Law of Return. When such individuals, despite decades of separation from Jewish practice, seek to reclaim their heritage in their final years, the State of Israel recognizes its profound moral obligation to welcome them home if they so choose. While practical considerations regarding advanced age and care needs must be addressed, the symbolic and spiritual significance of completing the circle broken by Nazi persecution carries extraordinary weight. Such cases exemplify the core purpose of Israel as a Jewish homeland and refuge.”
Resolution Process
Working with Holocaust survivor organizations, elder care specialists, and immigration experts, Elise’s application advanced through an expedited compassionate process:
- Holocaust History Documentation:
- Comprehensive records from the Kindertransport archives confirming her rescue
- Historical documentation of her parents’ deportation and murder in the Holocaust
- Analysis of the forced nature of her childhood separation from Judaism
- Expert testimony on the impact of childhood trauma on religious identity
- Documentation of her recent efforts to reconnect with her Jewish heritage
- Specialized Care Planning:
- Comprehensive geriatric assessment determining her specific care needs
- Identification of appropriate elder care facilities in Israel with necessary medical support
- Financial planning ensuring coverage of her healthcare and residential needs
- Coordination with social service agencies specializing in elderly immigrant care
- Development of an immigration medical transport plan appropriate to her condition
- Support Network Development:
- Connection with Holocaust survivor communities in Israel
- Engagement with volunteer organizations supporting elderly survivors
- Arrangement for regular visitation and social support
- Technology setup to maintain connection with her family abroad
- Assignment of a specialized social worker with experience in similar cases
- Spiritual and Cultural Reintegration:
- Sensitive religious support acknowledging her complex spiritual journey
- Connection with progressive Jewish communities comfortable with her mixed religious background
- Cultural orientation appropriate to her cognitive abilities and energy levels
- Psychological support addressing complex identity questions
- Documentation of her personal wishes regarding Jewish end-of-life practices
Outcome
After an expedited three-month compassionate review process, the Ministry of Interior approved Elise’s aliyah application, explicitly citing the Holocaust Survivor Reclamation Right. The approval recognized both her unquestionable Jewish birth status and the forced nature of her separation from Judaism, while acknowledging the profound symbolic importance of her return.
The approval stated: “This extraordinary case represents the enduring impact of the Holocaust across generations and the importance of Israel as a place of return and healing. Despite decades of separation from Jewish practice resulting from her rescue as a child, the applicant’s Jewish status by birth remains intact. Her desire to reconnect with her heritage and spend her final years in the Jewish homeland her parents were denied represents a powerful completion of a circle broken by Nazi persecution. While her advanced age presents practical challenges, these will be addressed through appropriate supportive services rather than serving as barriers to her return.”
The approval included specialized support provisions:
- Expedited processing to account for her advanced age and health
- Immediate eligibility for enhanced geriatric services
- Placement in a specialized residential facility for elderly immigrants
- Assignment of a dedicated social worker with Holocaust survivor expertise
- Regular supportive visits from volunteer organizations
Elise successfully made aliyah in 2023, settling in a specialized care facility in Haifa with other elderly immigrants including several Holocaust survivors. Despite health challenges, she has found profound meaning in reconnecting with Jewish traditions and spends time sharing her unique life story with visitors and fellow residents. Her children have visited her in Israel, gaining new understanding of their family’s Jewish heritage. While recognizing she may have limited time remaining, Elise expresses deep peace in knowing she will “die as a Jew in the Jewish homeland,” completing a journey her parents were denied.
Key Principles Established
This case reinforced several important principles regarding aliyah approval for elderly Holocaust survivors reclaiming Jewish identity:
- Child survivors whose Jewish identity was interrupted by rescue deserve special consideration
- The forced nature of childhood separation from Judaism does not permanently sever Jewish status
- Advanced age and healthcare needs can be addressed through specialized support rather than serving as barriers
- The symbolic significance of completing the circle broken by Nazi persecution carries extraordinary weight
- Practical challenges require practical solutions rather than denial of the fundamental right of return
- Israel’s founding purpose as refuge for persecuted Jews finds powerful expression in such cases
- Compassionate expedition of complex cases may be appropriate when time is limited by advanced age
Elise’s case is now referenced when counseling elderly Holocaust survivors considering reclaiming their Jewish heritage through aliyah, demonstrating Israel’s commitment to welcoming home those whose Jewish journey was violently interrupted by persecution, even after decades of separation and regardless of practical challenges.
